Need HELP - Would You Like to Trailboss a Stock Run In Moab?

[GJarrett]

Important subject. Keep this thread on topic and concise - I'll delete any extraneous posts.

With the sad news that Tom Wilk will not be able to join us this year, the only stock/superstock run with a trailboss is the Friday 3-D Trail day with Peter Weber. You will note that we have three separate runs available each day: so that from Friday - Sunday each driver can cover them all over the course of the weekend.

We have at least a dozen drivers arriving by Friday morning who are planning to run the easier trails. I need HELP, but it will take a willingness to serve from you if you wish to help. I won't call it sacrifice, because I did the same thing last year and will again this year and I still have the time of my life. But -- it will require a focus upon specific trails you wish to run.

Moab is vast and many of the trails contain confusing sections. The first time on a trail is sometimes confusing and oftentimes offers the possibility of getting lost. To be a Trailboss means you need to know the trail and have run it before.

I am looking for people willing to run the same trail twice. For example, someone needs to run with Peter Weber on the 3-D trails Friday and then be Trailboss Saturday. Someone who runs with that Trailboss Saturday needs to be willing to lead it Sunday, etc; for each of the three runs. Someone participating in the Arches National Park run Friday while Peter's group is over on the 3-D trails will need to be the leader the next day again at the Arches and so on. If you've got GPS that's a definate bonus.

A Trailboss also needs to have digested Charles Wells' Moab guide and memorized the trail they wish to lead. Last year the first trip up to Top of the World was the maiden voyage for those of us who went, but we had studied the guide very closely and made it through a couple of confusing intersections and blank slickrock on the trail with no problem.

Last year I ran Top of the World three times, Gemini Bridges twice, and scouted Steelbender with Ray Lobato before returning the next day with the rest of the group to run it again. I will run new exciting trails this year, but I will also repeat those trails I ran last year again this year in order to lead them, though I would rather go out to Elephant Hill which I haven't run yet. Not enough time to do it all; maybe next year. I believe we all realize Rick can run wherever he dang well pleases with his current rig, but he will lead the modifieds Saturday on Fins N' Things and Porcupine Rim, both of which he has already been on before and are trails much easier than what he is capable of tackling.

Who among you can arrive early enough to scout a trail and then are willing to volunteer to lead others on it? I want to spread the responsibility so that all Trailbosses still get two full days of different experiences in Moab.

If you are willing to step up to the plate and assume a role in this year's run I'd like to hear from you.

 

[Alec]

Gerald,
I'm probably arriving some time mid thursday. If there is time, I'd be happy to do some prerunning and scouting. However, 1) I don't have much time to bulk up on trail books and 2) My truck is 2wd (will be locked). I also wont have some of the heavy equipment such as a winch, hilift. I'll be happy to take some of the responsibility of a trail run, but probably cant be the full "boss". But I'd like to help out as much as I can. So here's what I offer: if someone needs help bossing, I'll try to prerun the run and am very quick at memorizing maps. If you need a navigator, I'm your man! I'll be "assistant boss".

 

[Perry]

Gerald,
Let me talk to my dad and see if he would be willing to help out. We will be there early and maybe we can do a run with them so he can get used to it. He has the book, but will be in a stock Explorer.
I'll let you know in a couple of days.

 

[leebo]

Gerald.....I will be getting there Early Saturday morn...so I can go on a "pre-run" on saturday and I'll lead a run on Sunday if you want. I know that only one run isn't always enough time to grab everything....but matched with a good runner I'm sure he can lead me where to go. I haven't yet ordered the book due to the fact that I'm not 100%(I am about 90%) sure if I can make it. Is this the right one???
Guide to Moab, UT Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails

If so I'll order it ASAP. I also have been looking into some sort of GPS so I guess I should just shut-up and order it. I'll be honest with you.....I'm not 100% confendant right now on leading a group due to my lack on knowledge of the area, but if you are pressed for on I'll be more than happy to run one. Just let me know.

Lee

 

[GJarrett]

Yep Lee that's the book. Alec, I'll keep you in mind and put you as tailgunner on a trail.

 

[Peter Weber]

To start off this post: I'm looking for someone to share my reserved room at the Sleep Inn (2 queen beds, $69 + tax). Tom Wilk was going to bunk with me but, as Gerald posted, had to back out.

Now to the real business. This is for anybody toying with the idea of helping out by being a trail boss for the stock/superstock group.

The trails selected are designed so that stock vehicles can navigate them. Having 4wheel drive is probably a good idea, but if the driver knows what he/she is doing, even a 2wheel drive with LS (like Alec) will be alright.

