Mitchell Lakes Trail Report
BusaDave9
Always Off-Roading Jeeper
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- 1979 Jeep CJ5 with 304 V8, T18 Transmission, Dana 20 Transfer case with TeraLow 3:1 gears, 4.88 axle gears, Detroit Locker up front and Ox Locker in back with 1 piece axle shafts, 36" SuperSwamper SX Tires, Shackle reversal, MileMarker Hydraulic winch, MSD 6A ignition.
I decided to take my CJ5 up Mitchell Lakes trail. I haven't been on this trail since 2009. Then in 2018 there was a forest fire over this area. Then with little vegetation there was heavy rains that washed away many parts of the trail.
The trail was more difficult than I remembered it.
As you can see in this next picture there were some steep switchbacks and the trail was very narrow.
Higher up the mountain there were some flatter areas.
There were some fallen trees blocking the trail. I cut the tree in the above picture and pulled it out of the way with my jeep.
The tree below was much too big for me to cut.
But I was able to get around it.
After all that I get to Mitchell Lakes. They can hardly be called lakes. They have long since filled in with sediment. For that reason I think the trail should be called Hermosa Mountain trail. If you are set on seeing mountain lakes you'll be disappointed.
Storm clouds moved in but not much materialized except a little light rain.
I did a little target practice with my .44-40 Single Action Revolver before heading back down.
The trail was more difficult than I remembered it.
As you can see in this next picture there were some steep switchbacks and the trail was very narrow.
Higher up the mountain there were some flatter areas.
There were some fallen trees blocking the trail. I cut the tree in the above picture and pulled it out of the way with my jeep.
The tree below was much too big for me to cut.
But I was able to get around it.
After all that I get to Mitchell Lakes. They can hardly be called lakes. They have long since filled in with sediment. For that reason I think the trail should be called Hermosa Mountain trail. If you are set on seeing mountain lakes you'll be disappointed.
Storm clouds moved in but not much materialized except a little light rain.
I did a little target practice with my .44-40 Single Action Revolver before heading back down.
