Moab for Mizedog April 6-8 2010

[mizedog]

Hey all,
Haven't posted in a while as I've been working my fingers to the bone on the basement refinish job - the Mother-in-law visited for Easter. You know that meant my wife put the fire under me...

As my reward for hard work done, I met friends from my old California club at Moab. Here's the schedule:
Tuesday - Hell's Revenge
Wednesday - Poison Spider Mesa to Golden Spike to Gold Bar Rim, Gemini Bridges
Thursday - Killer Kane Mine - (washed out), Kane Creek

The Cherokee, with only a rear locker and 33s, did great in a crowd of TJs and JKs. They even commented on how well it did. What did I learn? XJ's do steep uphills better than my old CJ. My XJ didn't like going down ledges - AT ALL. The springs and shocks were too soft (shock may have been faded - even at the highest setting). My front bumper did hit on a couple ledges but held up great - only nicks in the paint. The rear trailer hitch saved my bumper, and gas tank. No rubbing at all on Hell's Revenge. I didn't do Hell's Gate, the tubs, or the Escalator. After the trail we did Baby Lion's Back. Easy up, but I almost rolled it coming down the 5' high ledge on the back side. I was way too far to the right which is a larger drop (following the more radical TJ drivers). Once the back tires crossed over the edge, the Jeep just slid down and planted the bumper hard enough that the back end shot airborne, and swung to the right about two feet and started to roll the Jeep over fast. Luckily, I stabbed the gas in time to pull the front end forward enough. Nearly peed my pants on that!

No problems anywhere on Poison Spider/Spike/Bar Rim accept for using my nerf bars, bumper, and hitch. Going up the tilty ledges of Poison Spider was more comfortable in the XJ than the CJ. Did the Golden Staircase so smoothly it surprised me and got cheers from the group (the JK on 35s ahead of me had more trouble). Didn't try Double Whammy.

Tried to do Killer Kane Mine trail, but sections were washed out preventing us from going up the cliff. On to Kane Creek.
Kane Creek was easy except for one tough ledge climbing out of the canyon (made it). It's amazing how the trail makes its way up the cliff face where it seems no trail could be!

I'll add some pics.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010112.jpg
Hell's Gate:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010132.jpg
Devil's somthing hot tub:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010138.jpg
The Escalator - one brave XJ on 36s tried this, but got stuck and needed a hook.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010152.jpg
Hell's Revenge overlook (over Colorado River)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/HellsRevengeLookOutpoint.jpg
The view:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010130.jpg
Beginning of Poison Spider Mesa - ledges above the river:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/PoisonSpiderpano.jpg
The Wedgy:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/PoisonSpiderWedgy.jpg
Going up canyon to lunch spot:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010016.jpg
Lunch in the canyon above some ledges:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010045.jpg
Pano of the lunch spot:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/LunchonPoisonSpidertrail.jpg
Another Poison Spider cliff shot:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010011.jpg
Turtle Rock near the beginning of Golden Spike:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010006.jpg
Golden Spike ledges:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010051.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010053.jpg
Jeep Arch:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010055.jpg
Pano view from Golden Spike looking back toward Poison:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/GoldenSpikeLaSalsbackdrop.jpg
Video of the Golden Crack:
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/th_P1010062.jpg[/IMG"]Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket
Golden Stair Case - do the "Moab Bump"!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010063.jpg
Gemini bridge near end of Gold Bar Rim trail:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010076.jpg
Me on the cliff overlooking the bridges:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/Jeep%20pics/Moab%202010/P1010081.jpg

What would I change?
More lift! Just a couple inches would have helped me keep off the nerf bars.
Stiffer springs and shocks! The Rusty's springs seems to have lost some lift and I swayed all over and the springs compressed waaaay too easily coming off ledges causing me to hit the nerfs and bumpers.
Front locker - This would have been nice, on the Golden Crack and some of the undercut ledges. However, I was able to do all those open in the front.
More fender trimming!!! Darn it! I cracked up at least three of the Rusty's flares due to the 33's eating away at them. I'm seriously looking at the new ones from Iceland offroad.

What worked well?
From bumper was good and stout. I think it gave great approach angles.
Tires stuck like glue! The siping may have helped this.
JKS Super Nerfs - very tough.
Rear axle w/ locker - I saw another XJ with a Dana 35 that broke on him - sucked getting off Golden Spike for him!
4.56 gears - worked fine. I notice another XJ and JK with taller gears having to bounce through rather than idle through. 4.88s would not have been too deep.

[mizedog]

Oh, I had the distinct pleasure of hosting Jim Frens, the founder of Nth Degree Mobility in my Cherokee for the Kane Creek trail. He was in town to meet with my friends from All J Products (www.boulderbars.com). Apparently, All J is the top sellers (and helped with development) of Nth Degree's kits. In fact, the Moab Red Jk pictured on the Golden Stair Case is owned by All J Products and was the JK used to develop the Nth JK kit.

Anyway, Jim was very courtious, extremely well spoken (he's one of the original Jeep TJ engineers, whaddyaexpect?), and very tolerant of my pitifully inadequate Rusty's short arm suspension. Thanks Jim!

I wonder if he could be convinced to develop an XJ/ZJ suspension...:confused:

[Mudderoy]

Great pictures and fun to read about your adventures. Thanks for sharing with us!

[alwaysxj]

wow i cannot wait to go to moab in aug. thanks for all the pics.

any advise for a first timer to moab in a jeep. and what trails to run.

[Melissa]

Wow stunning pics!!, thanks!!

[rockyford708]

is their any cherokee or jeep, clubs around la junta colorado or pueblo colorado,and i quess coloradosprings colorado.

[4.3LXJ]

You might check with United Four Whee drive assoc. for regional organizations. Whichever one is for CO will have affiliated clubs listed.

[TripleZero]

is their any cherokee or jeep, clubs around la junta colorado or pueblo colorado,and i quess coloradosprings colorado.


Here is a link to a list of some clubs in Co Springs and your area.

http://www.hightrails.org/index.php/menu-membership/menu-clubs/menu-southern-clubs

[mizedog]

Thanks for answering all!

With all the Jeeps in Colorado, I also imagine you'll be able find some friends in La Junta to go out with. Unfortunately, La Junta's a bit of a drive from the mountains. I think Mt. Blanca would be within reach but there may be some near Trinidad.

By the way, last October, I took the family on the Forest Service's trip to see the dinosaur tracks, rock art, and ranch ruins. the trail is about 20 miles south of La Junta and It was a fun day - even though I never put it in four wheel drive. If you have kids-sized passengers, I recommend it. Also, October is tarantula mating season. We saw several of the fuzzy critters walking around. They're harmless, but neat to see. Boss Hog's BBQ restaurant is a great way to finish the day.

I'm a member of the Colorado Springs Christian 4WD Club. Great people, and they do a variety of trips, including Moab. They are structured a little different from the clubs I knew in California. They don't have monthly meetings. Instead, they have one big kick off meeting in April where the board of directors present the plan for the year, provide food, contests, and a nice packet describing the trail runs for the year. After that, they just meet before the trail runs. Great for families. They go from mild to damage too.

Fixing the video link from the post above.
Moab 2010 :: P1010062.mp4 video by Mizedog - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid7.phot obucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy272%2FMizedog%2FJeep%2520p ics%2FMoab%25202010%2FP1010062.mp4@@AMEPARAM@@file =http%3A%2F%2Fvid7.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy272 %2FMizedog%2FJeep%2520pics%2FMoab%25202010%2FP1010 062.mp4
Good luck, hope to see you on the trail.
Kurt