Columbus Day Weekend to Moab (1 Viewer)

[SteveLCetc]

The problem is Golden Spike is an all day run - It's in via Poison Spider Mesa, then Golden Spike (the connector) and out via Gold Bar Rim.

E Hill campout is a 1.5 day run.

Fins 'n things to Hell's Revenge is an all day run.

To get them all in means either leave NM on Thursday and come back Tuesday, or leave Wednesday to come back Monday. I would like to do Fin's 'n Things to Hell's Revenge, and I suspect more campers would want to do that than Golden Spike.

The best solution I can think of right now is for the campers to leave Wednesday, camp out at Devil's Kitchen Thursday night, and come back into Moab Friday so we can do Spike and FnT+HR on Saturday and Sunday, not necessarily respectively. Those of us not doing E Hill get another bonus day on Friday, or can travel there Friday.

But, hey, we have months to figure this out.

 

[Ruadhrigh]

... we can split up that day/QUOTE]


and then we can communicate via 2M....

 

[Beowulf]

and then we can communicate via 2M....

We will discuss this a little more in the "Ham Testing" thread but, just so you know, E-Hill is a good 70+ miles Southwest of Moab and most of the trail is in a deep canyon. While vehicle-to-vehicle (or hand held) communication throughout the canyon is possible, it is unlikely a VHF or UHF rig would get to the Moab repeater or to other vehicles in Moab. That being said, right after we made the turn at Monticello Utah, Steve was in contact from the motor-home with someone on Cliff Hanger; one of the higher trails.

-Mike-

 

[Beowulf]

But, hey, we have months to figure this out.

Yes, we have time but I think it is great that we are finally putting some thoughts out there. Let's keep coming with the "I would like to ...." type of discussion as that is great. Try not to discount other's thoughts and suggestions at this early stage in the planning.

We recognize there are many competing interests...

Those without kids or with pre-school kids.
Those with kids in school that must avoid taking them out unnecessarily.
Those with flexibility on scheduling days off.
Those that must plan days off months in advance.
Those that love camping.
Those that prefer staying in motels or campers.
Those with a desire to do the harder trails.
Those with a preference to do the easier trails.
Some will trailer their rigs and some will drive their rigs.

I am certain we can accommodate *MOST* everyone but please don't get your feelings hurt if we cannot. The good news is that this will be an annual event if we get enough interest and we tend to be a flexible group so your dream trip might be possible next year if you don't get it this year.

Proposed Goals (open for discussion)
* Club trip to Moab to enable those that have not been to Moab to go and to enable those that cannot get enough of Moab to go again.
* Select dates with a good chance for mild weather (early October is set!)
* Use a school holiday to our advantage. (Monday Oct 8th)
* Plan a 3+ day trip that gives us the most bang for the buck
* Plan the trip as a club event. Splinter groups/runs are discouraged during the 2 "wheeling Moab" days. (Before & after is OK)
* Select trails that have bypasses for the harder obstacles and bail-out points
* Select trails that give the best "Moab Experience" (means different things to each of us)
* Select trails that *someone* will be comfortable leading.

Since I have very limited Moab trail experience, I suggested that we could do Hell's Revenge and Fins & Things in one day. This suggestion was based on how close the trails are and how long it took a larger group to do these trails on Friday & Saturday, respectively. I know that both HR and Fins have bypasses and Fins could be run in sections if we decided to. We had relatively stock vehicles on both trails so things like huge tires & lifts & lockers are not required. It is inevitable that a stock wagon will drag the rear end on every trail at Moab so that is a given. If that is an issue then this trip is not going to make you happy.

Of course, I would prefer to do new-to-me trails if someone can suggest them and they meet the above club goals.

Keep the constructive suggestions coming!!!

-Mike-

 

[Pyro-boy]

I am game for E-Hill/Devils starting as early as october 2nd and going to Moab later in the week say friday afternoon. I am not as locked in on coming home on Monday I may wait till Tuesday or Wed.

I won't have a 2 meter radio but I do have access to a Sat. phone if the need arises.

Vince

 

[Beowulf]

To clarify post #24...

This is an HDC club event but we would not exclude those that wanted to join us (Jim, this means you!! ) as long as we keep the primary goals for the trip.

-Mike-

 

[pappy]

* Plan the trip as a club event. Splinter groups/runs are discouraged during the key 3 days. (Before & after is OK)

Just so folks know, the last few Octobers have been an annual Canyonlands pilgrimage for me. I will be spending the week after on the west side of the Green River in the Maze District. Folks are welcome to join me.

Jon

 

[Beowulf]

I will be spending the week after on the west side of the Green River in the Maze District. Folks are welcome to join me.

