ORTB 5yr Anniversary Event Planning

[mikekey]

Yup, I plan on being out there, but I gotta pick and chose which dream we're going after, and we're plowing down 8 months to a big one, I'm quitting my job and we're heading west. Lots of Moab in my future. Believe me, this is something I want to attend, but it's one of those, things where you choose fun now or waiting for the greater reward.

[mikekey]

Come on, let's get a sign up thread started! Are we just waiting for someone to do it now? Obviously I haven't posted it.

[bgwolfpack]

Can we get reference links to these trails, so folks will be able to click and read up on each one.

I am working on info for each trail.

Please let me know if changes should be made to the list of trails.

[v7guy]

I was perfectly happy with the proposed list and it seemed like everyone else was too, it included everything we've mentioned. I say we go with what Randy pieced together.

I suppose this is the "speak now" time there's any concerns.

[bgwolfpack]

This is a long and expensive journey for nearly all who will attend and the best trip will be one without incident. Prepare for the drive itself and be ready with all gear needed while there. The weakest link will be anyone showing up without the proper set-up in their truck. We will be far from any real help beyond us. No one wants to be the weak link in the chain.

Prepare.

Here is a list of trails in this Moab vicinity, on a day-by-day basis, that will allow the two groups to run independent of each other but still be able to camp and possibly communicate while on different trail systems. The rating system is by Trail Damage and is based from 1 – 10. Group A should be able to string together the two to three trails each day without issue.

All information here has come from = http://www.traildamage.com/google_utah.php

Group "A"

Day 1---

Poison Spider Mesa 9.6 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=27
Low-End Rating: 5
High-End Rating:6
Rock Crawling:4

Gold Bar Rim 3.8 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=29
Low-End Rating: 5
High-End Rating: 6
Rock Crawling: 4


Day 2---

Little Canyon 2.47 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=144
Low-End Rating: 4
High-End Rating: 5
Rock Crawling: 3

Bull Canyon 6.4 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=24
Low-End Rating: 2
High-End Rating: 3
Rock Crawling: 2

Long Canyon 7.57 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=282
Low-End Rating: 2
High-End Rating: 2
Rock Crawling: 1


Day 3---

Four Arches Canyon 6.4 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=358
Low-End Rating: 2
High-End Rating: 3
Rock Crawling: 2

Mineral Bottom 24.9 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=140
Low-End Rating: 2
High-End Rating: 3
Rock Crawling: 2


Day 4---

Arths Pasture 6.3 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=225
Low-End Rating: 3
High-End Rating: 4
Rock Crawling: 2

Horsethief Point 15.3 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=422
Low-End Rating: 2
High-End Rating: 3
Rock Crawling: 1


Day 5---

White Rim 80.7 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=138
Low-End Rating: 3
High-End Rating: 4
Rock Crawling: 2


Group "B"(Hardcore)

Day 1---

Moab Rim 6.6 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=68
Low-End Rating: 6
High-End Rating: 7
Rock Crawling: 5


Day 2---

Pritchett Canyon 6 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=132
Low-End Rating: 7
High-End Rating: 10
Rock Crawling: 5


Day 3---

Rusty Nail 3 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=145
Low-End Rating: 8
High-End Rating: 9
Rock Crawling: 5


Day 4---

Metal Masher 10.64 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=90
Low-End Rating: 5
High-End Rating: 9
Rock Crawling: 5


Day 5---

White Rim 80.7 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=138
Low-End Rating: 3
High-End Rating: 4
Rock Crawling: 2

[fishsticks]

IMO, anyone who doesn't roll in on a trailer should be in Group A. You can have the baddest truck out there and still break something major. Wreckers are expensive.

[The Roadie]

A local jeep guy flopped over on BLM land last weekend. All fluids ran out. He was OK, but went solo. His cell worked, but his ham and CB antennas were toast. The Rangers came, called an offroad extraction company for the rescue. $1500 later, he was on pavement.

[bgwolfpack]

Second Proposal:
White Rim the first and second day. Third day head south to Elephant Hill, Colorado River Overlook, Beef Basin and Stevens Canyon areas?