To reiterate one more time: I am completely stock with the exception of added factory skid plates. I do have 4x4 and LS, but I consider that still stock since these are common factory options.

My first run last year at Moab was Top of the World. This is, in my opinion at least, the most challenging of the planned stocker runs. I scraped the passenger side step bar (factory step bar, not a rock slider or anything like that) and pushed it up maybe a 1/4 inch. I took the step bars off for the first CCR the previous fall, but for Moab decided I'd rather protect my rocker panels and give up a little clearance.

I also did the Klondike/Arches trails and they didn't present any problems either.

Navigation of the 3-D trails is not difficult (why do you think I volunteered for it), so anybody doing the trail with me on Friday should not have any problems leading it on Saturday or Sunday.

Being trailboss doesn't mean you need to be equipped with a winch, a welder and all the other possible tools and gadgets available for offroading just so you can take care of any problems that might develop. You are responsible to verify that everybody in the group has the required equipment (see Geralds list), lead the group along the trail (hopefully the one you want to be on ) and not loose anyone in the group. Any problems are solved by everybody in the group working together. I know a few things about vehicles, but I'm not a mechanic, so nobody better expect major trailside repairs performed by me. If there is a breakdown, everybodies experience is drawn on. That's why we go in groups and always highlight the fact that going off by yourself into difficult terrain is not a smart thing to do.

Ok, now all that being said, who's going to volunteer? Come on guys, there's no fee charged for these events, so everybody has to pitch in a little.

 

[leebo]

ordering it right now......in fact as I type this post it's going through.

 

[HIX]

If you're in a pinch I'll lead one or two. I don't believe in the "book" though.....so it would just be from map and memory. Let me know.

 

[GJarrett]

Well said Peter. These trails will not require winches and similar equipment. If they did, they wouldn't be suitable for stock vehicles in the first place. I don't believe I have seen too many winches installed on stock vehicles.

Alec, I haven't been on the 3-D trails or Arches trails (yet), but since Peter is saying that Top of the World is the toughest of the bunch (and that is seconded by the difficulty ranking at the front of Charles Wells' book) then you'll have no problem leading either of those even with your 2wd, especially since you will have a locker in the rear. Your blower should help a little for your lack of a low range. You should be able to lead either of those other two runs and still participate in the Top of the World/Gemini Bridges run on your other day as tailgunner if you wish to.

 

[Alec]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, um guess its being implied that I should fully boss a run. Set me up for bossing a run on Sunday. On Sunday, I'll have 2 days of wheeling under my belt and still have some of Monday to have fun not bossing. So sign me up for one of those easier trails.

Can you give me the full info on the book so I can get it? Or better yet, a link to the book on Amazon.com? Thanks!

Also, this will be my first time bossing a run so I want some good help. Thanks.

Yay, post 1200!

 

[GJarrett]

Alec, buy the book through this site so Rick will earn a few pennies off of the link. Go to the Main Page, click on Explorer Bookstore, then click on 4x4books.com and once there page down to the 4wd Trails books by Charles Wells. The third link is his Moab book.

HIX, thanks for volunteering to help if more stockers don't respond. I really appreciate that.

Perry, let me know what your dad says.

 

[Michael]

Gerald,

I'll jump in the same boat as Hix. If you don't get enough stocker response, I'll lead something. I've got the book and plan to arrive on Wednesday. Just let me know what I can do.

 

[Perry]

Gerald,
I talked to my dad tonight and he said since this is his first time out there and first time going in a big group he would rather not be a leader.
I think he would help out by being the tail or looking at the book and watching the directions, but he didn't want to lead.
Sorry about that.

 

[leebo]

I'm in.....I just uped my guess to about 98% sure that I'll be there. I'll be more than happy to run a trail on Saturday and lead it on Sunday. The book will be here on Monday and I'll go over the trails. Just let me know.

Peter.....got your email.....I'm really looking foward to White Rim. A few people from work were talking about biking it before and said it was great. I also wasn't sure about sleep.....so driving on Tuesday will be fine.....I doubt I'll have to be at work till 5pm anyways. As long as we leave by around 7 we'll be fine.

 

[wabbit]

I'll break a wake...

Gerald,
Lemme review the itinerary and peruse my book.
I'll let you know for sure which days/trails I can lead.
I'm getting a GPS setup and I may have the opportunity to do a prerun this spring.

