TexasTJ Goes to Moab, Alone...September 2018

[TexasTJ]

Hey guys, so a few months back a friend invited me to tag along on their Moab trip in September 2018. Having always wanted to go I was super excited, I was able to change my vacation time with work, borrow a tow rig from my father-in-law, and a trailer from a friend's uncle; everything was lining up perfectly. Well a couple of days ago my friend called me and said that his daughter's new school wouldn't allow her to miss that many consecutive days, so they were going to have to cancel. Needless to say I was pretty bummed, but I won't let it stop me, I'm still going to Moab! I'm on a FB page that hooks people up with others to go wheeling with, but wanted to extend the short notice here to you guys, I will post my rough plan below. Let me know if there are any that I missed that I must do, or any that I listed that aren't all that.

So this is just a rough plan that I came up with in the last week, it is all flexible and just kind of a guideline so my wife and I don't get there and not have a clue where to go. If the first trail of the day takes too long, then we will skip the second trail and see if we can catch it on a later day.

September 22-30, 2018

Day 1 (21st)-- Leave home around 2000 hrs, drive to Lubbock, TX

Day 2 (22nd)-- Leave Lubbock around 0830 for Archview RV Park and Resort (13701 N Highway 191, Moab, UT 84532)

Day 3 (23rd)-- Seven Mile Rim (pg56) (n38 42.010 w109 42.600) and Wipeout Hill (pg58) (N38 38.260 W109 47.101)

Day 4 (24th)--  Leave camp around 0800 for Poison Spider Mesa (pg86)  N38 31.940 w109 36.554 then Golden Spike (pg90) N38 33.722 W109 35.782 and then Gold Bar Rim (pg82) N38 36.008 W109 40.409

Day 5 (25th)-- Leave camp around 0730 for Fins & Things (pg134)  n38 34.819 w109 29.969 and Hells Revenge (pg130) n38 34.533 w109 31.358

Day 6 (26th)-- Leave Camp around 0800 for Cliff Hanger (pg96) N38 31.444 W109 36.099 and then Moab Rim (pg102) N38 33.541 W109 34.966

Day 7 (27th)-- Leave camp around 0800 for Top of the World (pg150) N38 48.650 W109 18.312 then head to Ouray and camp somewhere

Day 8 (28th)-- Wake up around 0800 for Black Bear Pass (pg28)  n37 53.97 w107 42.80 then into Telluride, CO for lunch. Run Imogene Pass (pg26) n37 56.41 W107 48.70. Camp (Thistledown Campground, Angle Creek Campground, Amphitheater Campground, Ouray KOA)
https://goo.gl/maps/Z2Acp7mbsho

Day 9 (29th)--  Leave Telluride, CO for Amarillo, TX


Day 10 (30th)--  Leave Amarillo for Home

 

[janesy]

Poison Spyder/Golden Spike/Gold Bar Rim is a full day trip. I'd say we probably hit the trailhead around the same time you would and just made it back before sun down. This was in October, so less daylight.

Fins & Things and Hell's Revenge doesn't take forever, unless you plan to play around a lot.

Didn't run any of the other trails myself that you listed.

Wish I was anywhere near there, would love to join ya.

 

[Florpro]

Sounds like a solid list of trails.

 

[TexasTJ]

There are several others I'd love to try, but they'll have to wait for the next Moab trip.

 

[G Beasley]

Try to link up with someone for Top of the world , its out there and doesnt see as much traffic as the other trails you have planned.

 

[TexasTJ]

Try to link up with someone for Top of the world , its out there and doesnt see as much traffic as the other trails you have planned.

Will do, thanks.

 

[bobthetj03]

Seven Mile Rim is a good half day. It's out of town a bit, so account for some pavement time to get there. Same with Top of the World.

 

[TexasTJ]

If anyone is near CO we'll be in Ouray for 2 days and added Poughkeepsie Gulch to the agenda.

 

[G Beasley]

If anyone is near CO we'll be in Ouray for 2 days and added Poughkeepsie Gulch to the agenda.

Looking forward to pictars!

 

[TexasTJ]

Leaving in 7 days! I finished planning the trip the other day. As always, I plan for a full day knowing we will run what we can and if we don't make everything it's no big deal.  I've connected with a few people in UT and CO to run some trails with.

