April Trails...So Far!

Gopher Flats
April, 2019
Moab, UT


Moab...after six long months we are finally settled in at our favorite place to be !

Our first sunrise here...

We love it here at Gopher Flats... 

Apple blossoms...

and the pups do to.

Jack waits patiently to play ball...

   

Sally is constantly looking for grasshoppers...

Dover naps...

The weather has been such a hodgepodge...warm, cold,  heavy downpours, snow, dreary grey clouds, bright blue skies, breezy, and gusty winds that shook the MH.  A local said yesterday that in Moab can you experience all four seasons in a single day.  I think maybe he was right ! 

Still, we have enjoy a few trail runs.

Kane Creek Canyon: 

Kane Creek is a fun trail.  The trail itself is about 14 miles of  of desert,

We were following Dee...

 riparian,

Jeff, followed by Duane, makes one of the several creek crossings...

 and switchbacks.

Dee took this picture of our hearty trail warriors.

Each landscape offers a lot of fun, challenges and gorgeous scenery.  My favorite section is the riparian just because we don't see that much water in the desert. The cottonwood trees line the creek for several miles.




This time of year the leaves are just beginning to pop out, but in the fall the colors glow.





Poison Spider:
I can't say enough about Poison Spider.  We first did Poison Spider in June, 2014. What a hoot that was to drive Pearl (our 2013 JK...back then it was on 33" tires).  That year, with Dee's help we climbed the waterfall, did a wedgy, and drove the fins.  Ever since that day, Poison Spider has always been a special trail for me.  Wile E. is a lot of fun on Poison Spider too...we can take a harder line adding to the excitement.  Our first Poison Spider run this year was especially fun since we were with Harold and Tareese (friends from Germany)...

Harold skillfully works his way down The Chute.

and Al and Linda (friends from Washington state).

Al's Samuri flexes its way up The Chute.

Poison Spider is what we call a lollipop trail.  The stick is a combination of rock ledges, a sandy flat canyon, some sandstone slick rock fins and one section known as High Speed Mesa.  The entire trail is non-stop beautiful scenery.

High Speed Mesa

 Lunch was at Little Arch.  You may have spotted this arch from Kane Springs Road.

Looking through Little Arch you can see the Colorado River, Kane Springs Road and the parking lot for Moab Rim.

My favorite part of this trail is the lollipop section with all the ups and downs as you drive along the slick rock fins.

There is mama pig and her piglets...

Cliffhanger:
Cliffhanger is just down right hard core excitement from beginning to end as it curves its way along high rocky cliffs.  Challenges are non-stop and the scenery is, once again, incredible.  This run is what is referred to as a "light" Cliffhanger as we did not do the Cliffhanger obstacle...you remember, the one right on the cliff edge.  We had several vehicles that had never done this trial and wanted a last day of fun before heading home after Easter Jeep Safari.  



Even so, the "light" run is a challenge and keeps us on our toes. 

Claret Cup Cactus blooms...stunning flowers!

There goes Dee!

The "light" run also has an overlook.  The Colorado River and Potash Road...

At the overlook you can see the Poison Spider parking lot and the switchbacks at the beginning of the trail.

Indian paintbrush with its vivid red color sure caught my eye.

There's Joe...the overlook was our lunch spot.

There's Dee...always taking pictures and helping!

 Well, I'll close for now.  There is more to write about but it will have to come later.  So, until next time... 

                                                                     HAPPY TRAILS !

Cliffhanger and Metal Masher

Gopher Flats
April 25, 2018
Moab, UT

Things are rolling along here in Moab.  We are moving at a slow steady pace to get get things done and have some fun.  

Dave led, followed by Dee, us and Scott

After all the work was completed on Wile E, we headed out to do my favorite trail...Cliffhanger.  Just mentioning scary fun and beautiful scenery always puts Cliffhanger at the top of the list for me.


Huge boulders and ledges grab your attention from the get-go. 

Any day on trail is a good day.  When I'm not paying attention to the trail and tire placement, I enjoy all the big things and all the little things.








 The cliff side of the trail gives the trail it's name...a story or event with a strong element of suspense.  Yep, it's pretty close to the edge...

 ...and if that's not enough, there is a good size obstacle of large (ummm huge!) boulders to descend.  Keep in mind that this is an in and out trail so what goes down has to go up.  But just like hiking, I think it's easier to go up when wheeling too. 

From here it's not that far to the overlook.  A nice lunch with friends and a view !  

 From there it was all downhill...literally at 15 to 20 mph and no brakes.  As we were heading out after lunch,  the pins holding the passenger front brake calipers on came out.  Dave helped out and we thought it was fixed,  but as Joe was heading downhill to get off a ledge, he had NO brakes.  Quick thinker he is,  he barreled into a mound of boulders and landed on top.  We left Wile E there and rode out with Dee to find Rory (Moab Motorsports).  He and Joe went back to tow Wile E back to the shop.  Rory is awesome and Joe was most impressed with the way he orchestrated a temporary fix to the wheel and towed Joe out...in the dark and back up all the obstacles we had driven down.  They got back to Moab Motorsports about 11:30 pm.   

A few days ago,  Moab Friends For Wheelin' had a highway clean up work day.  

Joe, Dee and Rick 

Our 2 mile section is just north of the Arches NP entrance on Hwy 191.  We had lots of people to show up to help.  





With work done,  we all set out to run Metal Masher.  I didn't count the vehicles, but I heard someone say we had 14.

To get to Metal Masher you take the shelf road that goes to Gemini Bridges. 


  

There are a lot of tall ledges to climb which have bypasses.  Below, Melissa easily drives her buggy up one of them.  


We were fifth in line behind Glen, Rick, Dee and David.

I only got a couple of scenery photos...

 The first named obstacle, Rock Chucker, is about 4.5 miles into the 11.7 mile trail.  Glen (who spotted Jamie up this obstacle last June) waits at the top just in case.  Getting lined up at the bottom is key to a successful climb.  

Wile E waits as David crawls right up.

 Mirror Gulch about .2 of a mile further is the next named obstacle.  Rick was second in line and broke a hub and decided to turn around and head back out.  He was sandwiched between Dee and us while everyone else continued on.  Next time, we look forward to tackling Widow Maker !

Well, I think we have seen the last of the cold days.  Of course, the last time I said that, I was wrong.  Fingers crossed.  I know this week has been very nice.  

Until next time, take care and...

HAPPY TRAILS !  

Up next...cool rocks, sweeping views, wildflowers and best of all, solitude !