 

[Jefe]

Gerald,
I'll volunteer for the job. I've never been to Moab before, but I could prerun a trail on thursday, or with another group on fri or sat as mentioned, and I have the book and have already read through the trails we are taking.

 

[GJarrett]

Thanks Guys. How About This? Thoughts Please...

First off I want to thank all who responded to this thread. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate each one of you for volunteering to help pitch in. There are 22 vehicles signed up to take the stock runs and you guys are the ones to answer the call.

Before running through this preliminary solution, I'd like to clarify my thoughts concerning two of you whom I haven't scheduled yet to help, especially since you took the trouble to volunteer when others wouldn't and in HIX's case, he's not even stock and still stepped up to the plate when others would not. Also Wabbit I am still keeping you in mind but have not heard further from you so I'll keep you in mind as a "flyer" for just in case.

Firstly, Leebo, if you are still on the schedule that you mentioned to me via email, it would be way too much to ask of you to work all day, drive all night, then immediately run a full day on the trail as soon as you arrived in town. You really do need at least a half day's rest. I have an alternate plan for Gemini Bridges for you Saturday afternoon; read below.

Secondly: HIX, bless you, but since you don't believe in the book and will rely on memory, and I checked the other "What have you run, and want to run?" thread and note that you have run none of these trails - hence you have no memory of them - I'm a little hesitant to put you up front, understand? - with one possible exception. I would like to save you as a hole card for the Arches Park run just in case. You do point out that you depend on maps and those trails will be well described in the maps at the entrance gate to the park. As I will explain in a minute, I am hoping to get those runs covered via a couple of draftees whom I just emailed. If I can get them, you really need to run the other stuff you want to anyway which are way beyond these trails. I appreciate your willingness and will do my best not to have to use you unless I have to so you can run what you want to with more capable vehicles.

Now on to business.

Of the 22 vehicles scheduled to run stock runs, approximately only a dozen will arrive in time for Friday's runs. So only two runs will be scheduled for Friday. Arches Park will only be run on Saturday and Sunday. With a little luck, those arriving midday Friday may time it such as to catch the return from Top of the World and join that group on the way to Gemini Bridges. Both 3-D and Arches Park are out in the same area away from town all day and do not offer a chance for midday arrivals to meet and join.

Okay, here goes. Please give me some feedback. This is the best I can think of right now.

Arches Nat'l Park (Klondike Bluffs and Tower Arch, including other stops such as Delicate Arch, Windows, etc):
Thursday Prerun: Gerald and TBA (WilleChu, MrBean972, and/or Rand Martinez)
Saturday : TBA or HIX
Sunday: TBA or HIX
I will prerun this trail for the stockers on Thursday. Klondike Bluffs has one confusing section that may take some scouting - the type of time wasting event I do not want to occur during the "official" group runs. There are three stockers (Willie Chu, MrBean972, and Rand Martinez) arriving by Wednesday that did not respond to this thread. I have emailed each of them (and Wabbit, just in case he could) asking two of them to join me Thursday in learning the area and then for each of them to choose leading either Saturday or Sunday. Since they will be in Moab early, they could do this and still make all of the runs on their "off" days. I feel sure I can get at least one volunteer and probably two from a group that will be in Moab starting Wednesday. As a last-ditch measure HIX can lead one day, but HIX, you get first pick since you are making a sacrifice to help a group whose own members won't volunteer to help themselves. If it comes down to your having to lead them, look at the modified/BigDawg runs and figure out which day you want to run with them and I will "draft" the stock leader to take the other day.

Top of the World and Gemini Bridges
Thursday Prerun: Michael and Jefe
Friday: Michael or Jefe
Saturday: Jefe or Michael
Sunday: TBA or Leebo

TOTW has one area of confusing dual right-hand-turn fourway intersections interspersed within another double intersection and a little blank slickrock after the "cougar gate" to worry about in route-finding. It's the area described at the bottom of pg. 183 beginning when Mr. Wells writes "A road goes right at 4.6 miles but don't turn yet". If you get through all of that to the gate you're okay except for the blank slickrock which doesn't go too far without it being obvious where the only path really is.

Mr. Wells's book clearly describes the confusing area, though. Assuming you pay very close attention to the exact directions in the book and have an accurate odometer to match his directions, the trail can be run error-free the first time out. Of the 9.6 miles to the top before returning, the first six miles are 2wd easy. The hardest section is coming off of the top loop on the return and the stockers will be going down the ledges, not up, so aside from some robust skidplate testing they should be fine. The bone-stockers who ignore our hints for Moab preparation may go home wih a rear bumper a little bit higher than they arrived with, but otherwise will be fine. The incredibly speechless awesome view is what makes the trip what it is.

