Welcome to the Great Western Trail Forum

[Dwayne]

 I'd just like to take this opportunity to welcome you to GreatWesternTrail.org. The site was inspired by the lack of good information for trail users on the Great Western Trail, and officially came online on Sep 8, 2007. The Great Western Trail is a "multiple use" trail system and provides access for hiking, bike riding, horse riding, snowmobile and atv riding. The trail is so vast and remote that trail users will very rarely encounter other trail users. One should be prepared for all types of weather and conditions. Supplies are difficult to get and communications are limited.
 
Please sign up for a free membership, and be sure to tell your friends/family about GreatWesternTrail.org. 
 
If you'd like to help support the site, please feel free to post Maps, Photos, GPS, Business Information, City and County rules and anything to help all types of trail users have an enjoyable journey.
 
If you'd like to become a Moderator and help maintain the Message Forums, please contact the Administrator at Dwayne@GreatWesternTrail.org, or send a message to Dwayne.
 
Thank you, and enjoy the site!

[buford1025]

Hi.   I don't see a lot of activity.  Is anyone out there?  I'm thinking of hiking from Idaho border to Arizona through Utah.  Is there a set of trails which will allow me to stay off most of the roads?  Is there a set which follow the ridge lines of the peaks in a north-south orientation?  Any issues about securing private propery access?  Permits?  Camp sites?

[Dwayne]

Hi, We do have a lot of email activity for information, however I do wish for more postings on the forum. I'm not sure of your skill level but a hike from Canada to Mexico on The Great Western Trail will be very demanding. Parts of the trail system do follow forestry roads and trails which you will see little if any other traffic. These are very remote areas. The weather will be your number one concern for at the high altitudes of the Great Western Trail freezing rain is common in July. The southern portions are hot desert. You may camp almost anyplace along the trail and no permits are required. Be sure to let someone know where you are and carry a cell phone. You will be for the most part "on your own" in the middle of nowhere. It is remote. Very little private property is used for the trail which is mostly on forestry, BLM and state lands. You will wish to see other trail users after a few days. Please check the Hiking area of this forum for information about two hikers that did actually make this trip.
http://www.greatwesterntrail.org/forum/index.php?topic=11.0
A SUMMER ODYSSEY: Forging America's Great Western Trail. By, James Mayberger.
Please post your make ready and trip for I'm sure others are happy to help and see you have a safe trip.
Thanks

[buford1025]

Thanks Dwayne.

I have hiked the Pacific Crest through Oregon from Washington to California, Idaho from Oregon to Wyoming, Uintas  enough to have covered the entire distance east to west but not in one through hike, and all over the Boulder Escalante area and other places.  I'm fairly confident I know what it will take, but I have to admit I need to get this 55 year old body into fighting shape.  I've got time before April.

No, I'm planning to try the route only through Utah.  I can't just lay down 30 plus days to through hike Utah so I'll try the next best thing.  I intend to break the route up into manageable 2 to 4 day hikes starting April or May in the lower altitudes and on the sections covered by road such as the Skyline trail and East Fork of Logan Canyon to Hyrum sections, then procede to the more isolated mountainous hiking trails such as Aquarius Plateau and Fishlake sections in July and August. 

It might take two years, but I want to try to complete it in 2010. 

[willys jeep]

Greetings to all;
I am a new member who engages in sane ATV trail riding with respect for the land. Living in Wisconsin, I have access to several thousand miles of trails for ATV's only
with the exception of snowmobile use in the winter on a few.  Most trails run through forest land with a variety of soils underneath. As a good portion of the state was glaciated, so we have rocky terrain also. My machines are Kawasaki Brute Force,Yamaha and Polaris.

One of the reasons that I began riding the ATVS was because my lifelong passion (at least 47 years of driving them) for Willys Jeeps was no longer working out. The state had very few trails and many of them in the Nicolet National  forest were being closed due to environmental concerns. I just wanted to say that it is great that this Great Western Trail system exists and while I may never get a chance to ride on it, it is really important for everyone to assist in its care and preservation.
Also,If anyone has an interest in the Willys Jeep (or any Jeeps) I maintain a site of information and imagery for them. Feel free to visit me at: www.willysjeep.com

Thanks for listening