WeBeJeepin’ Moab

Everyone give a warm welcome to the newest member of the Samurai family. After months of hard work, sweat, and investment, Jim debuts Chief 9. This truck started out as a freebie that Gene brought over from Colorado. The axle housings were from the Blazer we recovered off of Kane Creek trail well over a year ago. From that start, Jeff & Jim built a beauty of a rig with too many fancies to list…..Atlas t-case, hybrid shocks with coils, a V6 engine, heated seat (for the driver anyway), beadlocks, MadDog tires, etc., etc. I think Chief 9 comes in at 106″ long and 84″ or so wide. A very stable size for Moab challenges.

So, the first trail is Metal Masher. This is a great first trail to try because the obstacles are optional and if things aren’t going so smoothly, well, easy enough to bypass or turn back. 8 rigs were out in total and this lovely hot day in July.

Okay, it’s been a while. What could Jim POSSIBLY be thinking on such a day!

a. I hope Chief 9 can climb Widowmaker! It’d be a shame to roll her on the first day!

b. Is my seat heater stuck in the “ON” position or is it really that hot in Moab?

c. Oh NO! My new truck is all dirty now.

d. With this V6 engine, I can definitely make it to church on time! Eat my rooster tails!

Rock Chucker was fun today and very easy, everyone in the group made it without much if any difficulty. Here’s Susan going up.

And a special guest appearance by Larry!

Here’s a couple shots of the Chief!

Looks sweet!

Here comes Rick.

Then it was through Mirror Gulch and up the switch back to Misty’s thumb. More shots of the new rig. By the way, it’s not orange, it’s cinnamon.

Up to the overlook. We looked over but it was still too early for lunch so it was off to Widowmaker.

Up the dugway to Widowmaker. The road construction is holding together nicely, making the approach nice and easy.

Jeff was the first one up. We were expecting a fairly easy time today but surprise! Widowmaker was not in a good mood at all. No one flipped or flopped but not everyone made it today.  Larry turned out to be a bit too long and was getting double-whammied at the top. Jeff climbed into the bed to get Larry’s strap when the truck slid backwards. Jeff made a hasty escape but all was okay.

Davon was next and really unloaded. He elected to take a strap too.

Then came Gary Lee who always seems to do well on this obstacle.  Next came Jim in Chief 9. Break in those new tires Jim!  I was next but without the video. I did make it up. Susan and Rick both elected for a pull too. We were all at the top of Widowmaker just in time for lunch and just in time for the thermometer to hit 100 degrees. After lunch, we hit the road to get back into Moab to cool down.

A great trail day and a nice break-in (instead of a break-down) for Chief 9.

Melissa

Trail Reports

Day #2 had us going north of I-70, crossing under through this nifty tunnel……once on the other side, we stopped to look at this famous rock art said to be over 3000 years old.

Rick and Gary Lee try to do a “What could Jim possibly be thinking?”

Then we stopped by Dutchman’s Arch or is it Dutchmen’s Arch….can’t remember. Anyway a few of us climbed to the top and took some photos.

Next stop was the Devil’s Racetrack.

Just like the sign says….

This trail has some beautiful views…..

and was a bit more challenging than the day before which is fun! Does your Jeep feel tippy Dee?

We came to one rocky challenge and worked a bit to find the “open” line. Once Susan made it up, the rest of us were determined to drive it open as well and did so without much trouble.

More scenery. I believe this one is called the Twin Priests.

And I think this one is Lady Slipper Arch?

And I’m pretty sure this one is called Joe and his dog.

When the group stopped for lunch, Melanie, Gary Lee, and I turned off north and headed back to Salt Lake City. The rest of the group worked their way back south towards I-70 using the Eva Conover Trail.

At I-70, most of the group headed back to Moab while Ber & Charlotte, Davon & Marlene, and their grandkids went on to the Eagle Canyon route.

Another great trail day.

Trail Reports

A group of 9 Jeeps showed up at the meeting spot near Goblin Valley State Park for a 2 day trail run and camp-out in the San Rafael Swell area. Ber Knight was the noble leader. He and Charlotte elected not to camp, instead making the journey out and back to Moab on both days (2 hrs. each way)

Not being too familiar with the area, I’m going to struggle in naming all the different sites but I did try to include some trail sign photos for those of you who are familiar with the San Rafael Swell.

Very cool balanced rock feature!

The scenery was great and an all Jeep line-up including a CJ, a YJ, lots of TJ’s, and a JK. The sammy’s all stayed home but we may see the premier of Chief 9 as soon as this weekend….

Lots of old mines and mining equipment in the area.

