MOAB EXPLORER EXTRAVAGANZA 2001

[HIX]

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!

Here is an excerpt of a of an article at

http://www.4x4now.com/utwvjs.htm

it talks about how some of the "trails" that we have been riding on are not designated trails at all.

"What harm does it do to drive over non vegetated slick rock? I will give you an example of a recently contested route. When I first drove through "Hell’s Gate", it was two pristine slick rock chutes connected by a short sand covered ravine. There were no marks on the walls or tire marks. Now, there are numerous scrapes and deep gouges in the sides of the slick rock walls from vehicles tipping over and in some cases being winched out. These gouges will take thousands of years to erode out of the sandstone. ( I may be sounding like an environmentalist here but should we all not be considered environmentalists since we are the ones using the land and trying to protect it? I would also like add that I would love to have this "route" be "designated" so we can legally use it, it’s a blast!) The tire marks only encourage others to follow. This route did not exist 5 years ago and was not part of the original Hell’s Revenge trail. Whoever started this optional obstacle did not bother to check the regulations since the area is designated travel to existing routes only and therefore "Hell’s Gate" is an illegal route. Since then, everyone that followed, including myself, thought it was OK to drive there. This is not to imply there are no optional obstacles along Hell’s Revenge or any of the other Easter Jeep Safari Trails. There are many traditional designated options."

I encourage everyone to read this article and we should change our planned trail runs accordingly. We should not help shut down the very place we love!

 

[GJarrett]

HIX, I am confused. I read the article and Hell's Gate is the only specific obstacle mentioned. Is there more to the article? What trails have we run that we should not run now? I am only aware of us running the trails listed in Charles Wells book, which seems to closely map the EJS runs and the established easy runs which usually even have state signs pointing them out. Or being led by Dan Mick on a prerun. The one exception is that I am trying to contact the Red Rock 4 Wheelers to verify the status of whether Lower Helldorado is a "real" trail, and I have found out yes it is, it is an unused uranium mine road that became a 4+ trail through decades of non-use and several flash floods. It is incredible when looking at the pictures but it is actually a decades-old road.

What trails should we change plans for and not run? We need to do it right but need better and/or more specific information.

 

[HIX]

I think what we need to do is follow official maps of the trails and keep the "optional" side trips to a minimum if we do not know if they are a true trail. It's not the trails i am talking about it is the "I wonder where those tracks go?" that worries me. Many trails have been built w/ the BLMs auth.

I am just saying that we need to be careful. That's all.

 

[Rick]

Hix,

All of the trails we did last year as a group were "designated" trails and we didn't wander off of them to scout new terrain. One advantage of running in May is that all of the trail markers have been freshly painted by the Red Rock Four Wheelers for the EJS. That makes staying to the trail that much easier. Golden Spike has spikes painted on the ground. Fins and Things has little dinosaurs, Hells Revenge has fire symbols etc...

I had originally intended to run Hells Revenge with the big dawgs, but no one wanted to go on that run. "Hells Gate" or the "Gates to Hell", which ever you preffer is an optional obstacle along the Hells Revenge trail. There are other obstacles such as "Mickeys Hot Tub" and T"he Car Wash" which have been used for years, but aren't officially part of the trail.

I believe the author of the article you cited has good intentions, but I hardly see that tire marks or scratches on rock constitute a threat to our environment.

 

[Peter Weber]

Rick,
tire marks amd scratches on rocks are one thing. Although, there is currently a big controversy going on about somebody lighting a fire under the Delicate Arch and getting smoke and chemical residue (they used a Duraflame log) on the surface. I know, that's in a National Park and doesn't neccessarily apply. What troubles me is that invariably liquids get spilled (oil, differential, transmission, coolant). That's what makes it important to stay on the designated trails, which is all HIX pointed out and I believe you are agreeing with.
I was bothered at last years Moab run by the statement by the driver of the vehicle with the starter problems (I'm not quoting names on purpose). He also had a leaking front differential. When I asked him the next day if he got that fixed too, his answer was that he's leaking not much more than a quart a day and he'll just keep refilling it. I don't think that would fall into the 'Tread Lightly' category. Cavalier attitude like that is what gives the people that want to close the trails their ammunition. Let's not play into their hand.

[Edited by Peter Weber on 11-27-2000 at 04:28 PM]

 

[climbnkd]

GJarret, guess I will just post this stuff like others have done and you can put it on the other page.

arrive:late thursday night.
depart:sunday evening

I'll run with the stock trucks
trail rating: 3

I will be staying at the Riverside Oasis Campground (just north of town) and there will be one or two others with me.

 

[Rick]

The way to Upper Helldorado. "They say to keep your tires on the black marks to the right"

//www.topomap.to/trails/upheld.jpg

YEAH RIGHT. I'm not squeezing the Pumpkin through that tight pinch!! That boulder to the left looks like it's poised to catch anyone who slips off the correct "line".