Do they have a Hyatt in that part of Utah?

-Mike-

 

[SteveLCetc]

Good analysis Mike. However, I dont think splinter runs should be discouraged. It appears there will be enough people that we could run easy and harder trails - especially on the Spike day (whatever day that turns out to be). I know some people don't want to run it. I don't want to discourage people from coming because the trails will be either "too hard" or "too easy" - either way.

Jon, will you have your 40 by then? I thought you were going to have it done Saturday?

There are others who don't want to do the E Hill overnighter - We might want to do Cliffhanger or Behind the Rocks or something like that, and others might want to do some other easier run instead as well.

As far as being "members" of HDC, I think we have established that is not necessary. Also, if you have friends that you would want to invite along that would do the same runs as you, you are encouraged to invite them as well (or if they would want to do different runs for that matter).

Vince - the Sat Phone would be a very good addition.

 

[Cruisergreg]

We recognize there are many competing interests...

You missed one that's actually an important consideration for some of us. I have a wife that's been to Moab enough times that there is no novelty anymore - she's not going to be very happy sitting around for 3 hours in one spot waiting for 8 rigs to get over some obstacle. And my #2 kid is not the happy traveler #1 was and won't be happy sitting still either.

For this reason alone I would be disinclined to run Golden Spike. I've heard many stories of that being a 12 hr odessy. And remember, we have to be sharing the trail with all sorts of other users so there's that much more chance to get bogged down.

I think there's going to have to be some tolerance for splintering. Otherwise maybe there needs to be 2 different trips - one with a family-friendly focus and one that's "all wheeling, all the time."

 

[Albuquerque Jim]

To clarify post #24...

This is an HDC club event but we would not exclude those that wanted to join us (Jim, this means you!! ) as long as we keep the primary goals for the trip.

-Mike-

Thanks Mike!

 

[SteveLCetc]

To clarify post #24...

This is an HDC club event but we would not exclude those that wanted to join us (Jim, this means you!! ) as long as we keep the primary goals for the trip.

-Mike-

The only "primary goals" I'm aware of are to go to Moab and enjoy the weekend...

Also, I don't believe this is an "official" HDC club event. Aren't there insurance requirements or something for that?

 

[SteveLCetc]

After some email messages to me, I'm beginning to think we are congealing around an overnight Thursday night for those who want that, then the Fins/HR run on e.g. Saturday and something else (or smore splintering) the other other (?!) day, maybe a combo Behind the Rocks and Tiptoe Behind the Rocks? Having never run them I'm defiinitely open. We'll have to see who is coming before we really decide.

 

[Cruisergreg]

Aren't there insurance requirements or something for that?

???

 

[Cajun Transplant]

I am open to whatever. If I'm gonna make a cross country trip, I want to fit in as much as possible. Seeing as I've never wheeled Moab, there isn't much I wouldn't be willing to do. I do like the idea of camping out atleast a few nights though.

 

[frogger]

I've not ever been up to Moab to offroad, I have gone in the back way to Needles further south in Utah somewhere down by Blanding- there is an area called Beef Basin that is the back way in and if I remember correctly is part of Canyonlands. Fairly tame until you get through the second gate then it's slickrock country... I'll see if I can find pictures from my last outing and post them on my personal site.

I'm interested in going on the Moab run, though I don't think my pretty much stock fj60 could handle some of the territory it sounds like you're going to cover, unless I can get my lift by then? We are talking October afterall.

 

[SteveLCetc]

How's that lift coming?

We will be staying at the KOA (or ?) in Moab and doing some different runs while some of the folks are "out there" on Elephant Hill. We need to finalize what we will run when you get back into town.

 

[Cajun Transplant]

No lift yet. I talked to my brother about it tonight... gonna try to order parts and get it done in the next few weeks. Still haven't decided on a kit yet. The OME stuff is nice and not expensive at all. The All-pro kit is pretty hot. Sway Away has a pretty nice one out now too. My decisions just seem to get harder and harder. Leaning toward OME... would free up the money to add the skid plates where I need em as well.

I've been dealing with a few issues. My wife's car got broken into last night. They took only the registration. The police say they do this to take the registration to the dealership to get a new key made. Total pain in the ass... it would cost a ton of money to have the 3 doors rekeyed. Also got to take Zoe to the vet again today. Seems she has bad knees to go along with her bad hips. Poor dog.

 

[SteveLCetc]

Maybe an alarm or other theft prevention system would be cheaper than keys?

 

[Ruadhrigh]

Sorry to hear that Mike.


How is the Mr. Mom gig going?