Moab May 9-12

[Bwelker85]

Love it. Great advice and I’m good with that schedule.

[Mountaineer01]

Great suggestions Mike, thanks for the input!

hiimmike previously posted:

[Jim]

ToTW has some steps (three or four???).

[hiimmike]

Mountaineer01 previously posted:

[Mountaineer01]

Thanks Mike, very good insights! Yea doing a little more research most people say that ToTW and Poison Spider are more difficult than the ratings. I think my plan will be to do Fins and Hells with everyone the first day and maybe break off and do something easier the second, or maybe ride along if someone has a spare seat. I do need to drive the truck home so I don't want to get too crazy.

[Jim]

I might have a spare seat - I offered the seat to family but it's unknown if they will take it.

I will likely only trail ride Saturday morning to attend Mass Saturday late afternoon - to be able to run Elephant Hill on Sunday.

[hiimmike]

Is the itinerary accurate on the RSVP page?

What are the planned accommodations for sleeping?

[Mountaineer01]

I thought we were doing Mike’s proposed itinerary since the original was squeezing too many runs in?

[Mountaineer01]

hiimmike previously posted:

[Jim]

I was hoping to spend the weekend packing / testing camping equipment - but now I'll be spending the weekend diagnosing a concerning noise.

It's a buzzing noise that is audible starting about 10mph.
When it started, after the Bunce run a week or so ago, it was faint. It has increased in loudness enough to make people turn their heads.
It seems to be tied with driveline / wheel speed.
It comes and goes, it sometimes fades in or out and sometimes comes on (or disappears) full.

Riding the brakes - zero change in the noise.
Rocking the steering wheel makes no change in the noise.
Engine to neutral, vehicle rolling making the noise (30/40mph) - no change in noise with engine rpm.

It sounds like it's coming from the right side - riding next to a curb or vehicle or solid wall the sound reflects and is easier to hear.
Yes, I replaced both front spindles, with bearings, a week ago. Bearings? U-Joint bearing?
It sounded like the right front so I locked in the RF hub - zero change (so it's likely not the locking hub - but still to be tested).

My plan, as soon as I can, is to remove both front locking hubs and go for a test ride (around the block should be good enough).
I might mount a camera to the underside to see if I can locate where the sound is loudest.
A client, who knows how to drive a manual trans is visiting this morning - we might go for a ride me in the passenger seat sticking my head out - front, mid or rear loudest?

[Mountaineer01]

Any progress today Jim? Its never fun doing the same job twice...

[Jim]

Mike stopped over Friday afternoon. He drove and I stuck my head out the right side - the noise was not loud (only it's low 10% loudness). We weren't able to tell front/mid/rear. I picked up an extra set of bearings for the right front wheel but after talking with my professional auto mechanic buddy he says bearings are a low growl. He does not think bearings from the noise I described.

Today, I did not pull/swap bearings but I did swap the lockout hub.

Busy day with clients and I did not drive the jeep. I will do that tomorrow (and hopefully start to pack it). I'm not 100% for the trip but I really hope to be a solid Yes for it.

[Jim]

I'll say I'm in!

I removed the passenger side lockout hub and swapped a spare. The noise did not appear on my reasonably long drive this afternoon.

So, we have three vehicles confirmed, correct - Ben / Isak / Jim?

I see there's a planned Thursday 6pm Meet up at Hell's Revenge's trailhead. Camping is TBD?

[Jim]

I'm possibly going to extend my trip after the Moab days.

I have on my list to possibly visit the Hole In The Rock "road" - the section from Escalante to the HITR. 55.5 miles one way for the in-n-out.

Also on the possible list is Bryce and perhaps Grand Staircase and maybe a stop by Dinosaur N.M. on the way back to FoCo

[Mountaineer01]

Jim previously posted:

[hiimmike]

There's camping up Onion Creek. There is some disbursed gravel flat area camping at the beginning of Onion Creek. There is one really nice site on the right side going up the trail, there is a large cotton wood tree and enough space for up to 5 rigs I think. I had breakfast every morning 15 steps down next to the creek, no sulfur smells. You're in a valley so you either get no wind because it's blocked or hurricane wind if it's blowing just right to funnel through, I had no wind over 3 days. This site is a bit of a haul, maybe 60-90 minutes from Moab.

If you go to the top of the trail, there is some more camping area, it's high so if it's windy you're guaranteed to eat some sand (same as Sand Flats). There is something even more hidden on Rose Garden Hill. It's a secluded group camping site that even has a picnic table and pit toilet. The toilet is old and I wouldn't eat off it but if you want a toilet, it's there. This is probably 2 hours from Moab but I can all but guarantee you will not see another person.

You can call Sand Flats and ask what their capacity is at, might be worth a shot.

Other than that, there are tons of group sites on the way to Chicken Corners. Another bit of a haul but nowhere near 60-120 minutes. These are all large flat areas covered in gravel. I destroyed my tent last time I was there because of the wind.

[Mountaineer01]

Thanks for the input Mike! Ideally I would like to stay within 30 min of Moab but I think everyone has that idea .. Onion Creek area looks manageable, and it looks like Blue Hills Road has a lot of space as well which isn't too far out. This is just a big open flat area so nothing special. Bride Canyon has 5 spots that are supposed to be nice and scenic but those might fill up quick also, but its on the way to Blue Hills if we go that route and worth checking.

[Bwelker85]

Hey Everyone,

Looking forward to seeing yall on Thursday. I’m planning to get to the Hells Revenge Trailhead (address is in original post) around 5pm on Thursday to try and setup a base camp nearby. I’ll be trailering in my 4Runner so I’m going to try and find a campground near the hells revenge trailhead so I can easily pull in with the truck and trailer. I’m planning to bring my camp grill, anyone is welcome to use it. I’ll bring some firewood as well.

[Jim]

Sand Flats - no group campsites available. They list 140 first come first served campsites. I'm going to cross my fingers on that. I called their phone number but hit an answering machine that said - check out the GrandCountyUtah.net web site. I was curious to their feel for how crowded the individual campsites are.

www.blm.gov/visit/sand-flats-recreation-area
www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2160
www.grandcountyutah.net/

Sun Outdoors / SRK / North Moab campsites lists 34 tent sites open (~$50/night with taxes).
(google map)

Onion Creek via TrailsOffroad says no dispersed until after waypoint 14.
www.trailsoffroad.com/US/utah/trails/579-onion-creek

I'm going to cross my fingers for availability at Sand Flats...

I'll bring some firewood too.

[Bwelker85]

Yep I tried to get one of the reservable at Sand Flats awhile back and they were all booked. I figure we just use the Hells Revenge trailhead as a good meetup spot and hope we get lucky with a dispersed site at Sand Flats. If not, we’ll check out the other spots you all mentioned. When you arrive Thursday just shoot me a text 336-601-5770. I’ll be driving a newish lunar rock tundra towing my 4Runner, so I should be hard to miss. I’m leaving Denver at 10:30am Thursday and will try to get there as soon as I can to start looking for camping.