The Pinch and Ledge Crawling Acrobats !

Gopher Flats
May 5 & 6, 2018
Moab, UT

Last weekend was action packed !  Saturday, Nick (from Salt Lake City) planned to wheel Kane Creek.  Like most folks who come to town, he posted his plans on the Moab Friends For Wheeling facebook page and said anyone who wanted to join in were welcomed.  We took the bait along with Dee, Melissa, and Doug and Tonga.  Kane Creek is a fun and scenic trail with a few challenges thrown in.  Its divided into three sections...the desert, creek crossings, and a narrow shelf road that climbs out of the canyon.  Well, guess who drove Wile E through the desert and some of the creek crossings.  

ME !  It was our plan for me to "do the driving" until lunch as I knew I didn't want any part of the shelf road.  




The Pinch as it is called (although I still refer to it as Roy's Rock) was the big obstacle of the day for me.  Thanks to spotting from Melissa, Wile E just crawled up and over.  Thank you for the picture Dee.

Nick watches as Melissa (who you can't see) spots my over Roy's Rock.  WAHOO !

Dee, driving Elliott, was behind us at this point.  Melissa watches as Elliott aces Roy's Rock.  

After a stop for lunch,  Joe took over.  













The shelf road and Hamburger Hill...

Nick gets stuck on Hamburger Hill.

Wile E couldn't get enough traction so Elliott and his Hemi came to the rescue...

What a fun day with old friends and new ones.


















Sunday's plan was Rusty Nail.  This 1.9 mile "shortcut" is actually a spur off Gold Bar Trail to the most difficult obstacles on Golden Spike Trail.  Slickrock, steep ledges, huge boulders, and off camber sections make this trail a "hard core" challenge.  Jeff led our group of trail warriors with "nerves of steel", followed by Warren, us, Chris, Dee, Keith and Larry.  Names like Riff-Raff, The Wall, No Left Turn,  and Skid Mark have no bypasses.  Other obstacles like Butt Scratcher and Double Whammy have choices from very difficult to a little easier.  

Photos of some ledge crawling acrobats...

Warren climbs an unnamed ledge...

Jeff climbs the notch instead of the typical "hard" way just to the left of where he is.

Chris is all smiles after climbing Riff Raff

Dee tiptoes down Skid Mark as Jeff watches. This is the obstacle we dread the most on this trail...

Keith's Samuri (which Jeff built !) is quite flexy as he steps off No Left Turn. 

Larry gets a good stretch as he climbs a boulder on No Left Turn.

Wile E on No Left Turn...

Yep, thats the edge of the cliff on the right side...

It's so cool how the passenger side tires "hug" the cliff wall.

And yes, Wile E is flexy too!

 Just a few more random photos from the day...

 We did help a woman in distress who was sitting on the side of Gemini Bridges Road.  She wasn't alone, but her companions rode on once we stopped to help.  We loaded her bike on Warren's jeep and she rode out with Dee.  They transported her and her bike back to her campground on Hwy 191.

 So, until next time have fun and...

HAPPY TRAILS ! 

Up next...a twisting canyon, towering sandstone cliffs,  burbling water, gnarly cottonwood trees, and oh yes, lots of wildflowers...all on the same hike !  

Some Revenge and A Little Poison

Gopher Flats
Moab, UT
May 6, 2018

So it's been a little over a week since we last posted.  It's been busy around here.  

Last Wednesday, our sweet Sally had surgery to remove bladder stones.  She was very droopy the first three days, but seems to be feeling more like her old self.  She has always been a model patient and so appreciative.  

We have also been busy wheeling some of our favorite trails...ok, I know I say that about every trail we run, but we just love this place !  Hell's Revenge, Moab's iconic trail, is usually at the top of everyone's list when visiting Moab.  We have done it twice in the past week.  First we joined Rory, Dee, David and Erica, and Chris.  Rory entertained us by driving up Escalator, driving down Escalator, and for the grand finale he backed up Escalator.  Rory and his buggy are legendary !

David drives up Escalator as Rory follows backing up it.

David played going up and down and Rory spotted Chris on her first successful climb on Escalator.  Dee  hasn't been happy with her past several runs up but was quite pleased Blanche performed flawlessly on this day !  We took a pass and I don't mean the flirty kind... Joe trusted his inner voice that said today was not the day for our first attempt.    

Rory spots Chris up Escalator...a personal goal for her.  Chris has a well built 2-door Rubicon and never shies away from a challenge. 

 After Hells, we headed over to Potato Salad Hill...a first for us.  Rory spotted us all up this ledgy hill that is notorious for rollovers.  Thanks to Rory we all made successful climbs !

Dee makes Potato Salad Hill look easy as Rory stands at the top giving her a spot. 

David (on the right) drives up Potato Salad Hill while Rory backs down it. 

Next up was Poison Spider trail.  We joined Dee, Chris and Canadians Robert and Karen.  With just the four of us we made quick time enjoying the beautiful day and scenery.  

Trail Warriors

 

Chris begins her climb on The Waterfall.

Robert and Karen climb a ledgy section just past the chute.

 

Yucca lined the trail...

The Havasu 4 Wheelers were here for a week and we had the great pleasure to join them on Hells.
Glen led them through the trail. There were about 7 jeeps of all sizes in the Havasu group...all excited and eager and up for the challenge !  Every jeep in the group did Hell's Gate and Escalator.  And Chris' dad, Howard even tried Mickey's Hot Tub, it was so close, but in the end he needed a strap.  I am way excited to post that Joe drove Escalator and Mickey's Hot Tub for the first time with Glen's expert spotting !  We can now say we have driven everything Hells has to offer ! 

The drop into Hell's Gate is amazing.

Below Glen drives the line. 





 These obstacles force you to pay close attention to what you are doing no matter how many times you have done them before.  Below one of the Havasu wheelers gets a passenger wheel lift and on top of that he drives a manual and his jeep went dead.  He did an awesome job of managing the clutch, brake, and gas to drive himself out.  

Mickey's Hot Tub was up next.  After Glen and Joe drove it, Howard gave it a try.

Glen did a great job of describing The Escalator and telling everyone what to expect. 

What a great day with old and new friends !  Until next time...

  HAPPY TRAILS !

Up next...creek crossings, a pinch, ledge crawling acrobats, and nerves of steel !