September 22-30, 2018

Day 1 (21st)-- Leave home around 2000 hrs, drive to Lubbock, TX to My Place Hotel  6219 62nd St, Lubbock, TX 79424
Not Kelsey nap time https://goo.gl/maps/YEXEMornQg52

Day 2 (22nd)-- Leave Lubbock around 0830 for Archview RV Park and Resort (13701 N Highway 191, Moab, UT 84532)
Kelsey nap time https://goo.gl/maps/jhRCB6XUZ422

Day 3 (23rd)-- Seven Mile Rim (pg56) (n38 42.010 w109 42.600) and Wipeout Hill (pg58) (N38 38.260 W109 47.101)
Seven Mile Rim https://goo.gl/maps/BAPCn7UqvbT2
Wipeout Hill https://goo.gl/maps/7eJuzKC7cRE2


Day 4 (24th)--  Leave camp around 0800 for Poison Spider Mesa (pg86)  N38 31.940 w109 36.554 then Golden Spike (pg90) N38 33.722 W109 35.782 and then Gold Bar Rim (pg82) N38 36.008 W109 40.409
Poison Spyder https://goo.gl/maps/qqZKAdEbM8s
Golden Spike https://goo.gl/maps/K11hqhfsazL2
Gold Spike Cont. https://goo.gl/maps/5PcycZEZGxJ2
Gold Bar Rim https://goo.gl/maps/6vZDAQoKgXA2


Day 5 (25th)-- Leave camp around 0730 for Fins & Things (pg134)  n38 34.819 w109 29.969 and Hells Revenge (pg130) n38 34.533 w109 31.358
Fins & Things https://goo.gl/maps/Q3br4oFhdTv
Hells Revenge https://goo.gl/maps/vNxpqAADXNw
Hells Revenge Cont. https://goo.gl/maps/UXRvNoxk51p


Day 6 (26th)-- Leave Camp around 0800 for Cliff Hanger (pg96) N38 31.444 W109 36.099 and then Moab Rim (pg102) N38 33.541 W109 34.966
Cliff hanger
Cliff Hanger https://goo.gl/maps/PkwxG9K22ey
Moab Rim https://goo.gl/maps/F2hkD1VgKwR2


Day 7 (27th)-- Leave camp around 0800 for Top of the World (pg150) N38 48.650 W109 18.312 then head to Ouray and set up camp(Ouray KOA)  225 County Road 23, Ouray, CO 81427, head to Rocky Mountain Funnel Cake Factory, 1249 Greene St, Silverton, CO 81433, then back to Ouray for Outlaw Restaurant 610 Main St, Ouray, CO 81427
Top of the World https://goo.gl/maps/cc1CuwTak3s
Moab to Ouray to Silverton to Ouray https://goo.gl/maps/cUjUv5d2Eo62




Day 8 (28th)-- Leave camp around 0700 for Mineral Creek (pg36) n37 59.32 w107 38.96 to get to Poughkeepsie Gulch (pg38) n37 58.03 W107 37.63 and then Corkscrew Gulch (pg40) n37 55.22 w107 37.19 to get to n37 56.34 w107 40.29 to get to  Black Bear Pass (pg28)  n37 53.97 w107 42.80 then into Telluride, CO for lunch at Brown Dog Pizza 110 E Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435. Run Imogene Pass (pg26) n37 56.41 W107 48.70. Camp (Ouray KOA)  225 County Road 23, Ouray, CO 81427
Mineral Creek and Poughkeepsie Gulch https://goo.gl/maps/YBd3hTGe5a32
Corkscrew Gulch https://goo.gl/maps/kPbgp6BMhXp
Black Bear Pass https://goo.gl/maps/HWeFfaumnhw
Imogene Pass https://goo.gl/maps/8W3KPj6DeWL2


Day 9 (29th)--  Leave Ouray KOA for Amarillo, TX My Place Hotel-Amarillo West/Medical Center, TX 2208 Cinema Drive, Amarillo, TX 79124,
Kelsey?s nap time https://goo.gl/maps/Kgre8He1rY42



Day 10 (30th)--  Leave Amarillo for Home
More Kelsey nap time ://goo.gl/maps/3spRdNJ7Ue92

 

[G Beasley]

Wicked detail! Hope you can keep up with the agenda.

 

[Jjeeper09]

Awesome

 

[TexasTJ]

Oh where to begin. My wife and I set off for our Moab/Ouray trip on 09/21/18 from Texas. We stayed in Lubbock, TX the first night since we were attending the funeral of Fort Worth Police Corporal Garrett Hull #3105. We set off from there, crossing through NM, CO, and then into Utah where we stayed at the Archview RV & Resort for the week. The original plan was to tag along with a friend and his group, but they backed out due to some complications with their daughter's new school. I wasn't going to let this stop me from going to Moab, so we continued on, sure that we would be able to meet up with people and have a good time.

We started early the next morning and decided to run 7 Mile Rim.

 

[TexasTJ]

7MR was a fairly easy trail, with a nice scenic view. A good trail to get you into the grove, and probably my wife's favorite.
7MR Cont.

