CM08 Pix

[ChaseTruck]

... a trail leader who wasn't pulling a trailer....

Carl, I thought you did an awesome job leading us through Lockhart .
You kept the group moving very well, considering that one could easily spend a week on that trail just taking pictures all day.

Actually, one of these days, I will do exactly that .


I also thought Drew handled truck and trailer very well on this day.

 

[ChaseTruck]

The hitch is well designed for wheels up operation, just needs wheels on all sides and it would be good to go!

I'm sure I'm overlooking something, but it sounds the ideal trailer would be a sphere covered with little rollers. Actually, if the hitch is connected at the equator of the sphere, then the rollers would only be required at the center meridian? Hm.

 

[DSRTRDR]

Carl, I thought you did an awesome job leading us through Lockhart .
You kept the group moving very well...............

isn't that the truth

with time in the day, my crappy mood from the morning lighted up as we moved along

 

[ChaseTruck]

...In many ways, our preruns were run better that the official events....

I'm thinking this may be because there's a core group that has run many trails together, knows how to work together, and is comfortable with each other.

I would think being trail leader on a CruiseMoab run is a rather uncomfortable assessment. You never know who is going to show up, what the capability of the drivers and trucks really are despite what's on the paper, who's going to be taking offense at whatever, who's comfortable at driving their truck through obstacles and who's not. Having tried the trail leader gig, I'd say it's difficult to make everyone feel at ease, as well as close to - but not beyond - their comfort level on the trail. I think that is the key to being a successful trail leader. It is a lot easier if you're familiar with the group, than when you really don't know the people that share the trails with you.

 

[Blues Dawg]

Carl, I thought you did an awesome job leading us through Lockhart .
You kept the group moving very well, considering that one could easily spend a week on that trail just taking pictures all day.

quote]

isn't that the truth

with time in the day, my crappy mood from the morning lighted up as we moved along

Aww, Shucks, Thanks - its an awesome fun trail - all 70 miles or so, even when "dusk-ish"

 

[Blues Dawg]

I'm thinking this may be because there's a core group that has run many trails together, knows how to work together, and is comfortable with each other.

I would think being trail leader on a CruiseMoab run is a rather uncomfortable assessment. You never know who is going to show up, what the capability of the drivers and trucks really are despite what's on the paper, who's going to be taking offense at whatever, who's comfortable at driving their truck through obstacles and who's not. Having tried the trail leader gig, I'd say it's difficult to make everyone feel at ease, as well as close to - but not beyond - their comfort level on the trail. I think that is the key to being a successful trail leader. It is a lot easier if you're familiar with the group, than when you really don't know the people that share the trails with you.

Well said, Michael. My best CM08 runs were when I had members of our group with us (Cliffhanger and Poison Spider) - cause we formed a unit within the team - and that helped everyone on the trail run, including the leaders and the gunners.

 

[BrotherRob]

I'm thinking this may be because there's a core group that has run many trails together, knows how to work together, and is comfortable with each other.

I would think being trail leader on a CruiseMoab run is a rather uncomfortable assessment. You never know who is going to show up, what the capability of the drivers and trucks really are despite what's on the paper, who's going to be taking offense at whatever, who's comfortable at driving their truck through obstacles and who's not. Having tried the trail leader gig, I'd say it's difficult to make everyone feel at ease, as well as close to - but not beyond - their comfort level on the trail. I think that is the key to being a successful trail leader. It is a lot easier if you're familiar with the group, than when you really don't know the people that share the trails with you.

I agree Michael. CM does a good job of matching drivers and rigs with the appropriate trails, but it can't be a picnic leading multiple types of rigs with drivers of varying backgrounds. That's one of the things I enjoy about the group runs though, meeting new people and seeing how different drivers and equipment perform.

My only real disapprointment with the group runs is the limited selection of trails. After a few trips, we've run everything we want to run. On the prerun we are free to pick and choose and see new territory.

 

[Jim S.]

Today is Thursday and we just got home. Left CM08 on Sunday and toured around with Drew & George for a couple of days. They pulled out of Cottonwood on Tuesday morning headed for Hoover dam. That morning we elected to drive Mingus mountain and got caught in a nasty thunderstorm while sharing the trail with two folks riding mules. Lorna gave a rain poncho to the unfortunate female rider and we negotiated our way into Jerome. Yesterday we toured Sedona by air and then visited Montezuma Well and drove Schnebly hill. We really had a blast on this venture. The CSC hospitality is awesome. Thanks everyone!

 

[Tools R Us]

The second full day was way cool, we started near Natural Bridges, at Maverick point, went over the Manti-La Sal mountains, past Dark Canyon, Beef Basin, Ruin Park, Bobby's Hole and came out Elephant Hill. Drove on just about everything but ice, recovered a couple of trucks, pulled trees out of the road and the view changed radically through the day. Little/no technical wheeling, just a great drive lead by Michael.

 

[Tools R Us]

Had to get a shot of my junk in there!

 

[Tools R Us]

On the way down and near Beef Basin.

 

[Tools R Us]

It’s good to have informative signage.

Bobby’s Hole.

 

[Tools R Us]

More informative signage.

 

[Tools R Us]

More views.

 

[Tools R Us]

Even …

 

[Tools R Us]

Coming out of Elephant Hill, looking down to the parking lot.

 

[Tools R Us]

These vault johns are all over up there, all that I saw were very clean and even smelled good. Here they are rare and trashed.

The last sign of the day was a lesson in redundancy.;p

 

[medtro]

Got home an 1/2 hour ago.

Super tired. Note to Ross, don't stay up till 2am the night before a 10-11 hour drive.



I had one of the best times ever that I had in my truck. Getting to do runs with all the CSC folks is just fantastic. A special thanks to all the excellent spotting, in particular Phil who made the trails a fantastic experience.

I now officially call Phil my "Wheeling Caddy". He helped me "read the greens" and "pick clubs". I couldn't have done it with out you. I am sorry I almost ran you down on Cliff Hanger.


And to everyone else.

Yes, someone did pee on my tent.


Yes, I did lock my keys in the truck and No, I don't carry a spare.

Ross,

Any pics of your tent getting the finishing touch?

Did you test the sliders? How would you rate them now?

 

[Tools R Us]

... even when "dusk-ish"

For the benefit of those not privileged to that long CB conversation, dusk-ish = DARK.;p

 

[Tools R Us]

Today is Thursday and we just got home. Left CM08 on Sunday and toured around with Drew & George for a couple of days. They pulled out of Cottonwood on Tuesday morning headed for Hoover dam. That morning we elected to drive Mingus mountain and got caught in a nasty thunderstorm while sharing the trail with two folks riding mules. Lorna gave a rain poncho to the unfortunate female rider and we negotiated our way into Jerome. Yesterday we toured Sedona by air and then visited Montezuma Well and drove Schnebly hill. We really had a blast on this venture. The CSC hospitality is awesome. Thanks everyone!

Sounds like fun, I'm jealous. Did you run Hells?