2018 Cruise Moab Kokopelli Double-Overnighter Tour Team Member Thread (1 Viewer)

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Hi guys. I will be along for the trip and have been very excited about this trail. It will be myself (Dana) and my wife Valerie in our 1994 FZJ80. I have been waiting to post this until i could do a proper introduction with nice photos and everything. But i am afraid that if i wait until i have time to do it right i will never happen. Life is crazy right now as we prep to head out.

We are coming to join you guys from Atlanta Georgia. But after Cruise Moab we will not be heading back home, we will be heading to Wyoming for the next 5 months. So in addition to packing and preparing for Cruise Moab and Kokopelli we are packing everything we will have for the next 5 months of hiking, traveling, exploring and enjoying life. Belive me it is a challenge to keep 5 months worth of belonging light enough for a good trail ride!

We come from a backpacking back ground so we make do with out a lot of stuff. My wife still thinks a pillow is a luxurie and that every meal is cooked in a .75L titanium cook pot. We have been enjoying traveling in the 80 for a few years and have made a few trips to Moab. But this will be our first Cruise Moab. We are looking forward to meeting up with you guys!

San Rafeal swells...Fix it pass I think

coming off Hells Revenge

Some place way up high near Oray

Glad you made the list. Dana and I exchanged several posts about Kokopelli’s Trail before he mentioned being on the waiting list. He was going to tackle it solo if he didn’t get in with us

 

[rc51kid]

Does anyone have a good idea of what temps we should be seeing for the days we are out there?

 

[xlcaferacer]

I would say prepare for temps around 40 at night, and anywhere from 60's to high 80' during the day. Also prepare for wind and potentially some rain. The desert is very unpredictable.

 

[srwruns]

I checked with BLM. The LaSal loop road remains closed. I don’t know if this affects the route (I believe it did last year). I think the group had to exit Onion Creek last year (because we broke down we didn’t get to exit so I’m sketchy on the details).

Anyway the point being if the route includes La Sal Loop Road it will be closed (until “May sometime...then cars will be escorted with pilot cars”. Also snow is still up at about 8000 feet according to BLM.

 

[xlcaferacer]

Just finished up some maintenance before the trip. New water pump, belts, and hoses. My Budbuilt underbelly skids are re-installed and I'm ready to roll!
First pic is coming down Rose Garden Hill when I last ran the Kokopelli when my truck was still a "motor home". Second pic is just fun, under hood , garage maintenance stuff....
I'm excited! It appears that we have a good group of folks. This is a super fun trail. The scenery is awesome. There is enough challenge to keep it interesting over the 100 plus miles. The campsites are great for a group setting. And; while Top of the World and Rose Garden Hill can be intimidating in spots, they really aren't that bad and they really give you a sense of accomplishment once you finish them.
We are going to have a good time in the desert! Did I mention that I was excited!?
BTW: not finishing on the Lasalle route isn't a big deal. I actually prefer bailing out at Onion Creek Road. I think the creek zig zags across the road 21 times, if I remember right. Splashing through the streams brings out the kid inside.

 

[rc51kid]

Roled out today. I am being a wussy and spending the night in a $57 hotel. The truck is knd of full making it hard to sleep inside it. I dont like having anymore than i need on the roof during long highway drives. It sucks the little bit of MPG and HP that i have. But when I get on the trail i might shift a few of the pelican cases up top unless there is off camber stuff. then i will keep stuff inside and just pull it out at camp.

 

[Ferretlegger]

Hi everyone! Susan and I are excited to meet you all and get back onto Top of the world. As previously mentioned, we live in Moab, and are happy to help in whatever way we can. If you are coming to Moab before the Kokopelli, I hope you will give us a call. My phone is 408-930-6818. If you need to deal with a car problem, we have quite a few tools, and there are several good car places around the corner. Also, If anyone has some extra stuff they would rather not take on the kokopelli, we can probably store it for you. We have a decent size garage, and if necessary, a storage locker. We will be leaving Monday afternoon to head to Fruita and Gas up, get some dinner grub, and then head to Rabbit Valley for the night. We are happy to guide/meet anyone who doesn't know Fruita or Rabbit Valley. We will have a 2 meter ham rig this trip, as well as CB. My call is WD6EHQ. If anyone has a bad CB, let me know and I will see what can be done.

Our address is 620 Doc Allen Drive, in Moab. I described how to get there somewhere above. The quick info is to head towards Kane Creek Campground from main street, on Kane Springs road, between the Mcdonalds and Burger King off Main street at the south end of town. Turn left onto Aspen just before Kane Creek makes a long turn to the left, right across from a church. Aspen dead ends after 3 blocks at Doc Allen Drive. We are the 5th house on the left, with a collection of 4Runners and a Big Red Truck (see avatar) parked outside.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[rc51kid]

Crap...just realized i forgot my tarp that i use as a awning. Hope there is not much sun in Utah...LOL! I am sure there will be other things that i realized i forgot as the trip goes on. At least i didnt forget the beer. But I dont know if there will be any left by the time i get there.

 

[Poupon]

Hey everybody. My name is Larry Britt (AKA Poupon). My friend Juan and I will be in my 200 on this one. We'll be coming up from Albuquerque New Mexico on Monday and staying at Grand Junction Monday night. Done Cruise Moab several times and a few 1 nighters. This will be my 1st two nighter.

I'll bring some chips, salsa and queso for the pot luck. Looking forward to meeting everybody.

Cheers!