Once back off the Top the plan is to return to the Moab area and then hit Gemini Bridges. There is one spaghettiworks of an intersection on the Gemini Bridges trail that requires strict adherence to the Wells book along with a GPS or accurate odometer, or you can easily take the wrong offshoot and go awhile before realizing it doesn't seem to match where you thought you should be going. Mr. Well's book doesn't point it out as particularly confusing but only lists at which mile points to turn. As a matter of fact I cannot picture the intersection by reading his book; possibly people got lost later on and made more connecting roads since he wrote it. There is a real possibility of making that wrong turn unless his directions are very carefully followed.

I would like to suggest that Michael and Jefe do the prerun together Thursday and then split Friday and Saturday. Someone who runs with them one of those days will have to volunteer to lead Sunday. If no one wants to, this is where Leebo comes in. Lee, you get your sleep Saturday morning after arriving in Moab. Meet Saturday's TOTW/Gemini group in midday Saturday and go to Gemini Bridges, learning the trail and the confusing area I mentioned. Then you could lead the run Sunday. As long as you carefully study the Wells book you can go to Top of the World as your virgin run. We did last year and did fine. Then when you bring Sunday's group back to Gemini Bridges you will already have run it the day before and leading it should be a slamdunk.

3-D Trails (Hidden Canyon, Hidden Canyon Overlook, Bartlett Overlook/alternate Tusher Tunnel)
Fridayeter Weber w/ Alec
Saturday: Alec
Sunday: TBA
Someone is going to have to appear here during Friday and Saturday's runs to volunteer for leading Sunday after having participated with Peter or Alec. Possibly this could be the flyer that Wabbit could step in for. Peter this is going to be your baby to plan out how you wish to run this. The actual EJS run combines the first three trails but to do so means that by finishing the Bartlett Overlook and then going north via the sandy shorcut to Hidden Canyon, half of the Hidden Canyon loop will be missed where the sandy road meets it. Bartlett Overlook is mentioned in the book as a good trail to graduate from easy to moderate and I hope you can work the whole run in. If you are planning on going the opposite direction I know you'll do a great job leading another way. I trust you that understanding your path is easier for newbies than understanding your accent on a CB, my friend

Tusher Tunnel can be a quick freebie extra run thrown in on the way out if there is time. If no one is willing to help Peter and Alec once both days are finished, then the Sunday group can study their books that morning and go have their own fun. It may work out fine that way anyway apart from time wasted studying maps and the book and discussing routes to take at each intersection. I don't see where anyone can get lost too bad on those runs so as long as the whole group works it out they can enjoy the whole day. It's preferable to have someone know where they are going but it can work out fine anyway, as it did for us last year at Top of the World.

Thoughts?

PS: If any of the rest of the 22 Moab stock trailrun participants are reading this post and wish to contribute to this event, you will note that of the eight runs scheduled for you, there are four "TBAs" on that tentative schedule above. I am still looking for help. You need not feel inadequate because you don't have a built rig or haven't been to Moab before. You just need to be willing to help - others of us will be happy to assist you and make sure that you lead sucsessfully on your day. This trip will be the time of your life and I can testify to the feeling of satisfaction gained by being a part of contributing to its success.

 

[wabbit]

Can do, yessiree...

I will be running Top of the World on May 1st so I can volunteer to lead that group on Saturday.
Here's my offering:
We will arrive early Friday morning and will run 3-D.
Saturday, I can lead the TOTW group.
Sunday, I can be a "flyer" for either of these two IF NEEDED.
If those bases are covered, we would prefer to run Arches on Sunday.

 

[GJarrett]

Warren, you are the man! If you can do TOTW Saturday then that is your day. Michael and Jefe, can you split Friday and Sunday instead of Friday and Saturday? That way Warren gets all of his trails. I don't want to penalize anyone for offering to help.

The only thing is that would leave both you and Leebo Saturday with a group going to Gemini Bridges when none of you know the way. There is an issue there since Saturday night is the group dinner and getting lost for an hour or so going to Gemini Bridges that day may be problematical. Warrren is there any way at all you could verify the trail to Gemini Bridges during your early May prerun to make sure it goes smoothly that day?

 

[Michael]

Gerald,

I would rather lead on Friday so that the prerun will be fresh in my mind. Being a fairly novice wheeler, I think that leading a smaller group Friday will be better for me.