Moderate Moab Trip October 8th through 11th 2009
Hey all,
Been talking about it for a while, and after some input have nailed down a great trip. We plan to do some trails that are moderate in nature, with some harder obstacles for the ones wanting to try something more challenging. Its over a month away, so people should have plenty of time to get some time off and plan ahead. I know Chris said he is in for sure, and I'm definitely in. The more the merrier on this one too. I know Chris said he'll probably be getting a room at the Adventure Inn, but I plan on camping and eating outdoors at one of the free campsites that are over, so it should work for every budget level.
Currently, we are planning on doing the following Schedule:
Wednesday the 7th: Drive to Moab as early as possible, preferably in Caravan. For those camping, it might be advisable to have someone leave earlier in the day to do a bit of scouting for campsites, so as to not have to search in the dark. Not sure what my schedule is, but I could probably swing that. Its a 6 to 8 hour drive, depending on pit stops and speed of your rig, so it could be a late night if you leave in the early evening.
Thursday the 8th: Kick it right off with a Moab Classic (or set of them). Current plan is to do the Golden Trifecta of Poison Spider, Gold Spike, and Gold Bar Rim. It will be a long day, but I hear it is well worth the time spent. You can escape at the end of Golden Spike and skip Gold Bar Rim if the day becomes too long. I want to start off early, so we'll probably do a cold breakfast and get right on the trail (8 or 9am sound allright?).
Here are the trail descriptions:
Poison Spider: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=27
Golden Spike: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=28
Gold Bar Rim: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=29
Friday the 9th: Since we hit it so hard the first day, we'll take it easy and do some of the easier classic Moab runs. I'm open for ideas for the morning, but my vote is for a trip up to the Area BFE playground, and maybe stick our noses up one of the trails a bit. For the afternoon, I was thinking Porcupine Rim in the afternoon, followed by a night run of Fins n Things (starting late afternoon or so). Its a great trail to get out on at night, with some easy but scary hills and such. I would want to do it in a bit weird of a direction, since the road between the two fun parts is up for the contest of "worlds jounciest road". I have it covered, so you guys don't have to worry, it will just a be a bit different from how the park recommends (the second and longer portion will be an "up and back" rather then a one way run).
Area BFE: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=131
Porcupine Rim: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=35
Fins n Things: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=25
Saturday the 10th: Another Moab area classic, but further outside of town this time. Go run Elephant Hill this time. I hear its an all day thing, so earlyish start depending on how late we are out the night before. Expect to have to bring food and such. Its an easy trail, with some classic stuff and great views. I haven't ran it before, but others coming on the trip have, so I'll let them chime in. It will probably be a full enough day that we'll just do this run and call it a day. I'm sure we can find something to do if we get done too early and people still are raring to go.
Elephant Hill: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=65
Sunday the 11th: End this out with something fun and challenging but not too terrible. Hells Revenge is a great trail, and worth running for everyone. A stock rig should be able to handle all the "mandatory" parts, but you can make it a very hard and dangerous trail by adding in the completetly optional obstacles like Hells Gate, Escalator, and Tip Over Challenge. Should be a good day, and with an early start should be a good end to the trip. I'll be heading home soon after getting done with the trail, though I might stop at Potato Salad Hill to watch people give it a try (might even try it myself). We should get done with Hell's early enough where that shouldn't be a problem. Some may want to camp out one more night and drive up the next morning if your schedule permits.
Hells Revenge: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=26
Should be a good time. Calendar Event will be posted shortly. Feel free to give any advice or ideas, though this basic structure is pretty well set. It would be awesome to have a bunch of rigs on this trip, so give it a look over and put in for time off.
Josh H.
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