jsteves
02-02-2007, 07:07 PM
The GSW planners want to know which 3 trails you would most likely run if offered at the 2007 event. We have a list of 10 trails we are considering with brief descriptions as follows.
Poison Spider -Moderate- Awesome first time to Moab trail! Includes a little bit of everything that makes Moab, Moab from slick rock waterfalls to sand dunes to cliffs and ledges. This trail also includes great views of the Behind the Rocks Area and La Sal Mountain Ranges.
Kane Creek Canyon -Moderate- This trail is the exact opposite of Poison Spider because it includes everything you wouldn't expect to see in Moab. It has some 50 water crossings, follows the creek at one point, and has tight green brush surrounding much of the trail. The toughest part of the trail is the climb out of the canyon towards the end.
Onion Creek, Kokopelli, Rose Garden Hill -Moderate- This trail is mostly moderate offering great scenery and chance to get into Utah's backcountry a bit. Some views include the La Sal ranges and Colorado River. The climb up Rose Garden hill is the most difficult part of this trail and is near the end. Because of the hill, this trail offers a nice mix of scenery and difficulty.
Fins 'N Things -Moderate- This trail really demonstrates the traction slickrock has to offer. The Jeeps are allowed to travel very steep ascents and descents because of the high traction. The trail travels over many fins both large and small. Another good trail for GSW'ers on their first visit to Moab.
Gold Bar Rim -Moderate-Difficult- The first two miles of this trail are moderate and lead to a great overlook of Gold Bar Canyon. The next, more difficult part of the trail culminates with a birds eye view of the Arches National Park. The difficult part includes several unnamed obstacles such as ledges.
Seven Mile Rim -Difficult- A mostly moderate trail with a few difficult (some optional) obstacles including Wipe Out Hill. Also includes TONS of awesome scenery such as the Uranium Arch and Monitor & Merrimac Buttes.
Flat Iron Mesa -Difficult- This trail is more difficult than 7 Mile Rim as it includes more numerous and difficult obstacles (again, some are optional, some are not). Some of the notable obstacles include Egg Hill and Tilt-a-Whirl. There are also some great views on this trail including a great view of the trails namesake mesa.
Cliffhanger -Difficult- This trail was not offered at the last GSW due to some pipe repairs that caused crews to make the trail passable for large dump trucks and the such. Anyway, the trail is back to a challenging status, and the challenge begins right away with a steep stair-step entry for the trail. Also, the trails namesake obstacle near the end will get your attention as you feel like you are driving off the edge of the cliff. In reality, there is 10 feet or more between you and the cliff...but you can't see that from the driver's seat!
Hell's Revenge -Difficult- The best feature of this trail is you can make it as difficult as you like because of the plethora of optional and difficult obstacles including Hell's Gate, Escalator, Dump Bump, and Tip Over Challenge. Also, if tme permits, a side trip to Potato Salad Hill is a possibility. That said, every one of those obstacles is bypassable, but there are some other difficult ledges etc. that make even the mandatory parts of the trail difficult. There are also a couple of overlooks that offer some awesome views and scenery on this trail.
Moab Rim -Near Extreme- This trail has it all! Awesome scenery, great views, and near extreme terrain. In the past, we have had one roll over and one near roll over on this trail, so it in not for the faint of heart. If you are willing to take the chance the climb is worth it for the afore mentioned views and scenery. Because of the difficulty, 33" tires and one traction aid are required for this trail, so please do not select it unless you meet these requirments. NOTE: This trail tilts you very precariously towards a 500 foot vertical cliff while descending staggered ledges about 1' from said cliff.
If you do not see a trail that you would like to run write in and tell us what you would like to run. One trail that has already been mentioned is Rusty Nail.
Also, if you have specific trail features that you want tell us what they are and we may be able to find a trail that offers some of those features.
One last note, Prittchet and Golden Spike are not on this list, but will be offered at GSW. Prittchet requires at least 33" tires and traction aids in both axles. Spike will require 33" tires and at least 1 traction device. This trail will also be limited to around 10 Jeeps as it is a very long trail even if nothing breaks. If you are interested in either of these trails, please respond in the thread.
