|
Jim and Jeff Boyett's trip to Moab, Utah
for the
Easter Jeep Safari
Sun 3-31-96: Left Sacramento around noon. Long hard pull up to Truckee. Stopped for
gas in Truckee, got 10 MPG on first tank. Went through Reno around 2:00 PM. Decided not to
throw our money away before we even get to Moab! Stopped in Lovelock for gas & food,
well if you can call McDonalds™ food, at 3:45 PM. Got 14.8 MPG on this
strech. Pulled
in to Battle Mountain around 6:30 PM. Stayed in a Best Western Motel.
Getting ready to leave Sacramento.
Mon 4-1-96:
We departed Battle Mountain at 8 AM. I called my brother in Fortuna to wish him Happy
Birthday, didn't even say April fool! Continued up the road to Salt Lake City, spent some
time there looking for a modem for the laptop, no luck, so we drove on down to Provo,
where we decided to spend the night. I was hungry for a steak, so I went to a
Sizzler,
Jeff went to Arbys! My Dodge Dakota is running good but I could sure use more power on the
hills towing the trailer, trucks are sacking me on the long hills, but I'm maintaing 65 on
the flats. Jeff spent the evening trying to get this computer and slow modem working so he
could update our web page, no luck!
Tues 4-2-95:
Well, the rain finally caught up with us, it was pouring when we got up this morning.
Since we are taking a long slow journey to Moab, we decided to wait until 10am, when the
computer stores opened so we could get a 28.8 modem for the computer. After we got the
modem, we headed south, rain had decreased a little, but it spit a little snow on us. The
weather started warming up as we got further south, turned out to be a nice afternoon! We
pulled into Moab about 4 pm and checked into our motel, unloaded the Jeep and cruised
town, looking at all the fancy (read money) Jeeps. We discovered Flatlander (from
Nebraska) was staying about one block away, haven't contacted him yet, we're on a run with
him thursday. Jeff is still having computer problems, we have a lousy phone connection and
it keeps kicking him off line. Tomorrow is our first run (Steel Bender) and I hope we're
ready!
Wed 4-3-96:
We got up at 6 AM, after breakfast, we went to a mini-mart and picked up something for
lunch, then proceeded to our line up for Steel Bender, we had a total of 45 rigs on this
run. We departed Moab at 9 AM, running channel 6 on the CB, after talking with some of the
guys who had run Sledgehammer, Jackhammer, Surprise Canyon, Blanca Peak, etc. I was
starting to feel inferior, especially since the rig directly ahead of me was "4
Wheel and Sport Utility Project Wrangler" a couple of years ago and was fully
equipped (LT1 engine, Currie axles, Recaro seats, etc...) However, we proceeded on through
the trail with no problems, the Jeep directly behind me broke a U-joint on the first bad
(good) spot. We were close to the front, but the only rig I observed that had to have a
strap was a bone stock Ford Explorer. Jeff got some good shots with his digital camera for
the Web Page, but his Hi-Tech problems continue, when we got back to the Motel about 5 PM,
the battery had lost the charge and along with that, his photo's. It was a good run with a
few challenging spots, the weather was perfect and the trail leaders were great, always
helping find the right lines, we also had a great bunch of participants. I hope our run
tomorrow, Fins & Things, goes as well! I think Jeff has his computer problems
solved.
A Jeep getting a little air, this got some loud cheers from the crowd.
Jim Boyett admiring his front wheel!
A stop for lunch break.
Eating lunch at the edge of a canyon, watching a deer bound away.
Wed 4-4-96:
We lined up at 8 AM for the "Fins & Things" run, but after talking to some
of the guys, it sounded like an easy run, so we decided to skip it and do the tourist bit.
We did get to meet Flatlander and talk to him for awhile, we have Porcupine Rim with him
on Saturday. We left the lineup and headed for the convention center where all the
displays were, we spent about an hour there drooling over all the items, then went
downtown and hit the t-shirt shops, after that we took a ride into Arches National Park
for some photo taking. After taking a hike through some of the arches and admiring
Balanced Rock, we went back to the motel and Jeff tore his digital camera apart and
actually fixed it! We then took a ride out to Lions Back to size it up, it was about 5:30
and starting to rain and the wind was blowing fairly hard, we decided not to try it while
it was wet,if we get in early tomorrow and don't break anything on the Moab Rim Run (rated
4+) we're going to try the Lions Back.
Thur 4-5-96:
Big Day today! We lined up at 7:30 for the Moab Rim Trail (4+) We were 4th in line out of
33 rigs, the trail leader said that a few days before on the Moab Rim, they had over 30%
breakage (driveshafts, U-joints, differentials, etc.) this really helped my confidence!
Anyway, we pulled out at 9AM and started up the trail, when I saw all the people lined up
in the rocks with cameras that early in the morning, I said "Oh Shit".
