Meeting times and place

[blt2krl]

Hey gang with 7 days left until we swarm into Moab, I thought maybe we should hammer out where to meet each day and decide were people are going to go wheeling. I thought at the Moab grocery store at 9:00 a.m.. thoughts?

[BRUTUS]

Works for me.

I designate CB channel 12 (atleast initially) for any stragglers that may not make the 9:00am.

I kinda like meeting at night so everyone is on the same page in the morning... go right from breakfast to wheelin. Especially for the 9 hour Moab Rim ride? It just gives more time to hash everything out at night, rather than chewing into wheeling time in the morning.

[fulsizjeep]

Paul - Are we talking the City Market grocery here? It is on the main drag and easy to find.

Jason - Do you mean the Poison Spider, etc long run for Saturday? If so, 9 hours is conservative and would count on 10-12 hours depending on busted rigs, etc.

[shimniok]

The day we run Poison Spider / Golden Spike, I'll be departing from the trailhead around 8 whether y'all are there or not. :D

But 9 at the market is good for the other days...

Scott and I hope to be in town by afternoon on the 18th to run Fins n Things if anyone wants to join.

Why don't we meet for dinner that evening and figure out what we're running on the 19th?

Michael

[blt2krl]

Paul - Are we talking the City Market grocery here? It is on the main drag and easy to find.

Jason - Do you mean the Poison Spider, etc long run for Saturday? If so, 9 hours is conservative and would count on 10-12 hours depending on busted rigs, etc.

Yep the city market grocery. We don't have to meet everyday if folks like. In the past on other un organized type runs, we meet at the city market for 15 mins tops and found out what trails folks were going to run and then went with whom ever we wanted too. I personally am up for any trail. My main reason for coming is to wheel with you folks.

[BRUTUS]

Yep the city market grocery. We don't have to meet everyday if folks like. In the past on other un organized type runs, we meet at the city market for 15 mins tops and found out what trails folks were going to run and then went with whom ever we wanted too. I personally am up for any trail. My main reason for coming is to wheel with you folks.

Thats cool. I am just along for the ride too... first time wheeling Moab and I almost can't contain myself right now. Close on my first house on the 13th... leave for Moab on the 18th.

[shimniok]

It'll all work itself out, no worries. My only thing is, like Jason, I don't want to burn daylight deciding what trail to run. Would rather plan trails over beers the night before :D :alc:

We should be more or less ok on the terrible threesome of Poison Spider / Golden Crack / Gold Bar Rim if we hit the trail by 8:00 or 8:30. I'd bank on at least 10 hrs, given a larger group. If we're going to get upwards of 10 on that run, let's talk about an even earlier departure, in fact.

For the other days, it'll sort itself out ok. Moab is more fun when you are laid back and wing it. There's enuf of us that we can split up too, so it should be a riot. I personally am beside myself with glee. :D

Michael

[blt2krl]

My cell number is 1-208-705-5337. I will be down there on the 17th around mid afternoon. If anyone wants to meet the evening of the 17th let me know and we can see what folks want to run, or we can meet in the morning 18th at the city market at 8,9 or when ever. I'm just trying to understand how to get in touch with everyone.

[Desert Beast]

paul,
im going to be criusing out the 16th but will probably take 2 days to get out there. so ill be out there the afternoon of the 17th. hit me up when you get to town, and we'll meet somewhere (ill pm you my #).

i still dont know where im gonna camp, i was thinking about the sand flats. seems to be pretty close to all the trails.

[shimniok]

Cell: 720 351 8065. CB 12.

Will be in afternoon of 18th and on to Fins n Things, camping that nite.

Want to meet at Moab Brewery at 6:00pm on the 18th?

I'll be at the grocery store on the 19th at 9:00am.

Michael

[BRUTUS]

Cell: 720 351 8065. CB 12.

Will be in afternoon of 18th and on to Fins n Things, camping that nite.

Want to meet at Moab Brewery at 6:00pm on the 18th?

I'll be at the grocery store on the 19th at 9:00am.

Michael

I am down with that. Not sure I will get out of Fort Fun until 5:00pm on the 18th though. Cell: 970-988-9472 Jason

[fulsizjeep]

Sand Flats should have plenty of spaces since no events during that time. It is out by Fins N Things and Porcupine Trails too. I hope the weather lets up by then. I imagine it has been damp and chilly there the past couple days.

