Not Tech but request for trip information

[Bloo]

Our local club is going to Moab for a week this spring. We have all manner of vehicle from mild to serious crawlers (Cruisers, 4Runners, Tacomas) trailered and some self-deploying.

I have Wells guide to Moab backroads and trails and a couple of the guys have been there before to wheel. However, I know there is a lot of you all who have logged a serious amount of time on the trails there - any recommendations on what we no-kidding have to visit there? Thanks in advance!

[TEJASYOTA]

This should be posted on Utah's chapter's website.

[Bloo]

Thanks! Didn't think about the chapters.

[devinsixtyseven]

Our local club is going to Moab for a week this spring. We have all manner of vehicle from mild to serious crawlers (Cruisers, 4Runners, Tacomas) trailered and some self-deploying.Are they gonna unfold like a Mars Rover? :flipoff4:

You need to sort out amongst yourselves who wants to wheel the piss out of their vehicle, who wants scenery, who wants hiking, who wants camping, who wants hotels, and who's bringing dogs. No dogs allowed in the nat'l parks, but there is at least one dog sitter in Moab. All the classic hardcore wheeling is near Moab central. All the stuff worth seeing is gonna be a drive, at least a day trip, and in many cases a camping trip.

[Taco Eric]

Just curious.. What club and when in the spring?

[SAR_Squid79]

You can't go to Moab without doing Hell's Revenge.
You shouldn't go to Moab without doing White Rim.

[Bloo]

Are they gonna unfold like a Mars Rover? :flipoff4:.

Yeah pretty high tech -- it's a DARPA club. More than meets the eyes - robots in disguise - :D

We are all going to get together and coordinate the events you suggested. And, we're prepared for a couple of overnights on the trail, too.

SAR - Hell's Revenge and White Rim are on the list - thanks!

[silvertoy]

Check out Elephant Hill trail while you are there. Not too difficult but tons of fun and great scenery! Here is my MOAB trip report from last year:

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99233

[Bloo]

Wow! Awesome pics - I'm motivated. Thanks!

[devinsixtyseven]

White Rim...meh. If you have the time to spend on all the side trips that make it worthwhile, definitely do it! But if you're just gonna drive and snap pics out the windows, there are equally good places to look, and more interesting trails to drive. The trail itself is very easy for the most part, and it is very long...100 miles long. If you want some interesting scenery without having to run the entire loop, you can drop down the Mineral Bottom switchbacks and head to the first campsite, also you can head the opposite direction for a little ways up the river. I would not recommend taking the Schaeffer Trail switchbacks, it's just a graded dirt road and more of an "Oh! Neato!" factor for people who've never taken their SUV off the pavement. Also the exit to Moab from Schaeffer is a bloody fawking washboard and will beat the hell out of your truck. If you have a day to hike, drop down the trail and hike the Syncline loop...get an early start tho, it's a long day. In general, if I only had a week or two each year to spend in Moab, I certainly wouldn't spend it on White Rim unless I were planning on a lot of hiking.

If you do Elephant Hill, don't just run the loop. Take your camping gear, run the loop, go to the overlook, then head back through the Squeeze and take the southern exit to Cathedral Point, and come out at Dugout Ranch. Much, much more interesting drive. Again, you're gonna want some time, and to really make the most of it, you'll be out of the truck a lot.

No dogs in Nat'l Parks. There is a dog sitter in Moab (at least one).

Go to the Sand Flats...Hells Revenge is on my own list, and Fins n Things is fun and fast.

Go through Arches. Take the Klondike Bluffs route (stock can do it), go up and over the bluff and down the other side to the Sal Valley road, and go see Tower Arch, then exit via 4WD Road to Balanced Rock. All easy, stock passable. Lots and lots of sand, so air down, and stay out if it's raining.

Chicken Corners is kinda boring but great scenery, and it's the way you go to hit the interesting part of Lockhart Basin.

Kane Creek and Amasa Back probably also ought to be on your list.

Lockers not required for all of that, only the harder trails. Elephant Hill is no longer hard...they sorta paved parts of it. I guess the fuckery contingent kept breaking rental Jeeps or something, so they made it "safe".

If you're going to Gemini Bridges (short, fun, scenic), you can incorporate Pucker Pass (an easy detour) in to your route there...it's an alternate route from the river up to the top of the mesa. Gemini Bridges is also close to Metal Masher (haven't run it yet).

Sevenmile Rim is kinda fun. You can do it on your own (don't get lost) or in a group. Exit via Wipeout Hill to HW313, or complete the loop.

Secret Spire and Dellenbaugh Tunnel are both pretty neat, plus fast and stock trucks can make both routes.

Get the Natl Geo "Trails Illustrated" maps. They're sold in Moab.

Really built rigs might enjoy Area BFE.

Overland types will enjoy The Maze, if you have several days to spare and the gear to camp & wheel completely self sufficient. Nowhere near Moab, really, but part of Canyonlands Natl Park. Much more than you can take in, in a week...place is huge, and begs for a pair of good hiking boots as well as a good overland kit.

-Sean