 

[Inukshuk]

Thanks for all the updates! I'll have to post some of my projects - when I finish them today.

I received all your e-mails. We have a capable and diverse group. We will all be really safe, and in that respect boring, but good to know we have combat life saving skills as rumor has it we may or may not have shot a Canadian on one of my prior trips. But enough about that, there will be plenty of scenery, company, and food to thrill us.

Dana is on the road from GA - cool. Plenty of WalMarts and Tractor Supplies along the way to grab a tarp. That with a few bungees or ratchet straps is great for sun and rain.
Larry - Will those be authentic NM chips, salsa and queso? Don't tease me now. NM red is the best!
Susan - thanks for the great intel. Although dealing with road closures and washouts is part of the adventure, we also want to arrive at CM HQ for vendor night so we'll plan the Onion Creek route.

Who is farther traveled: Rome, GA? Greer, SC? Eden, NC? Langley, B.C.? Newton NH (my choice)?
Our trucks span 27 years of Toyota manufacturing. I wonder, would any 1989 parts fit a 2016?

 

[AKayl]

We hit the road today coming from Oregon, should be at Kane Creek late tomorrow and Rabbit Valley Monday night.

 

[TTFJ]

We are half way there!
Distance from home to Grand Junction 1217.4 miles
That Canadian did not get "Shot" he caught a ricochet with his belly, but getting shot sounds cooler!
We are stocked to do this with youall.
Bruce & Donna

 

[bflynn1717]

We will be leaving the Sacramento area tomorrow evening around 6:30pm. We plan to camp at a campground near the Bonneville Salt Flats late tomorrow night. Plan is to head into SLC early Monday morning and visit the Landcruiser Heritage Museum, before heading to the Rabbit Valley Campground Monday night. See everyone there.

 

[Ferretlegger]

As Ace mentioned in a separate letter, it is indeed windy in Moab this morning. Temps are moderate, but it howled all night. For those arriving at the Kane Springs Campground this afternoon, be advised it is sort of a giant dirt lot down by the river. Very pretty, but exposed, with not much to break the wind. I will probably stop by there this afternoon and see how things are doing. In any event, feel free to stop by my house (directions above) if things are too much.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Inukshuk]

Looks like many great adventure on the way to our adventure together!
We are leaving Denver now. See some of you Monday afternoon/evening at Rabbit Valley and all of you Tuesday AM!
Remember some firewood.

 

[rc51kid]

We are about 250 miles away in Denver. Still have to make up over the pass on i70.

Total distance for us looks like around 1700 or a little less.

 

[ridindurty]

Hello everyone - I am not much of a computer person so I am not on forum type things often. My name is Steven Kent and I am blessed to be living in Colorado for the last eight years. I have been wheeling in my soccer mom 100 Series for a few years and really enjoy getting out into nature with it, albeit not as frequently as I would like too.

One of my favorite parts of wheeling in this type of community is meeting new people from all walks of life and learning things I might not otherwise be exposed to. I met my buddy Josh who is tail-gunning this trip in the pick up truck several years ago while in Ouray and have enjoyed a plethora of adventures with him over the years. He is a wealth of knowledge and as you will all experience - simply a fantastic person to be around. I cannot say enough kind words for our trail leader Daniel as well. I have known him for several years and he is the epitome of a gentle soul who truly loves sharing nature with others. He is tremendously versed in geography, topography, trail leading and overall adventure. He is bound to show us all a great time with this great crew.

I look forward to meeting everyone on the adventure and learning new things from everyone as well. Safe travels to all on their journey to CO/UT.

Cheers,
Steven

 

[bflynn1717]

Made it home safe this morning after addressing a bit of “death wobble” that started after fins and things. I narrowed it down to some worn ball joints. Figured out it only did it when going 15-30 mph. So we hammered down and it was all good! Haha.

Just wanted to say a special thanks to everyone for being so cool with my son James. We had an epic adventure and he decided he wants to move to Moab. I owe his positive expirence to how great all your interactions were with him.

I will stay in touch and share the video when I get around to finishing it. Hopefully it will be sooner than later.

I’m not a frequent on mud but check back periodically. Feel free to reach out to me on face book.

Just search bflynn1717@hotmail,com.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

I got home Sunday afternoon and still washing and cleaning stuff. But heading out for another trip next week so not trying to get all the dirt now.

Thanks to Daniel for leading, Josh for gunning and everyone for being a good group to travel and camp with.

I decided this is my last trip on Kokopelli’s. It’s gotten progressively rougher since my first time in 2008 and my old body just doesn’t fair as well on this type of trail. But I’ll still do sections now and then, like Dome Plateau. In fact I camped just off the trail Saturday and did slickrock riding there on Sunday am. It’s an area you can see from the trail and I always thought it would be a good place to camp, and it was.

Ace & Kenda

 

[xlcaferacer]

I had a good time with ya'll on the Koko. Finally got a chance to wash the red dirt off of the truck today. Thanks for the memories.
I will be spending the next few weekends in the garage welding up and installing a long travel front suspension kit on my old pickup. I also bent my underbelly skid plates into my front drive shaft when I tried to take the "lifted, short wheelbase line" on some steps that were bigger than I thought on the Flat Iron Mesa trail. Serves me right for following a sprung over FJ40 with a 30" shorter wheelbase! I guess bending my skids back is on the to do list as well! Guess I just get more happy time in the garage.
Anyway; good trail, good people, hope to see you all again in the future!