Side trip to Uranium Arch

Actually got my wife to drive the Jeep off-road. This was her first time, I know, Moab off all places, but she had fun when she could see over the dash.

Wipeout Hill looks scarier than it is.

Spotting some JKs that I came across after Wipeout Hill.

Side trip to Tusher Wash

We finished up early and decided to run over to Rusty Nail since it was close.

Things started getting a little sketchy trying to go up this rock face, and since we were by ourselves, I decided to back down and take the middle section.

Easy middle section.

Both lines at Riff Raff were dug out and I couldn't get my 35s up the ledges. Seeing as we were still alone, we opted to turn around and save Rusty Nail for another rip.

We made it over to the Moab Diner for dinner and had a little dessert. Cinnamon roll with ice cream!

 

[TexasTJ]

Day 2 we ran Fins & Things and Hell's Revenge, and it ended up being the most exciting day of the trip.

We started out early, again by ourselves as we were not having luck finding anyone to wheel with.

Kelsey giving it another go, this time on F&T. I got the perfect picture as the tires slid down the sand covered slick rock.

Next up was Hell's Gate on Hell's Revenge

Things were going well, and then my tire slipped into the crack. Thankfully I had a semi-local wheeler at the top of the hill to help guide me up.

Fun shot of HR

 

[TexasTJ]

If you're familiar with Moab, then you know what the next major obstacle is. Mickey's Hot Tub is totally optional and is pretty intimidating, but I am in Moab, and I came to wheel dang it! I watched three buggies walk right out of the tub before me and was feeling good after Hell's Gate, so I said let's do this!

After dropping into the tub I could tell that my short wheel base would be the death of me.  I am waiting on someone to send me a video, hopefully they do and I can post it up here.

Say hi to the camera!
I got tired of hanging upside down, so I had someone cut my seatbelt to get me out because it would not release.

Damage pics.

I'll be honest, I didn't belong in the hot tub, but it looked fun. I had my wife get out to take pictures and to make sure she didn't get hurt (not that she needed to be told twice to hop out). All in all the damage wasn't too bad, I can hammer out my corners and then add armor, hammer out my hood, rock the broken windshield and get a new seatbelt and I'll be ready to roll.

We got it up right and it wouldn't start. I pulled all of the spark plugs and found that plug #6 was wet. I turned the key and spat some oil out. Reinstalled all of the plugs and she fired right up and gave a little smoke show.  We finished up the trail carefully without a seatbelt and made it back to camp. I can't thank the guys and gals that helped me get my Jeep back on all fours and shared their knowledge to get me back running.

 

[TexasTJ]

The next day was supposed to be Cliff Hanger and Moab Rim, but we had to sit those out due to the lack of seatbelt. I checked all around town and could not locate a seatbelt; guess it's not your typical trail spare part. :-X I contacted a buddy/shop owner in Calvert, TX (Jason at Addictive Autoworks) and he overnighted me a seatbelt from a customer's LJ (after first checking with said customer and getting the go ahead). We decided to make good use of the day and to make my wife happy, we headed over to Arches National Park to check out all of the, well, arches...

Later that day I found a place called SolGear who does heavy duty rafting repairs. They were able to put a box stitch in my seatbelt and hold me over until the loaner belt came in.

We quickly headed over to Poison Spyder Mesa the next morning.

V notch

Poison Spyder Mesa led us over to Golden Spike. Here I am atop Skyline Drive on Golden Spike, excited to be wheeling again.

 

[TexasTJ]

GS cont. We opted to skip Double Whammy.
Plenty of nice views along this trail

Crossing the Golden Crack

Enjoying the shade, I couldn't imagine running around Moab in summer temps.

GS then jumps into Gold Bar Rim, I took the optional Body Snatcher, but didn't hop out to get any pictures.

I'm terrified of heights, but I love ledges.  [nailbite]  ???

Exiting Gold Bar Rim requires that you go up the Waterfall.

Got Kelsey back in the driver's seat for some small ledges

 

[TexasTJ]

Somewhere during the trip we made it over to the Fallen Peace Officer Trail memorial.

Our final day in Moab would be a half day. We left town to run Top of the World and then to Ouray, CO to setup camp at the KOA.

 

[TexasTJ]

We made it to Ouray, quickly set up camp, and ran down to Silverton, CO to visit the Rocky Mountain Funnel Cake Factory. We got a funnel cake with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and caramel.

The next morning we woke up early for Poughkeepsie Gulch. We didnt' see a single person out there and it was extremely pretty. Any smaller body of water on the ground had frozen solid.

We ran across these two on the trail. Why they didn't run when they heard my Jeep squeaking, I have no idea.

Climbing up Poughkeepsie

Lake Como

We exited via Hurricane Pass and quickly headed over to Black Bear Pass!