Balanced Rock Road
Very close to the start of the Balanced Rock Road trail, we stopped for lunch. It was around noon and we were hungry. After lunch we started our way down the trail. The snow at the start of the Balanced Rock Road was not that deep at just a few inches on the road.
About a half mile into the trail we passed an older Jeep parked on the side of the trail. We passed the truck, not thinking much of it. But it wouldn't be the last we'd see of the truck.
Most of the road did not have more than a few inches of snow on the trail, but as we got closer to the last switchback the snow got a little deeper at around six inches or so of the white stuff. The last switchback was a very tight curve on a steep hill. We all had to work a little to get around the switchback. We had to drive up this switchback on our way back out of the trail, and we expected it to be fun going in the other direction.
The last part of Balanced Rock Road had a tree that had fallen across the road. Matt cut one end with a hand saw and winched it out of the way. We all got past the tree without a problem. Soon we arrived at the bottom and the end of the trail. The first gate at the end of the Balanced Rock Road was gone, but the second gate was closed and locked.
We turned around and made our way back up Balanced Rock Road. At the tight switchback, Matt and Gary had to winch up the hill. Chris and Walt went around the switchback very quickly and did not have to winch up. It was a lot of fun, and Chris went so fast we thought he was going to fly off the trail. He drove through it like a champ.
At the top of the switchbacks we found the Jeep we had seen earlier. This time he was stuck in the snow and the driver was with it. Gary pulled him out and the truck went up Balanced Rock Road, only to get stuck again. The Jeep had no winch, lockers, or even a shovel. It was in front of us at a spot where the trail was not very wide, so we kept together. After a bit, Matt found enough room to get around the truck in order to pack the snow down and make things easier. The Jeep did fine for a while and then at a wide spot he drove around our group and proceeded to get stuck again.
It took even longer this time to get Matt around the Jeep because the trail was too narrow where we were. When there was room, Matt got around in time to winch him up the hill. The next time, Matt used a tow strap instead of his winch. He towed it up Balanced Rock Road almost to the trailhead. By the time we got there, the sun was going down and it started to get dark.
We all did have fun on Balanced Rock Road, but we were ready for the day to end. The driver of the Jeep was happy for the help and we went our separate ways. We headed off for Mount Herman Road and pavement.
Reports from Other Days: 6
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