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Moab may be a Jeep paradise, but its also just a popular for hikers and mountain bikers.
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Climbing a rock spine in Fins N Things was a great introduction to wheeling Moab style.
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It seems there is a world-class view behind every bend in the road.
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Slickrock provides tires with an amazing amount of traction.
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Moab has trails for everyone, from the seasoned veteran to the first timer.
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Be sure to do your research, trails are rated for the abilities of your rig and driving skills. Don’t let your ego send you in the wrong direction.
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Water erosion sure has made this one of the most interesting places to visit.
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Words by Pat Harrison, photos by James Stenabaugh
When you think about heading out for a four-wheeling trip you don't usually think in terms of 1900 km just to get there do you? You also wouldn't think about having in excess of 37 incredible trails to choose from right in the same area but that is what awaits you if you are willing to bite the bullet or rather the gas bill and get on with it. It is pure glory in the eyes of the off-road enthusiast.
Six Jeeps set out from Vancouver for our own "March on Moab" to answer the call of the red rock and the promise of traction and terrain that would make even hard core wheelers do an involuntary happy dance. We took James Stenabaugh of Twisted Squirrel with us on this trip to fill the role of photographer and videographer, and we were glad we did. He filled in as an excellent co-driver and even got the opportunity to put our trail rig through some paces. The drive down from our neck of the woods was actually a pleasant one with a little bit of everything to keep it interesting. We broke up the 22-hour commute with an overnight stay in Twin Falls, which was beyond the halfway point, so that the drive on day two seemed like duck soup in comparison. VHF radios kept us all in touch en route and allowed me to continue telling stories to everyone, even after they all sped up to put distance between us for some reason.
Pulling into the small town of Moab it was obvious we were in the right place. Modded rigs were everywhere you looked, on trailers, in driveways, and even on the main drag as we grinned from ear to ear in anticipation of what was to come. Glory.
Day one was a good warm up starting with “Fins n Things” and going straight onto “Hell's Revenge” to see all the rocks and routes that have been made infamous by so many videos and articles. You feel like you've actually seen them before. One of the coolest things about these well known trails is that they are just ten minutes from town in an area that opens up in front of you like a playground that is too good to be true. But it is true, and it's real and so is the traction. The learning curve is accelerated as the red rock formations provide so much traction that you feel like your rig is on steroids as you climb and descend like a champ, provided you are paying attention. Slight deviations from the trail can result in surprises that can leave you hung up on your cross member or worse. As an 80 kph windstorm literally sandblasted us off the top of a hill we made our way down in the waning daylight, finishing what was one of the best days of wheeling in our lives... and it was just day one.
Picking which trails to run in Moab is like pulling out a handful of Bits ‘n Bites... no two are the same, yet they are all awesome. The variety of terrain, vegetation, features and viewpoints is what will have us going back for years to come. In the following days, the crew hit up trails like “Elephant Hill,” “Poison Spyder,” “Golden Spike,” “Gold Bar Rim” and “Steel Bender” all with the same glorious results. We were all stoked to be there and could feel the excitement growing in anticipation of the upcoming Easter Jeep Safari Week. I can only imagine the spectacle of all the attending rigs rolling around the tiny town of Moab for a solid week of trail runs, vendor displays and good times with what would seem like a few thousand of your closest buddies. Easter Jeep Safari is in its 48th year of ongoing evolution and is run by the Moab Red Rock Wheelers Club. Most of the big name aftermarket manufacturing companies, as well as Jeep were on hand to show off the latest mods and concepts at the vendors galleries in the Spanish Valley Trail Arena. On the final Friday of the 10-day event the "Grand Giveaway" took place and saw Easter Jeep Safari participants receive gifts from the vendors at a combined valued of an amazing $200,000.
I'll quote a member of one of the local Jeep clubs and his observation on the subject of Moab. Todd or ' canucklj ' as many would know him posted this " anyone that has not been and owns a Jeep or any 4WD should go at least one time in their lives...epic ". I couldn't agree more and would encourage anyone with a passion for off-roading to get down there sooner rather than later because you will wish you had once you experience the glory for yourselves. The impressive array of trails are well represented in a few publications that rate them on a scale of 1:10 for difficulty and give you clear expectations for level of equipment mods and abilities required. Many of the more sane runs offer unbelievable vistas and rock formations that can't be missed so you don't have to be built to the nines to appreciate the area. If you are in the more modified classification there are trails that will test your metal...pun intended.
But Moab isn't just one of the premiere destinations for off-roading. It only makes sense that the same terrain will attract mountain bikers and hikers alike, and rightfully so. The state boasts seven parks, all national parks with fantastic hiking, biking and off-roading trails, leading you to viewpoints, arches and rock formations that are hard to believe even when you are standing there staring at them. Erosion truly has left a spectacle to behold in a place called Moab Utah, a place that has its fair share of glory.