 

[Perry]

Rick,
Looks like that rock to the left has already caught a few people. (all the white on the tip of the rock)

 

[HIX]

GJarrett,

I don't have a GPS but I am getting one for my Pops for X-mas. I am sure I can borrow it. I am thinking that we could run a couple 3+ trails on Wed b/c there will be only a few of us. Any ideas on a couple trails? I think my wife might come w/ so we can't get too crazy. The last time I took her wheeling she got out of the truck and wouldn't get back in until it flattened out. that was 2 1/2 YEARS ago. She hasn't gone w/ me since! Of course that was in a 73 blazer w/ 35s that would sputter if it was too steep.

Rick,

As far as scrapes and tire marks on the rock go...sure they don't harm the water table or the air. They do however detract from the natural beauty of the area. Driving off the trail and into a pristine field doesn't really harm the evironment either. To me it still isn't right to leave the trail and drive up the optional slick rock climb like many of us did on Poison Spider Mesa. I am not pointing fingers b/c I have done it in Moab too w/o knowing for sure. We should just be absolutley sure it is part of the trail before we do it. That's all I am saying.

 

[Rick]

Hix, we didn't run anything that Dan Mick didn't guide us too when we went scouting with him. Dan is a Red Rock Fourwheeler in fact he's one of the originals. He used to be the mayor of Moab. Dan is also the guy who opened the Golden Spike Trail, and he even has an obstacle named after him...Mickey's Hot Tub. As long as we were on his route I don't feel guilty about "leaving the trail".

 

[HIX]

Just after the "wedgie" about 1/4 mile down the trail the trail does a hairpin turn. Right befor the hairpin there is a cutoff where you take a right hander up a very steep slickrock climb that connects back to the trail after the hair pin some people took that. I myself went down it on the way back out. That wasn't there 2-3 years ago(I have been there every year since I was 17, I am 24 now). This is what I believe the author was getting at. I am not trying do anything more than to say lets be careful. OK?

[Edited by HIX on 11-28-2000 at 10:56 AM]

 

[riffman]

yeah...that makes sense.....is wedgie the one where its a big crevace that you kind of have to straddle the whole way up? which trail is that on? cause i have seen all these "landmark" obstacles in magazines and stuff, and am wondering what trails are they on? (ie golden crack, etc.) anybody know?

 

[HIX]

Check out this page

http://www.4x4now.com/mu4wd.htm

It has all the trails and a write up on each

 

[rpenner54]

Originally posted by riffman
yeah...that makes sense.....is wedgie the one where its a big crevace that you kind of have to straddle the whole way up? which trail is that on? cause i have seen all these "landmark" obstacles in magazines and stuff, and am wondering what trails are they on? (ie golden crack, etc.) anybody know?

Its that one where you see me sitting up there on one wheel. I think?

 

[GJarrett]

Ryan, where IS that picture? I searched the old Moab threads and cannot find it. Was it on the lost thread? I remember seeing not only a short video but also a still shot. Where is that thing?

Riffman, in addition to the link that HIX provided (which is also listed on the itinerary thread) that book by Charles Wells will give you all the info you can absorb. I take it you don't have the book yet?

HIX, anything you want for Wednesday works for me. I can't get there until noon so I will only be good for one run. I had Flat Iron Mesa down but could easily trade a Thursday trail such as Seven Mile Rim for Flat Iron Mesa. Whaddya think?

There is a strategy to what I am trying to do. Check the itinerary thread and look at the Modified runs I proposed, and then crossreference those trails to page 8 of the Wells book that lists the trails in the order of difficulty. You will note that as a modified, if I can keep up with that schedule from Wednesday through Monday, I will have covered EVERY 3.5 - 4 trail in all of Moab from Fins & Things to Poison Spider Mesa in one single Moab trip (with the exception of Lockhart Basin - a remote two-day trip). Probably cannot be done but what a goal to shoot for. I am wondering what other modified owners would be interested in trying to pull this "hat trick" off with me. It would be a butt-buster both physically and mechanically, but I am giving it very serious thought.

[Edited by GJarrett on 11-28-2000 at 05:15 PM]

 

[Rick]

You mean this shot!!

Ryan getting a wedgie on the Poison Spider Mesa Trail

And here is the video clip:
http://www.explorer4x4.com/ryan2whls.mpg

 

[riffman]

Originally posted by GJarrett
that book by Charles Wells ...... I take it you don't have the book yet?

Haha..no, see when i did a search, the book that came up was somthing about dinosaurs!! but now that i got the author, i can get it!! Rock!!!! (crawling hehehe)

so this isn't wedgie?

 

[Rick]

The second picture is looking from the top down. The shot of Ryan is from the bottom up.

 

[HIX]

I could be wrong but I think that Riff's pick is from Hell's Gate. It is on Hell's Revenge trail.

 

[rpenner54]

Re: You mean this shot!!

Originally posted by Rick

Ryan getting a wedgie on the Poison Spider Mesa Trail

And here is the video clip:
http://www.explorer4x4.com/ryan2whls.mpg

I like that shot!!! Its my backround at work! It should be on the main page.