White Rim---http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=138 80 miles

Elephant Hill---http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=65 15 miles

Colorado River Overlook---http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=66 7 miles

Beef Basin---http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=293 62 miles

Stevens Canyon---http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=386 23 miles





Discuss

[v7guy]

I'm with you Donny, even with my truck I don't know that I'm ready to risk it that far out, I'll likely stay in group A. In my case there's not going to be spare parts around the corner and I can't conceivably carry everything that could possibly break.

[mikekey]

Looking over that list, I don't think I'm even lifted enough even with the 35's to attempt group B. Having already been out there and seen some things, and knowing how low my truck is still even on 35's air'd down. It's not a jeep or a truck and that's a fact, my frame is still low.

[bgwolfpack]

Strike all of Group"B".

Any thoughts on the Second Proposal:?

More of what I think Roadie and Tony Stark had in mind.

[v7guy]

I think White Rim, maybe Metal masher and maybe Moab rim would be the max. I would imagine a low end of 6 or 7 should be our goal for the hard stuff.

32s seem to be pretty common for us as does 33s.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Since I started this I expect to get the full flogging by you guys, but due to some unexpected medical bills (pets) I will not have the $$ needed to make this trip, so for now I'm out, If I get lucky I may be able to go but that would take a shitload of OT.

[mikekey]

Sorry to hear that Rory, I completely understand, after our trip to Portland, we came home to our dog Shelby acting weird, turned out she had advanced kidney failure we just had her put down this Saturday.

White Rim the first and second day. Third day head south to Elephant Hill, Colorado River Overlook, Beef Basin and Stevens Canyon areas?

White Rim-- 80 miles

Elephant Hill-- 15 miles

Colorado River Overlook-- 7 miles

Beef Basin-- 62 miles

Stevens Canyon-- 23 miles

I think White Rim, maybe Metal masher and maybe Moab rim would be the max. I would imagine a low end of 6 or 7 should be our goal for the hard stuff.

32s seem to be pretty common for us as does 33s.

I'd say that's the sweet spot of where most folks will be who show up. Outside of Chevy crew showing up. The Beef Basin actually got boring to us. That's the day we turned around and went to the Needles District in Canyonlands which was a lot of fun. The Basin is literally like a wash board road with nice canyon scenery. I think it got a little rough in a few spot where it crossed some canyon ledges, but for the most part it was boring compared to the day before. You could drive it with a stock Trailblazer, how about that. But I could see why you might want to camp there.

Moab Rim - http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=68

Metal Masher - http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=90

White Rim - http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=138

Both suggestions seem good to me personally. I think the Roadie will give you a hard time about camping in Caynonlands, but whateverz, he has a rooftop tent.

But I'm indecisive about whether or not I'm coming, so you might as well ignore my input.

[Trail X]

Moved to trip area by request.

[JorDaneeKey]

First off, my apologies. For our Western Road Trip, I did all the leg work in research (since Mike was busy preparing the rig) and then just presented the top 3 options for our routes. When I heard about this, I told Mike I'd dig out all my notes and contribute through him, but baby....Lol.

I want to first caveat that anyone who's coming into Moab from I-70 W, don't take 191 down to Moab. Take 128 instead. It's a spectacular introduction to the red rock canyons as the road follows the Colorado River. Trust me, you'll be pulling over to take several pictures and soak it all in.




BigWolfPack has the best itinerary, but may I suggest changing the order? Here's my reasoning.

Day 1: Colorado Scenic Overlook

Out of all the trails we took around Moab, the trail was a really good test of driver, truck, and spotter. The trail starts at the Visitor Center parking lot for Needles. The initial part of the trail is soft sand, crosses a seasonally dry creek bed. On the other side of the creek bed is a narrow sand trail with rough shrubs on either side. Meeting a vehicle here requires one to back up the trail or climb up the sandy sides into the grass.

