The first was the Safari. We went again last week. That was about as late in the Spring as I think I'd want to do it. We wheeled 4 days. The first couple of days were highs in the mid 70's...perfect. The last day was 93..too hot for me. At home today I drove through a blizzard on a 10k pass. Anyway..

The wife and I got there wednesday afternoon. We camped in the Sand Flats area. Thursday we hit Fins and Things by our lonesome. It was right up the road, and not too tough, a fun trail all in all. Friday, our friends that were supposed to come out were delayed. That morning we went to Porcupine Rim, but turned around not too far from the trailhead. A narrow rock shelf (at the intersection w/ a lower trail) where we'd have to hug the wall while driving over some stacked rocks looked a bit risky for us to traverse while by ourselves. The potential to roll or just get hung up without any backup made us decide to find an alternate route. In looking at the Visitor Guide map they gave us we saw where another potential was about a mile and a half back down the main road..there we hit the lower Porcupine 4x4 trail and had a casual trip around back to our previous location, with some good spotting from my wife I got the jeep up onto our original destination from the lower track..we were back up on the Porcupine Rim Trail, and past the danger spot. From there we 4 wheeled up the Rim until taking an early out near the Sand Flats road. There were just too many mtn bikers on this trail at the time. We then hit the La Sals to cool down at elevation and looped back down to Moab for an early dinner.

Saturday morning....with 3 Jeep loads (all YJ's) of friends having arrived the evening before, and now ready to head out, we went to Poison Spider. Last time out Randy broke down near the Little Arch area and so thats as far as we made it. I then pulled him back to camp from there. We wanted to finish the trail. It was a blast. The waterfall and wedgy were fun to hit again, later the pig rock area and sand hill made for lots of laughs. It was a successful trip w/ no break downs. The 4 Jeeps of friends and our chatter on the CB's made for a great time.

Sunday, day 4 of wheelin for the wife and I. Our start was delayed in tracking down an upper tank fuel leak on one of the YJ's. Old rubber on a vent was to blame and some gas resistant tape made a good fix for a time. We hit Hells Revenge trail.....wow, this is the best Moab trail I've been on so far. What a blast and what scenery! We caught up and passed a group of mostly Cherokees from CO Springs...then we saw a group of 5 Unimogs w/ Tennesse (sp) plates far ahead of us. Lake Michigan was dry, but the fins and domes are too much fun on the first half of this trail. We had lunch at the big overlook with a bunch of other rigs. It was fun to check out the Unimogs and high dollar custom Jeeps w/ their lengthened wheel bases and huge articulation ability. Most everyone had pulled out when a local pulled up in his TJ with 33's and proceeded down the Hells Gate obstacle...from looking at the super steep/narrow track earlier, I assumed it was a rockrail trail only, but here was a TJ heading down it! At the bottom he waited a bit, then slowly crawled up the other side, incredible! At one point the rear passenger tire was only on its sidewall climbing up the steep and narrow V trail. He made it look easy, even though it was so steep you couldnt even walk down it w/o slipping and falling.

Then a Unimog decided to go, the local stayed and spotted him. The mog made it look easy. Then 2 Cherokees from the group we had passed made the Hells Gate drop and steep climb out, that was too much for a friend..he had to try it. With me in the passenger seat and our wives watching, we strapped in the seat harness's and went down to the bottom of Hells Gate. On the way up the big blue YJ with the 35's lifted a front left tire to the point that rolling became a major concern...a slight back up and realignment got us a different line the rest of the way to the top...what a Rush!

Then my wife asked if I'd be doing it in our JK. When I smiled back at her she said you better do it now while the local guy is here to spot us. She then ran to the Jeep w/ me and jumped in. No one was there to take pics as we dropped down to the bottom, all our friends assumed Ann was taking pics. In fact she was with me. The ascent was wild. The Rubicon JK is such a capable vehicle, its incredible. I must have been having an andrenaline dump as the spotter kept telling me to slow down on the way up...it was an amazing obstacle to climb.

Later on the trail we hit the tipover challenge. I went first this time and the JK walked right up its center. Then the big blue YJ did it, but with some hopping and much tire squeal. The white YJ made it up the the first big ledge, but it wasnt easy. Without a front locker they decided to back down, not wanting to further test this obstacle. The 3rd YJ also decided that the bypass was the better wat to go. I dont blame him, he also needs a front locker to help on a steep climb. The rest of the way out was great, but I bet it was better when you could still hit Lions Back. (google the hells gate and/or tipover challenge on the Hells Revenge Trail - it has lots of videos of 4x4's on those obstacles and many roll - I just saw the videos the first time yesterday)

Monday morning our JK that had just spent so much time without its top on, in 4wd low, and with both axles locked was humming the 5.5 hrs home at 80 mph and the air conditioner on. What a ride.

 

 

Wow! Great story! I'm happy to read things like this as it helps us make decisions as to what trails we would like to do (or shouldn't) next time we go. Thanks, I really enjoyed the read.

 

Just curious... Do you have a 2-door or a 4-door? I think the 4-door has the advantage on obstacles like Tip Over Challenge, but the 2-door's breakover angle really makes life easier on a lot of Moab trails.

I've been to Moab probably 100 times in my life... But I've only wheeled there twice since my Jeep obsession is still in its early stages. Oh, the advantage of living in Utah and having family in the Moab area.

 

Sounds cool.

 

Sorry, no pics - the old laptop and dialup connection isnt up to the task...its a priority thing. The JK is a 2 door, I'll add that to my signature. Has anyone checked out the hells gate and tipover challenge vids? Wild!

 

Sounds like you guys had a great time! I love Moab!

Here is a funny old video that's been around for awhile.......if you haven't seen it ....... it captures some of the Moab spirit!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...s+back&pl=true

 

I can't wait to get out there... We are leaving on the 11th, I am not looking forward to the 1,500 mile drive out there; but I can't wait to get there!

 

Wow! A 1500 mile drive to get there. My wife was over there again last week, but doing the National Park tours instead of wheelin. She said the temps werent bad yet. Have a good one.