Route Inventory Data Summaries: 6/26/05
Area: Westgard Pass
Observers: Chris Kassar and Mike Klapp

Route N2695

Route description: This is a spur heading northeast off of the Black Mountain Rd (Route Z1823) (Picture 626001).

Narrative summary: This route is rocky, but is passable and well-defined (Picture 626002). We observed motorcycle and full-size vehicle tracks and determined this is a low to moderately used route. The dominant vegetation along the trail is pinon-juniper, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush) reaching a maximum center height of ~1 foot. We identified other vegetation in the center, including sego lily, pussy paws and globe mallow. We found a dilapidated fire ring near the end of route N2965 with no signs of recent use (Picture 626004). The route ends abruptly, with no clear destination. There are recent tracks making this dead end into a turn-around (Picture 626003).

Route N2694

Route description: This is a spur heading north off of the Black Mountain Rd (Route Z1823) (Picture 626005).

Narrative summary: This route is very rocky and shows signs of erosion and ephemeral gullying with a cut depth of 4 inches (Picture 626006). We observed ATV and full-size vehicle tracks and determined this is a low to moderately used route (Picture 626010).  The dominant vegetation along the trail is pinon-juniper, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush, bitterbrush) reaching a maximum center height of ~1 foot. We identified other vegetation in the center, including bunch grass, sego lily, death camas, locoweed, Indian paintbrush, aster, lupine and phlox. We found a growing, low-use camp site with 3 dispersed fire rings (Picture 626007, 626008, 626009). There is no clear place to spend the night in this area so these camp sites could easily expand and encroach upon more area. We observed off-trail ATV tracks that proliferate from the camping/ fire area because it is a very open area (Picture 626009). The route ends on a hill and tracks continue off of N2694 with no clear destination (Picture 626011).

Recommendation: The purpose of this route is unclear; people may possibly visit this area for camping opportunities. Closing access to such an open area might prove difficult because of trouble delineating route boundaries. However, because of the openness of the area, damage will likely proliferate even further than in a more vegetated area. If possible, we suggest complete closure of the road. If this is not possible, then management is needed to more clearly designate the route and a campsite or two. This will help to keep impacts concentrated in designated areas.

Recommendation: The purpose of this route is unclear and we recommend that this unnecessary spur road be completely closed to motorized use.  

Route Z1824

Route description: This is a spur heading north west off of the Black Mountain Road (Route Z1823) near its end (Picture 626012).

Narrative summary: This route is very rocky and shows signs of erosion and extensive ephemeral gullying with a cut depth of up to 1.5 feet (Picture 626013, 626014). We observed ATV and motorcycle vehicle tracks and determined this is a route with low use (Picture 626012). The dominant vegetation along the trail is pinon-juniper, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush, bitterbrush) reaching a maximum center height of 1.5 to 2 feet. We identified other vegetation in the center, including bunch grass, sego lily, lupine and phlox. We observed a chipping sparrow, a western tanager, a black-throated grey warbler and a turkey vulture and found deer tracks, cougar tracks, and coyote scat.

The route continues beyond the designated inventory “stop” and is labeled as a 4WD route. We walked beyond the stop for over a mile and found that the road drops down and deteriorates in quality and becomes difficult to follow. There are signs of gullying (Picture 626018) and evidence of motorized use off of the route, leading to further gullying and erosion (Picture 626017). As the 4WD route continues there is a split in the route and it turns into 2 routes (one heading east and one heading west), (Picture 626016). We followed the undocumented route heading east for about a ¼ mile and could not determine its destination or purpose (F003). The main 4WD route continues indefinitely, however, the vegetation in the center becomes much smaller and sparser and the route becomes much more difficult to follow and less defined (Picture 626015). There is evidence, however, that people using route Z1824 continued along this 4WD road indefinitely.  

