Route Inventory Data Summaries: 6/28/05
Area: Westgard Pass & Blanco Mtn.
Observers: Mike Klapp and Chris Kassar

  Route 07S13-Mollie Gibson Route

*shown as 7S13 as unimproved road that ends at the Mollie Gibson mine

Route description: This route begins at its junction with Highway 168 (Picture 628001) and heads north through Mollie Gibson Canyon for about 4 ½ miles where it terminates in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.

Narrative summary: The beginning section of this route is very rocky and follows a wash for the length of the canyon (Picture 628002, 628003). Along this rocky section amidst steep canyon walls, we observed motorcycle, ATV and full-size vehicle tracks and classified this route as one of low to moderate use. This is a pinon-juniper community dominated by pinon pines and sagebrush (with a maximum center height of 1 ½ feet). However, for much of the route there is low, sparse vegetation in the center.   

Approximately 8/10 of a mile from the beginning of the route there is evidence of active cutting of vegetation for route access (Picture 628004). About 2/10 of a mile from this cutting, there is a spur route (N1249) heading northwest for about ¼ mile. This route shows signs of low use and its purpose is not clear (Picture 628005).

After following the wash for about 1 ¾ miles, the route leaves the wash and becomes sandier, less rocky and more wide open (Picture 628006). There is a spur route that heads east and south to the Mollie Gibson Mine. We observed ATV tracks taking a shortcut up to the mine where a significant amount of mining debris was found (Picture 628007). The route becomes very narrow and impassable to motorized traffic (Picture 628009) and there is a spur road (N2150) that loops around to the east and back to the route after the narrow, rocky section (Picture 628008, 628010). This route may offer an alternative due to the fact that 07S13 (Mollie Gibson route) becomes impassable to vehicles; however, there are no recent signs to indicate that it is being used. 

Further up the route, we found a campsite with a fire ring, both of which showed no signs of recent use (Picture 628011). There was a significant amount of mining debris in the area, including old tin cans and containers, ceramics and glass. The Mollie Gibson route ends in a T where it junctions with 2 other routes N1899 heading east and N1895 heading up the wash to the west.

Along route 07S13, the dominant vegetation along the trail is pinon juniper with sagebrush, prickly poppy, penstemon, Bigelow’s monkeyflower, lupine, and globemallow growing in the center. We observed sego lilies, aster, desert 4 o’clocks, phacelia, Indian paintbrush and prickly pear cactus growing along the route. We spotted red-tailed hawks, pinon jays, bushtits, Calliope’s hummingbirds, a cooper’s hawk, a turkey vulture and pinon jays, and found canine scat and deer tracks along the route.

Recommendation: This route follows a well-established wash for a good part of its distance and does not seem to be causing that much damage to the area that it passes through. It does, however, provide motorized access to the Bristlecone Pine Forest, an area where motorized vehicle use is prohibited. Therefore, we recommend that the route remain open with certain changes in management. Preventing motorized access to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest would maintain the area’s designation as a botanical preserve and ensure that the National Forest Service and its users are in compliance with the area’s afforded protection as such a preserve. For effective closure, signs and rocks or vegetation should be placed at all areas where route O7S13 enters into the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.

Route N1899

Route description: This is a spur route that begins at the end of route 0S713 (Picture 628012) and heads east for 1/3 mile.

Narrative summary: This route follows a wash and shows no evidence of recent use; we observed only one remnant of a faded motorcycle track (Picture 628013). 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 ~4 inches. We identified other vegetation in the center, including prickly pear cactus, Sego lily, and globemallow. This route is sandy and rocky and ends at an area that seems to be a camping spot. Despite low use, this camping area has 3 fire rings and has the potential to expand if it becomes a well-known site (Picture 628014, 628015). The route ends abruptly with no clear destination.

Recommendations: Close completely to motorized use because this route is in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, a protected area and one that is closed to motorized use. Signs and barriers erected at the junction of N1899 with OS713 may effectively close this spur route to stop illegal motorized access.

Route N1895

Route description: This is a spur route that begins at the end of route 0S713 (Picture 628012) and heads north for ~1 ½ miles. 

Narrative summary: This sandy, rocky and undefined route is steep in sections and is difficult to follow (Picture 628016, 628019). It travels through a pinon-juniper community, while the majority of vegetation in the center is slow-growing  (i.e. sagebrush) reaching a maximum center height of ~ 6 inches. We spotted bristlecone pines, Mormon tea, bitterbrush and rabbitbrush growing along the trail and saw turkey vultures and bushtits while walking. This route shows no evidence of recent use; however we observed remnants of motorcycle and ATV tracks along the route. There is a spur route (Route N1896) that heads east up the ridge and shows no signs of recent use. There is slow-growing high vegetation in the center of this route, as well (Picture 628017, 628018).

Recommendations: Close completely to motorized use because this route is in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, a protected area and one that is closed to motorized use. Signs and barriers erected at the junction of N1895 with OS713 may effectively close this spur route to stop illegal motorized access.

Route N2148

Route description: Spur off of Highway 186 heading N for 1/2 mile (Picture 628020).

Narrative summary: This route is rough, rocky and not very passable (Picture 628021). It travels through a pinon-juniper community, has very sparse vegetation in the middle which is mostly slow-growing (i.e. sagebrush with a maximum center height of ~1 1/2 feet). There was sagebrush, aster, globemallow and Mormon tea along the trail. We saw motorcycle and full-size vehicle tracks and classified this route as one of low use. 

 Recommendations: Remove this unnecessary spur from the inventory. 

Route Z2566

Route description: This Z2566 heads north and east from Highway 168 for about two miles out of Payson Canyon. The route wraps up around a talus slope for the first mile before continuing north for another 1 1/2 miles in a wide canyon.  It appears to be an old mine road with a lot of effort put into constructing it years ago. 

Narrative summary: The first 1/2 mile of this route from the junction with Highway 168 take it up a rocky slope to the northeast (Pictures 628022, 628023). This southernmost section of the route has rock walls both above and below making the route possible in its precarious position as it traverses this steep slope (Picture 628023). We observed one set of recent motorbike tracks, and the slow-growing rabbitbrush and sagebrush in the median reached a center height of approximately 1 1/2'. Numerous rock wrens and sagebrush lizards are found throughout the first 3/4 miles surveyed. Beyond the first 1/2 mile the route continues north in an wide canyon (Picture 628024). This section was not surveyed. 

 Recommendations: This is an amazing old road that clearly took a lot of effort to build. Rock fall appears to be common and will likely close the route unless efforts are made to actively maintain it (Picture 628025). Though there is no obvious and/or overwhelming ecological concerns demonstrated by this route, there is a possible safety concern. Larger motorized vehicles may not be safe along this route as they may disturb the aged engineering. Though it allows access into a beautiful area, we recommend the route be maintained actively by the forest to ensure its safety of it be closed at least to full-sized vehicles. 

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