The eastern front of an ancient mountain range runs down the
center of today's Pahvant Range. West of this front, the rocks are
limestone, quartzite, sandstone, and shells deposited below sea
level in a gradually deepening ocean basin called a geo syncline.
Compressive forces of continental collision thrust huge sheets of
this sedimentary sequence up and over other sheets to form high
mountain ranges. East of this front, the rocks are conglomerates,
sandstone, and shells shed from these ancient mountains and deposited
at their base. Because this debris was deposited on land, much of
it is red and yellow, in contrast to the drab grays and tans of
the marine deposits on the west side of the Pahvant Range.
Shortly after reaching the ridge top, the trail passes the intersection
of the Bear Hollow Road, Forest Road 100, which is the northern
leg of the Fillmore Loop. A comfort station is available here. From
the high point south of the Bear Hollow road southward to White
Pine Peak the trail alternates between open sage meadows and cool
groves of aspen, spruce, and fir Since the ridge top is fairly narrow,
there are sweeping panoramas from the meadows. Here one can see
all the mountain ranges traversed by the Paiute ATV Trail. A short
distance south of White Pine Peak the main trail intersects the
southern leg of Fillmore Loop, known as the Sand Rock Ridge Road,
Forest Road 103.
After a sharp turn to the east, the trail enters the valley of
Deer Creek. A good road here makes for easy traveling past open
meadows interspersed with clumps of aspen. Farther down the valley
clumps of mountain mahogany, a wood so dense that it won't float,
dot the dry hillsides. Redview Guard Station, located southwest
of the trail, is a remnant of times when travel was slow and difficult,
forcing rangers to remain in the mountains to accomplish their work.
The reaching of the junction of Forest Road 096 with Forest Road
111 completes the loop of the Paiute ATV Trail. Those going to Richfield
continue on Road 096 to the east. The road into Richfield is smooth
in places and rough in others, in either case, it is very slippery
when wet. This side loop of the Paiute Trail passes beside weirdly
sculptured red rocks and offers fantastic views to the south into
Flat Canyon. There is mountain mahogany on the side slopes and aspen
in the bottoms until the trail drops down into the pinyon and juniper.
After crossing Little Valley, the trail rises to a ridge where there
are spectacular views of the Sevier Valley to the east and Dairy
and Flat Canyons to the south. Interlayered red and-white rocks
contrast dramatically with the green vegetation along the Sevier
River.
continued next page
Last changes:
Thursday, December 09, 2010
|