The first 1/2 mile is a obstacle course, with the Devils Crack and the dreaded
"Z", we made it through that to find a 3 foot + or - rock step that caused a few
problems with some rigs, one Jeep hit it fairly hard, also hit something underneath fairy
hard and oil was running down the rocks, he had to take a strap to get over, don't know
what he hit, but he patched it up and continued. another rig was leaking power steering
fluid, but he also continued, after we got on top, it was fairly easy. We stopped for
lunch break and most everyone was complaining about all the money they had put into their
rigs and a brand new, stock TJ Jeep was cruising along with us with no problems at all! We
were all impressed.
After lunch, we took a hike over to an old Indian Fort and took photo's of some
petroglyphs.
We started back and the trail leader kept reminding us that going back down was more
treacherous
When we got to the Devils Crack, we found it had claimed a Ford PU, (he wasn't part of our
group) a wheel was firmly wedged in the crack, since we couldn't get past the crack
without getting him out, we helped him out! We all made it back to the highway without
further damage. Outside of the oil leaks and 2 busted tire beads and some minor body
damage on some of the rigs, there was little trouble. The trail leader said it was one of
the best groups he had took in. (probably tells all the groups that!) We split up outside
of town and everyone went their separate ways.
Jeff and I took our film to the 1-hr photo shop and headed out to Lions Back! After paying
our 4 dollars and getting in line, nervously watching all the spectators with their
cameras, we were ready, Jeff was wearing a shirt that said "No Fear My Butt, I'm
scared to Death!" A Toyota PU ahead of us, couldn't get off the ground onto the rock,
it's so steep. After he got out of the way, we headed up the dreaded Lions Back, it is
steep, but the extremly deep ditches on each side is what bothers you most. After going
over the top, the worst is yet to come, turning around! this is where my hair was standing
on end, Jeff was telling me I could back up about 5 foot and me saying I'll back up 2,
trying not to look 800' down, after a nerve wracking couple of minutes, we were headed
back down, right after you break over the top, there is a little step that makes you
think, What am I doing here! The last 50' is so steep, you have to push yourself back
against the seat, we eased on down until the wheels touched ground, we had done the Lions
Back! We headed into town for dinner at Eddie McStiffs, it has been a 4-wheeling type of
day.
Sat 4-6-96:
We lined up early again for the Porcupine Rim Run, we kind of like being near the front,
it gives us a chance to get past an obstacle, then take photo's of other people trying
their luck. Today was Big Saturday, when the Police close off main street and let all the
rigs parade through town. Due to all the different runs (groups of 40-60 rigs) we got held
up for awhile before we got out of town. After we got on the trail, we stopped for the
ritual of locking in hubs, airing down and finding a bush for a 10-100. This trail is
rated 3-1/2, but after looking at all the stock rigs, we decided we were in for an easy
day and we were right, I could have took my Dakota 4x4 on this run (there was a Dakota on
the run) We wound our way up to Porcupine Rim and the scenery is fantastic. We stopped at
picture point, overlooking Castle Valley for photo's. Jeff directed me out on the point
and took the Photo.
After the photo session, we stopped for lunch and I got a chance to talk to Damo, those
who follow the Prodigy Off Road section will know who he is, the same for Lizzard (Trail
Leader) and Flatlander (Mid Gunner) I finally got to meet them after corresponding with
them via Prodigy for a couple of years! I also got to meet Dean Waters, of 4x4 Web Page
fame on the Moab Rim trail yesterday. I think Flatlander spent lunch working on his Laptop
computer for his Web Page. After lunch, the group split up with some going back to town
with Flatlander and the rest of us went with Lizzard to play on a few hills that were a
challenge to some of the stock rigs. There was a Suzuki Sidekick with a woman driver that
we thought might have trouble, (male macho thinking) but she did excellent!
Some of the drivers used the "Fling it up the hill approach"
We finally wound our way down the rim, where we said our goodbys and went back to town.
This run does have some beautiful scenery, but I think it should be rated lower on the
scale. There is some talk of them going to a 1-10 scale on all the runs, so they could be
more accurately rated. However, we were hot, thirsty and dirty when we got back to the
motel, and a shower and dinner was mighty welcome. After dinner, we went to Action Photos
and picked out a photo of us on the Moab Rim Trail and called it a day. Tomorrow, we load
the Jeep and head back to California. We've had a ball and learned a few things for next
year, including bringing the right computer equipment!
[ Home ] [ Blanket Creek ] [ Moab 96 ] [ Moab 98 ] [ Blanket Cr. 2000 ] [ Moab 2000 ] [ Dusy Trouble ] [ Rubicon Bash 2000 ] [ Moab 2001 ] [ Chili Challenge 2002 ] [ Rodeo Parade 2002 ] [ MaGrew Run ] [ Pickett Peak Lookout ] [ Sierra Trek 2002 ] [ Rough & Ready ] [ Sierra Trek/Dusy-Ershim ] [ Pickett Peak L.O. ] [ Tamarack Lake ] [ Dusy Triumph ] [ Orleans Look Out ] [ Rubicon Bash ] [ Sierra Trek ]
|