Here is the idea Krista and I are settling on recently...
Thu - Steel Bender w/Wally & Artemis
Fri - BFE w/Wally
Sat - Poison Spider thru Gold Bar Rim w/Wally

cells:
Flint 970-759-0156
Krista 970-759-3741
:cool:

Red Rock 4-Wheelers have good trail descriptions:
http://www.rr4w.com/trails.html#sb

[fulsizjeep]

from the Red Rock's site:
Steel Bender (3.5+)
This trail's difficulty rating keeps moving around as the conflicting forces of erosion and trail repair modify the obstacles. The trail lies between Moab and the La Sal Mountains in the vicinity of Mill Creek, a major drainage from the mountains. It crosses the creek a few times and travels a lovely part of Mill Creek Canyon. It overlooks the North Fork of Mill Creek as it climbs to the base of South Mesa on the skirts of the La Sal Mountains. It is another variation on the canyonlands landscape, and it offers further variety to the scenery and the four-wheeling opportunities of the Moab area. The trip can be done in stock 4x4's that have excellent clearance, but only because there are bypasses around some of the challenging spots. Approximate mileages: 30 total, 15 off highway.
Scenery: Portions of the trail are in two beautiful, but different-looking, parts of Mill Creek Canyon. Other portions ride the higher country toward the mountains and overlook canyonlands vistas toward the west from a 6,000-foot elevation.
Road Surface: The canyon-bottom trail crosses stream-washed rocks and the stream itself in a few places. The higher country has dirt and a little sand - all generously mixed with rocks and rock ledges. There is a little slickrock near the upper creek ford.
Obstacles: Mill Creek has a strong perennial flow that is highest in springtime, but the fords usually do no more than dampen your hubs. Not far above the creek is a steep, ledgy chunk of rock that may push some to the easy bypass. As the trail climbs, a succession of rock steps can be difficult for stock equipment, but each ledge area has a bypass. A couple of minor tributary canyons provide steep, rocky descents and testy climbs. Ground clearance is the name of the game. The final creek ford is followed by a short, steep climb that can get muddy and slippery.

Poison Spider Mesa (4) forms one of the cliff features that is part of the Moab landscape northwest of town. The mesa is bordered on the east by Moab Valley and on the south by the Colorado River. Access is via Scenic Byway 279, the "Potash Road," and the trail climbs to the rim along with the sloping rock layers. The first few miles of trail must be retraced, but most of the travel time will be spent on a loop that reaches the rim. It has deservedly become one of our most popular trails because it has great scenery and because the jeeping is just challenging enough to be fun without quite being a vehicle buster. Incidentally, we love the name, but the population of Black Widows is probably no greater than other local areas. Approximate mileages: 37 total, 16 off highway.
Scenery: The vista across the fins of Behind the Rocks toward the La Sal Mountains is as fine as they come. The rim view overlooks Moab 1,000 feet below and includes a panorama of about 300 . The usual lunch stop is just above so-called "Little Arch." Jeep Arch (about 3 miles away) is seen clearly from near the rim.
Road Surface: Much of the loop portion is on Navajo Sandstone slickrock, with one stretch of 0.4 miles of bare rock. There are also rock ledges, sandy washbottom, and two blow-sand hills.
Obstacles: After some switchbacks that traffic is making rougher and a fairly flat stretch, a sandy canyon leads to "The Waterfall" about 2 miles into the trail, where ascent is over several rock ledges that give it the "4" rating. There are steep slickrock climbs, one sand hill may be difficult to climb with tires carrying highway pressure, and one optional sand hill can be quite difficult when dry.

Golden Spike (4+)
The connection between Poison Spider Mesa and Gold Bar Rim was first developed as a jeep trail during the 1989 Jeep Safari. Some folks seem so fond of damaging their equipment that we have made it available most days. Much of the route is near the rim above Moab Valley and offers gorgeous views in all directions. Its main claim to fame, however, is that some bypasses (where they exist!) still rate a 4+. In an effort to get the groups off the trail before dark, we ask that every vehicle have good help in its differentials-at least one locker or two good limited slips.
Scenery: Most of the trail is just atop the sloping layer of Wingate Sandstone and offers vistas to the west and north. Of note are the Colorado River canyon in the vicinity of Amasa Back, the fin country of the north end of Behind the Rocks, and Jeep Arch. The higher north end of the trail opens vistas in all directions. Especially rewarding are the breath-stopping peeks over the cliff rim toward Arches National Park. (Warning! The cliff rim here overhangs in places; the last rockfall was only a few years ago!)
Road Surface: The easy parts are layered broken rock and dirt, while the challenges are solid rock ledges. There is some slickrock, but it is those short, vertical sections that favor tall tires and locking differentials.
Obstacles: After passing the 4-rated Poison Spider Mesa obstacles, there is some easy slickrock driving on fins with one very steep uphill (the Launching Pad) and one steep downhill. There are tight turns in a canyon bottom and one short slickrock ledge, followed by a long stretch of ups and downs over broken rock, with a few sharp steps. The Golden Crack marks the beginning of the final nasty mile to Gold Bar Rim. Highlights are the Golden Steps, Golden Ramp, Double Whammy, and the Body Snatcher. Bring only the best of equipment; the tow truck can't make it.