Here's the start of the trail:



There's a semi-open area to park your car about 1 mile in, which most folks do. From here it starts to get technical. There's a nice "stair climb" (broken layers of slick rock) that a suspension lift and aired down 32s will need a spotter to navigate. Once over the stairs, it's mostly slick rock with areas of "stairs" and several stream crossings (dependent on recent rain fall).



About 2 - 2 1/2 miles in, it gets a bit more technical where some mild lifts may want to hang back, but they'll be able to easily walk to the overlook here.

The reason I say this one should be first? This will be a great way to measure how each driver listens to the spotters, and a good way to work out how communication happens for the more technical stuff. I'd call this trail the "Ice Breaker".

Note, all trips inside Needles, including the Colorado Scenic Overlook and Elephant Hill require day use permits per vehicle. They can be obtained at the visitor's center.

Day 1 Con't: Beef Basin

After a morning of "work" on the trails, Beef Basin will be a really nice diversion. It's BLM, so the camping is a lot easier here. Well, it was when we were there. The BLM was developing campsites, so someone (or me) should check with Monticello BLM's office to get an update. Contrary to what you read on trail sites, Beef Basin is actually 104 miles. So a lot of exploration can be done here. It'd be a great area to relax and get to know everyone more. And if some folks want more challenging stuff, or if the group as a whole can do it, go Bridger Jack Mesa or Elk Ridge. Dispersed camping was pretty nice on the Bridger Jack.




Day 2: Elephant Hill

This will be the most technically challenging trail. We would have done it if we had a support rig, but since we were solo we waved off. I recommend starting with this trail first on the second day in case delays and recovery needs to happen. If so, you'll be able to settle back in for the night in dispersed camping in Beef Basin.

Day 2 Con't: Steven's Canyon

Lots of scenery, and a bit of a relaxing change from Elephant Hill. You've got options towards the end of the trail to keep going (or head into Monticello) and then head back up into Moab. You'll be able to refuel and grab supplies.

Day 3 and 4: White Rim Trail



Although it's an 80 mile trail, the sights, the spurs, and the terrain will force this into a 2 day event. Because this is NP land, back country permits are REQUIRED for camping. Camp sites are limited to 1 to 4 sites per area and can be filled by reservations. My recommendation is to reserve now towards the middle/end of the White Rim, but if spots are full, take what you can get. If you can't get a spot on the White Rim, then there's BLM dispersed camping on the Potash-Lower Colorado Scenic Byway, just off White Rim near Shafer.

For those with BDS suspension or Mark's suspension lifts, bring extra bushings. This trail can have some mind-numbing washboard areas that can really mess with the suspension.

I recommend that everyone check out the trail spurs with a buddy. Lathrop Canyon is a good one to start with. Depending on the number of rigs, you'll really want to spread out. Not everyone can turn around at the end of Lathrop at once, and at the end is some seriously fun soft sand along the Colorado.

Overall, this trail is pretty amazing. It can be done in a day if some guys need to (or want to) get out of there. It's all rock, nothing but rock. The ground will be hard, and camping is on gravel campsites. And Jeepers are a dime a dozen (you'll see a bunch of rentals from Moab).

DO watch the weather. Most camping is exposed, especially Airport. If storms are rolling in, lightning risk can be high.

Day 5 and up: For those who have extra time...

Leave Canyonlands behind and head West towards Capitol Reef. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive, but well worth it if you start early. Capitol Reef is a gem buried in Utah, and the Pleasant Creek/South Draw Road trail is an amazing adventure. The colors, the terrain, are all completely different than Moab. It can easily be done in a day, and it would make the perfect capstone to your whole experience.





Just my .02 cents

[Diacom]

One thing to point out on some of the more difficult trails, many of them do have bypasses on the longer runs. This will mean that those that want to play hard can while the others take the easier route and watch.

[bgwolfpack]

JorDanee, Thank you for the input!

Capitol Reef ?

Starting research

[mikekey]

the Pleasant Creek/South Draw Road trail was awesome, we were very much in over our heads, almost no places to turn around, almost flipped the Trailblazer over a cliff in one spot. Most of the time, it's difficult roads with a ledge next to you. The top corner picture is how wide most of it is, we took those pictures in one of the smoother sections.