Recommendation: Because route Z1824 provides access to a 4WD road that continues to Montenegro Spring and Marble Canyon, both roadless areas, we recommend a complete closure of route Z1824 to motorized use. Closing this route will minimize the amount of traffic that reaches these riparian areas, thus, minimizing damage to these riparian ecosystems and the wildlife and habitat that they support.  

Route N2692

Route description: This is a spur heading south off of the Black Mountain Rd (Route Z1823) (Picture 626019).

Narrative summary: This route is very rocky and shows little signs of recent use because we observed no motorized vehicle tracks (Picture 626020). The dominant vegetation along the trail is pinon-juniper, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush, bitterbrush and rabbitbrush) reaching a maximum center height of ~1.5 feet. We found a growing, low-use camp site with a fire ring (Picture 626021). There is no clear place to spend the night in this area so this camp site could easily expand and encroach upon more area. There is a beautiful view from this area (Picture 626022). There is a 200 yard spur route beginning to form off of route N2692 (Picture 626023).

Recommendation: The purpose of this route is unclear; people may possibly visit this area for camping opportunities. Due to the fact that this route shows no signs of recent use, we recommend raking out that tracks for the first 200 to 300 yards of the route and then using rocks or revegetation efforts to close off access from the main road. This route is not well-defined; our recommendations will make the road unnoticeable to those driving past it.

Route N2693

Route description: This is a spur heading south and east off of the Black Mountain Rd (Route Z1823) (Picture 626024).

Narrative summary: This route is rocky and shows little signs of recent use because we observed no motorized vehicle tracks (Picture 6260025). The dominant vegetation along the trail is pinon-juniper, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush, bitterbrush and rabbitbrush) reaching a maximum center height of 8 inches. We found a stable, low-use camp site with a fire ring (Picture 626026). The route ends at this camp site.

Recommendation: The purpose of this route is unclear; people may possibly visit this area for camping opportunities. Due to the fact that this route shows no signs of recent use, we recommend complete closure to motorized vehicles. We recommend raking out that tracks for the first 200 to 300 yards of the route and then using rocks or revegetation efforts to close off access from the main road. This route is not well-defined; our recommendations will make the road unnoticeable to those driving past it.

Route Z1825

Route description: This is a spur heading south and east off of the Black Mountain Rd (Route Z1823) (Picture 626027).

Narrative summary: This route is very undefined and shows no signs of recent use because we observed only one remnant of an old motorcycle track.  The dominant vegetation along the trail is pinon-juniper, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing perennials (i.e. sagebrush). However, there is not much vegetation in the middle of the route because it is a very open area. There was a good deal of coyote scat and evidence of rodent tunneling along the route.

Recommendation: The purpose of this route is unclear. Due to the fact that this route shows no signs of recent use, we recommend complete closure to motorized vehicles. We recommend raking out that tracks for the first 200 to 300 yards of the route and then using rocks or revegetation efforts to close off access from the main road. This route is not well-defined; our recommendations will make the road unnoticeable to those driving past it.

Route N2689 and associated routes

*N2689 is shown, but rest are not.

Route description: This is a group of loops and spurs roads that begin ¼ mile after the Entrance Station off of the Bristlecone Pine Road (Picture 626029).

Narrative Summary: Along these moderately used, soft sandy routes, we observed motorcycle, ATV and full-sized vehicle tracks (Picture 626031). The routes pass through a pinon-juniper community with Sagebrush, Bitterbrush and Rabbit brush growing in the center of the routes (maximum center height 4 to 5 inches). There is a growing campsite showing signs of moderate use off of one route (Picture 626030). There is a possibility of expansion from this camp site due to the fact that there are many tracks and little vegetation to create a boundary. At the east side of this set of routes, the routes junction with 168, allowing for another entrance or exit point (Picture 626032).

Recommendation: This is a play area for motorized vehicles. We recommend closing the area using signs and revegetation efforts at both crossing with the main road.

 Main    White Mountains Summary    Crooked Creek/Station Peak Map     Previous White Mountains   More White Mountains