Gold Bar Rim (3.5+) is a cliff rim that stands about 1200 feet above Highway 191's path in Moab Canyon. Because the rocks behind the cliff slope downward to the southwest, the rim has a 360 vista. Gold Bar Canyon drains away from the rim into the Colorado River. The trail climbs the cliff in stages, first angling up to Little Canyon, then working its way across Gold Bar Canyon to follow the slope of the Wingate Sandstone layer up to the rim. After doubling back from the rim, the trail begins a loop to include Bull Canyon bottom for a view of Gemini Bridges from below. Approximate mileages: 47 total, 25 off highway.
Scenery: The Gold Bar Rim vistas take in almost all of the local country, including Moab and its valleys, the La Sal Mountains, the Book Cliffs, and parts of the Colorado River canyon. The Bull Canyon portion includes the top of a 300-foot pour-off to a lower canyon and it then follows the deepening canyon upstream to where the canyon is again 300 feet deep. The canyon walls have several hard-to-find arches, but the double span of Gemini Bridges makes it one of the prizes of the region.
Road Surface: Most of the miles are typical of our trails, sandy dirt punctuated by some surface rocks. There is quite a bit of slickrock near Gold Bar Rim, a little blow sand in Bull Canyon and Little Canyon bottom, and some rocky wash bottom in Bull Canyon.
Obstacles: The most difficult driving is up the final slopes to Gold Bar Rim and returning across Gold Bar Canyon. Some prefer to walk a short distance to the rim rather than risk the sheet metal damage that has befallen others on the last rocky step. The trail might be rated 3½ except that heavy use has dug out the base of a big rock ledge on the return across Gold Bar Canyon. Many vehicles have required help to get up. In order to avoid making this a 4-rated, one-obstacle trail, we may try to make the obstacle a little easier.

[fulsizjeep]

Just got back from chiropractor. Was down with migraine yesterday. Not going to Nebraska quite yet. Will be lucky to pull off Moab if I don't over do it the next few days. That's a fact and I am stickin to it... :cool:

[shimniok]

Here is the idea Krista and I are settling on recently...
Thu - Steel Bender w/Wally & Artemis
Fri - BFE w/Wally
Sat - Poison Spider thru Gold Bar Rim w/Wally

Funny you mention Steel Bender as I was looking that one over and was real interested in doing that trail (never done it before)

Not sure what BFE is ...

Michael

[Gambler68]

Funny you mention Steel Bender as I was looking that one over and was real interested in doing that trail (never done it before)

Not sure what BFE is ...

Michael Moab is BFE, lol.
Hey if you still have those 2 hooks on your page there, I'll buy em if you bring with to Moab.

[fulsizjeep]

AFAIK, BFE is accessed by the same road that goes to Upper Helldorado. But I don't think that obstacle is called that any more. Approx 12 miles south of town on the left, east side. Before you get to Hole In The Rock.

No Ryan... Utah is BFE... ;)

Right On Michael. You wanna run Steel Bender with us. We did it in 01. I heard it change over the course of a wet season, but there are "go arounds" for most the difficult spots. Good ride to warm up on. We'll get to excercise this J20 while we are at it. :cool:

[Desert Beast]

well its a beautiful day here in sunny moab. look forward to seein' ya'll out here.

my cell is 310-714-0262

im gonna be camping @ sand flats so i might not get reception, but ill be criusing into town this afternoon.

[BRUTUS]

well its a beautiful day here in sunny moab. look forward to seein' ya'll out here.

im gonna be camping @ sand flats so i might not get reception, but ill be criusing into town this afternoon.


OOOOH man am I excited. It is hard to focus on work when I hear that it is a beautiful day in Moab.

[Desert Beast]

ya well today was crappy. windy'er that schite.

hopefully tommorow will be better.

[shimniok]

I do hope to find out tomorrow. Should roll into town in the early afternoon if all goes well.

I'm not a big fan of wind... when that happens its definitely time to roll up the windows and stay inside the jeep... :hide:

Seriously tho... I was stuck working all day instead of being in Moab as originally planned. I am SO much luckier than you. :rolleyes:

Anyway, it may rain on Saturday which could add some interest to the poison spider / golden spike / gold bar trail... hope nobody chickens out. :)

Can't wait to hit the road...

[letank]

ya well today was crappy. windy'er that schite.

hopefully tommorow will be better.
I would have traded you, try donner pass in a blizzard.... last nite (tuesday) but as soon as i passed chain control..... there was nobody on the freeway

otherwise from lovelock to emigrant pass... a lot of flurries.... some freezing fog...... Had to stop to get winter wiper blades this morning (wednesday)

Very windy as well, I had to tuck a glove between the door and the dashboard

Off in Provo tonite

After looking at the weather.... i booked a room at the apache motel.... it is a double... if someone needs a place to crash

I should be in Moab around noonish thursday

[shimniok]

Hoping for a less "interesting" trip than you had, Michel... the "E" is packed and ready to roll... heading in about 5 min to meet Scott, should be officially on the road in ~ 30.

Michael