If you want more information about any of these trails, a quick google search usually turns up a couple of trail reports and most of these trails are featured in the Wells Moab book.
Poison Spider -Moderate- Awesome first time to Moab trail! Includes a little bit of everything that makes Moab, Moab from slick rock waterfalls to sand dunes to cliffs and ledges. This trail also includes great views of the Behind the Rocks Area and La Sal Mountain Ranges.
Kane Creek Canyon -Moderate- This trail is the exact opposite of Poison Spider because it includes everything you wouldn't expect to see in Moab. It has some 50 water crossings, follows the creek at one point, and has tight green brush surrounding much of the trail. The toughest part of the trail is the climb out of the canyon towards the end.
Onion Creek, Kokopelli, Rose Garden Hill -Moderate- This trail is mostly moderate offering great scenery and chance to get into Utah's backcountry a bit. Some views include the La Sal ranges and Colorado River. The climb up Rose Garden hill is the most difficult part of this trail and is near the end. Because of the hill, this trail offers a nice mix of scenery and difficulty.
Fins 'N Things -Moderate- This trail really demonstrates the traction slickrock has to offer. The Jeeps are allowed to travel very steep ascents and descents because of the high traction. The trail travels over many fins both large and small. Another good trail for GSW'ers on their first visit to Moab.
Gold Bar Rim -Moderate-Difficult- The first two miles of this trail are moderate and lead to a great overlook of Gold Bar Canyon. The next, more difficult part of the trail culminates with a birds eye view of the Arches National Park. The difficult part includes several unnamed obstacles such as ledges.
Seven Mile Rim -Difficult- A mostly moderate trail with a few difficult (some optional) obstacles including Wipe Out Hill. Also includes TONS of awesome scenery such as the Uranium Arch and Monitor & Merrimac Buttes.
Flat Iron Mesa -Difficult- This trail is more difficult than 7 Mile Rim as it includes more numerous and difficult obstacles (again, some are optional, some are not). Some of the notable obstacles include Egg Hill and Tilt-a-Whirl. There are also some great views on this trail including a great view of the trails namesake mesa.
Cliffhanger -Difficult- This trail was not offered at the last GSW due to some pipe repairs that caused crews to make the trail passable for large dump trucks and the such. Anyway, the trail is back to a challenging status, and the challenge begins right away with a steep stair-step entry for the trail. Also, the trails namesake obstacle near the end will get your attention as you feel like you are driving off the edge of the cliff. In reality, there is 10 feet or more between you and the cliff...but you can't see that from the driver's seat!
Hell's Revenge -Difficult- The best feature of this trail is you can make it as difficult as you like because of the plethora of optional and difficult obstacles including Hell's Gate, Escalator, Dump Bump, and Tip Over Challenge. Also, if tme permits, a side trip to Potato Salad Hill is a possibility. That said, every one of those obstacles is bypassable, but there are some other difficult ledges etc. that make even the mandatory parts of the trail difficult. There are also a couple of overlooks that offer some awesome views and scenery on this trail.
Moab Rim -Near Extreme- This trail has it all! Awesome scenery, great views, and near extreme terrain. In the past, we have had one roll over and one near roll over on this trail, so it in not for the faint of heart. If you are willing to take the chance the climb is worth it for the afore mentioned views and scenery. Because of the difficulty, 33" tires and one traction aid are required for this trail, so please do not select it unless you meet these requirments. NOTE: This trail tilts you very precariously towards a 500 foot vertical cliff while descending staggered ledges about 1' from said cliff.
If you do not see a trail that you would like to run write in and tell us what you would like to run. One trail that has already been mentioned is Rusty Nail.
Also, if you have specific trail features that you want tell us what they are and we may be able to find a trail that offers some of those features.
One last note, Prittchet and Golden Spike are not on this list, but will be offered at GSW. Prittchet requires at least 33" tires and traction aids in both axles. Spike will require 33" tires and at least 1 traction device. This trail will also be limited to around 10 Jeeps as it is a very long trail even if nothing breaks. If you are interested in either of these trails, please respond in the thread.
If you want more information about any of these trails, a quick google search usually turns up a couple of trail reports and most of these trails are featured in the Wells Moab book.