Albert Vandervelde
Moab Metal Masher 2011
Metal Masher can be a bit of a bear to find as the trail entrance is through a wide-open sand wash, after the climb into Little Canyon from the highway. This past year there have been more signs installed but I still managed to miss the last turn and had to back track.photos and story by Albert Vandervelde
Our goal in Moab each year - besides shaking off winter, denting the seats a bit at the Moab Brewery and enjoying the sandstone sights - is to get as many Canadians visiting for the Easter Jeep Safari together as we can. Each year we plan a trail ride just for those with the red and white maple leaf flag; and the odd guests who just want to hang out with us funny talking Canadians. The past few years we have visited Metal Masher as our group trail - and we did just that again this year. The trail is rated a moderate 6 by the Moab Safari guides, mostly due to the trail having by-passes around much of the hard wheeling, but with plenty of optional climbs for those wanting to hear a bit more of their metal “mash” the rocks into submission.
There is fun to be had at every turn. This year we had a big group of guests from the London and Area Jeep Owners Club, along with their families from other parts of Canada... and a couple token Americans the likes of Jason and Mike from Modern Enterprises in Washington; they are close enough to Canada so we let them tag along.
Metal Masher can be a bit of a bear to find as the trail entrance is through a wide-open sand wash, after the climb into Little Canyon from the highway. This past year there have been more signs installed but I still managed to miss the last turn and had to back track. It doesn’t take long into the trail to start climbing though the rock slabs and into the broken ledges that make up most of the trail as it climbs to the vantage point along Arth’s Rim, over-looking highway 191 about 1300 feet below. With many options to play on, its a fun way for those who are not as aggressive to watch those who are all too willing to rub some paint and smack some diffs.
The trail once followed the route of Rock Chucker Hill, but it's turned into an optional climb that needs the best equipment in order to conquer it. Tim Forbes (from Ontario) in his well built LJ and I were seriously warming up to try the climb as we watched several others in the area try and fail to even make it to the large part of the obstacle. Then along came a couple of tube buggies who turned and drove on up. As I had the sticky MTRs on I just had to give it a go, and with one swipe I was sitting on the rock face. With a little bit of air sucked into my lungs, I eased out the clutch. The stickies – well stuck - and I crawled on up. Tim came right behind, and with a couple realignments, drove right on up as well. Once to the top you are not done, as the trail twists around the back of the rock outcropping and has a couple of bumper crunching drops to get you back to the “normal” route.
Just above Rock Chucker, everyone drives up Mirror Gulch - a cool, slick rock cut that leads to a few challenging ledges and a few optional play spots before reaching the top of Arth’s Rim. From this point (after lots of pictures of the valley below) the trail gets a little easier and drops back down rock ledges to the sandy wash not far from the trails entrance.
At this point you have a choice: make a right and head to Widow Maker, or straight onto the return loop towards the entrance. I did tell our group we would most likely all be winching Widow Maker, but with everyone coming from so far away it was a resounding lets go!
Widow Maker is a tough rock climb with little to no traction and virtually no where to winch too – till this year. Those that make it tend to have longer wheel base rigs but since last year the Trail maintenance crews drilled the rock at the top and install a spike for a winch point. Each year we have visited Widow Maker, the sand at the bottom gets dug out deeper and deeper. And while a few wanted to try, we all took the hook at the top and winched up the rock face.
Another option lies ahead: loop back to Little Canyon, or back out the sand, towards Seven Mile Rim. With taking time to play on the optional routes on the trail, it tends to push 4-5PM before we head back towards Little Canyon and back towards town.
We had another great group with us this year, and with plans at this point to return to Moab for 2012, we will change it up a bit and pick a new Canadian Trail, with the same feel as Metal Masher. If you are going to be in Moab next spring drop me an email we would be glad to have you join us!!
For the full story and photos check out Volume 13 Issue 6