Jax Trax...Part 1

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
May 23, 2014


Saturday morning a group from Portal headed south on Hwy 191 to take in some views and climb some rocks on Jax Trax. We had 9 vehicles eager to traverse the 16 miles that were once old mineral exploration roads.

The trail is named after Jack Bickers (1923-2011), a giant among 4 wheelers in Moab as he explored the backcountry to find enjoyment in it's vistas, remoteness, hikes, and jeep challenges.

Such was Jax Trax which was only added to Easter Jeep Safari this year. A 5 rating hints there are no difficult obstacles, but don't get too comfortable. We found Top Notch and El Diablo to be beautiful vistas and there were ledges and slickrock to climb that kept reminding us we had better pay attention...

The trail starts out in a Sandstone Draw...





...before a ledgy climb to a flat that offers views of the LaSals and Cameo Mesa.   

From that point it's a twisty, bumpy, wandering tour of the area...sometimes down, sometimes up, but all with sweeping vistas.

When we reached this point, we stopped to enjoy the view and discuss our options. The trail divides and rejoins on the other side of the dome.  We were all set with a plan and then OOPS! One of our vehicles didn't start. What the picture does not show is the wind and cold, but we all rallied together and believe it or not, we all turned around on top of the fin to head back...

We orchestrated a beautiful retreat which involved the Samurai being strapped out. As it turned out, the rains were on the way so all was good! Another real good reason not to go out alone...

Dave and Joe...umm, probably Jeep talk, but I hope it's dinner plans!

Our day was quite an adventure with an awesome group of folks willing to help. 

We took a shorter trail out to Hwy 191. See the rock dome below with the rock on top just under the rain squall? There is a road that goes between that rock and the flat rock on the right. We found out that the rock dome is a home. A rancher lives there. We never saw the cows, but we heard them. 

Up next, part 2 of Jax Trax. Until then, happy days and...

HAPPY  TRAILS!

Bright Eyes and a Warm Smile

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
May 24, 2015

Whether you full-time RV, half-time, or live in a sticks and bricks, I am sure you have met folks along the way who, without even knowing it, have impacted your life in a positive way. Joe and I had one such encounter not long ago. 

One of the hikes we did in Sedona was a combination of trails around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Returning to the jeep I spotted a young man struggling with his bicycle as he was trying to load it about 3 parking spaces away. 

Joe, who was busy loading up our hiking gear in the back of Pearl, didn't see him so I suggested he might want to give the young man a hand. Joe approached him and asked "Do you need a hand there young man?" He quickly accepted the offer and replied "It is much easier to take off before I hit the trail but, can be a little tricky when I am tired." 

As Joe looked down to pick up the three wheel specialty bike, he noticed what I had already seen. This young man had no legs from the knees down. Joe asked about his disability. And the reply, "I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time" and later explained it happened on a day back in Afghanistan in 2010. 

We both teared up and thanked him for his service and spent some time chatting with him. We commented how bright eyed and happy he looked and how great it was that he had spent the day on the trail. "I spent a lot of time in the hospital and then in rehab. I could feel sorry for myself, but then I would notice someone with no legs at all, then someone with no legs and missing an arm or even both arms. There is always someone in worse shape than me", he said. 

What a lesson for us all ! 

He was in Sedona as part of a two week road trip while on break from college in Colorado.  His goal is to earn a degree in communications and we're sure this young man will achieve this goal and any other he sets his sights on.

What an impression he made...

I saved these pictures and the story from our Sedona visit with the idea it might make an appropriate blog for Memorial day.  May God Bless the U.S.A and the men and women who so bravely and often sacrificially defend Her.