Beautiful views as we approach the Behind the Reef trail…….as the sign says……

Climbing up the shelf was a bit scrabbly……Short and Squatty…..Short and Squatty……stuck on a rock…..etc.

Moab TJ was fine for this trail. Gary Lee and I rode together.

We found some of the little wild horses coming out of Upper Little Wild horse canyon.

Watch for abandoned explosives as well as potato cannons powered by hairspray.

A nice view of Hondoo Arch with the remnant of the storm behind it. Although we only had a light sprinkle, it sure must have rained somewhere.

The stormy weather really cooled things down. We had 100+ temperatures and after the clouds passed, it cooled down to the 80′s with a breeze and was much more tolerable.

When we drove through the wash, we had a bit of a flash flood, not very deep but it sure was fun to drive through.

More wild horses.

We made it to camp near Swasey’s cabin about 6:00pm and the skies started to clear with a very nice rainbow.

We got a fire going and everyone prepared dinner with lots of s’mores for dessert.

This is the end of day 1. Stay tuned for more.

Trail Reports

The We Be Jeepin’ crew was out for the day on Poison Spider. There were 7 vehicles and Ber & Charlotte elected to lead for the day.

It was a hot and clear day and everyone was excited to get going.

Ber led us up and over the waterfall with Gary Lee close behind.

Gary Lee decided to show off a bit in the wedgy, driving in and backing all the way down and then up again with a wheel lift and a thumbs-up!

Here’s a shot of Gary & Lance on the top of Poison Spider Mesa.

We headed off for Pig Rock, first for the snout and later for the Pig’s butt, also known as Barney’s overlook.

A stop at Poison Spider Arch to take in the view and for some to hike across it.

Then up to Barney’s overlook which indeed overlooks…..Moab and the Colorado river. It started getting very windy while we were up here.

Everyone formed a human chain to prevent anyone from being blown over the side. Hang on everybody!

Whew! After getting off the overlook, we wound our way along the trail.

Then we arrived at the Sand Dunes where Lance turned on the speed in order to climb the hill.

Then we all lined up for the drive down the Wedgy and were off the trail in the early afternoon before it got too hot.

Another nice trail day!

Trail Reports

A total of 10 rigs showed up at the parking lot to run Hell’s Revenge for the 4th of July. I was elected to lead the trail today and we made a brief stop to look at the dinosaur footprints.

Then it was up the slickrock fins and over to the Abyss. This is a nice warm up obstacle and Rick in Flipper makes it look easy!

We quickly worked our way past the Hummer tour and made a stop at the Overlook and got ready to run Hell’s Gate.

Ber shows us how the Gate should be driven. Perfect line!

After everyone was done at Hell’s Gate, we began working our way up to the hot tub section of the trail. Gary Lee had some recent modifications to his anti-squat thanks to Dirt Squirrel Motors, LLC and he decided to test the Big Hot tub one more time. He removed his spare tire and storage rack with tools to lighten the vehicle weight. After a couple of attempts to warm the tires, he put Over EZ into second gear and had a successful climb!

Congratulations Gary Lee!!

Then he decided to try it again a second time to confirm that he had the line. It looked even easier the second time.

So, then I had to go back into this hole, recently named the Devil’s sphincter by one club member. When you’re WAAAAAYYYY down in there, it seems like a better name than the Big Hot tub.

After all the fun and excitement, we proceeded on to Mickey’s hot tub where more folks decided to participate. Here’s Dee down in Mickey’s. Apparently she doesn’t need a front locker or perhaps forgot to turn it on? There are various stories out there but it surely is easier to switch on an electronic locker than it is to use a 5 point harness…..right? Everything goes out the window when you’re a bit nervous……

Lance decided to try Mickey’s with a leash as well and had a bit of a coil spring problem. Somewhere he heard if you break something on an obstacle they name it after you but I think Mickey broke here first…..

Lunch was called while the coil spring was relocated to its former, more functional position. Then off to the Escalator where there was all kinds of fun. The line was tricksy today except for Gary Lee who went twice just for good measure.

Jeff made it to just about this point when he missed the line and leaned into the wall. Trying to get back on the line, he snapped his front driver side outer axle shaft, requiring a Jeep rescue……

Rick struggled for a bit, flopped like a fish but didn’t flip! He found the right line for his narrower vehicle.

The Escalator was about 50/50 today for those in the group who tried it but was fun none the less. After Tip Over Challenge we worked our way to the exit of Hell’s Revenge. About a mile from the end, Gary Lee’s Over EZ refused to find a gear and needed a tug home (another Jeep rescue). Turns out that a new clutch is required…….at least it broke right at the end.

Another fun day on the trail with a few casualties but everyone made it back alive.

See ya on the trail!

Trail Reports