Ddays
Hooked
Just got back from my first trip to Moab this past week & thought I'd share my thoughts for the guys that haven't made the leap and scheduled a trip out there. This is kinda a stream of consciousness deal so forgive me if I ramble on or jump back & forth.
First off, four of us drove out in the Jeep from the Pittsburgh, Pa area. 1800 miles one way. The first portion of the trip if you drive is ho-hum. Until you get to Western Kansas. I apologize upfront people of Western Kansas, but that area is miserable. THERE IS NOTHING THERE! Don't get too cocky eastern Colorado, if you didn't have the good part of the state to brag about you'd be in the same category!
I've never driven through mountains like I did through I-70 through Colorado. Now I understand why so many guys do V8 swaps. 'Ol Gruff was wheezin and draggin his ass up & down those mountains. Didn't help with four people (3 women) and a shitload of gear. Here's how low we were sitting. This is less all of us in the Jeep..
Colorado is a gorgeous state. I plan on going back and spending time there for sure.
Moab is an unbelievable area geography wise. The scale of this place is just plain magnificent. I was unprepared for that aspect. The cliffs, arches, and canyons can't be described and photos don't do it justice. You have to experience it.
The biggest thing that honestly caught me totally by surprise is the amount of shelf roads there are there. Hell, half the paved roads have death defying corners with NO GUARDRAILS.
I know, I know, I should have known, but damn, Charles Wells Moab guide don't tell you about that shit! If you are afraid of heights, do lots of research before you get here. I'm not telling you to not come here if you are, just be prepared!
The first trail we started off with was Gemini Bridges. It was shown as an easy one and I figured I'd start the wife out there & see how it went. Well, it didn't. Its definitely an easy one and stock Jeeps have no issue with this trail. The issue is the height of the road. First shelf road experience and she was really freaked out. Once we got up on the plateau we did just fine but then we got to the actual Gemini Bridges....
I am continuously amazed that we survive as a species. I was passed on the way to the Gemini Bridges by a couple idiots in rented Jeeps that had to be going 30 mph. I pulled over & let the jackasses go. When we got to the Bridges, the small kids that suffered whiplash at the hands of their stupidass dad were now running and chasing each other OVER THE GODDAM BRIDGES! Freakout episode #2 for the wife. She couldn't watch and had to go back to the Jeep. I almost said something to Walker Evans but you know how those conversations end up. We left.
Arches National Park was stop #2. Like the rest of the idiot tourists we hiked up that freakin hillside to see Delicate Arch in the heat of the day. Sorry to admit, this was my Darwinnian moment. Its worth the hike but not in 98 degree heat. Bring a backpack with LOTS of water and go in the morning like smart people do. Thankfully we did bring water.
Trail #2 the next day was Fisher Towers. Same deal. Easy trail to start off and do Fins & Things next. Yeah, right. More of the shelf roads and she just couldn't handle the heights. Honestly, I've never seen someone that terrified. She tried like hell but just couldn't do it. I turned around took her back. The kids & I finished but on the way back we went over some obstacles and heard an big ass thunk that all made us stop & look at each other. Turns out the issue I thought I had fixed with my rear track bar wasn't fixed and the passenger side bracket took a one inch chunk out of the composite stop block and bottomed on the spring. That is gonna be phone call #1 tomorrow morning. I cannot believe how many issues I've had with this RK kit. I cant believe I am the only one having issues with it.
That's all for part 1. I'll post up pics & more stuff tomorrow. Thanks for reading...
First off, four of us drove out in the Jeep from the Pittsburgh, Pa area. 1800 miles one way. The first portion of the trip if you drive is ho-hum. Until you get to Western Kansas. I apologize upfront people of Western Kansas, but that area is miserable. THERE IS NOTHING THERE! Don't get too cocky eastern Colorado, if you didn't have the good part of the state to brag about you'd be in the same category!
I've never driven through mountains like I did through I-70 through Colorado. Now I understand why so many guys do V8 swaps. 'Ol Gruff was wheezin and draggin his ass up & down those mountains. Didn't help with four people (3 women) and a shitload of gear. Here's how low we were sitting. This is less all of us in the Jeep..
Colorado is a gorgeous state. I plan on going back and spending time there for sure.
Moab is an unbelievable area geography wise. The scale of this place is just plain magnificent. I was unprepared for that aspect. The cliffs, arches, and canyons can't be described and photos don't do it justice. You have to experience it.
The biggest thing that honestly caught me totally by surprise is the amount of shelf roads there are there. Hell, half the paved roads have death defying corners with NO GUARDRAILS.
I know, I know, I should have known, but damn, Charles Wells Moab guide don't tell you about that shit! If you are afraid of heights, do lots of research before you get here. I'm not telling you to not come here if you are, just be prepared!
The first trail we started off with was Gemini Bridges. It was shown as an easy one and I figured I'd start the wife out there & see how it went. Well, it didn't. Its definitely an easy one and stock Jeeps have no issue with this trail. The issue is the height of the road. First shelf road experience and she was really freaked out. Once we got up on the plateau we did just fine but then we got to the actual Gemini Bridges....
I am continuously amazed that we survive as a species. I was passed on the way to the Gemini Bridges by a couple idiots in rented Jeeps that had to be going 30 mph. I pulled over & let the jackasses go. When we got to the Bridges, the small kids that suffered whiplash at the hands of their stupidass dad were now running and chasing each other OVER THE GODDAM BRIDGES! Freakout episode #2 for the wife. She couldn't watch and had to go back to the Jeep. I almost said something to Walker Evans but you know how those conversations end up. We left.
Arches National Park was stop #2. Like the rest of the idiot tourists we hiked up that freakin hillside to see Delicate Arch in the heat of the day. Sorry to admit, this was my Darwinnian moment. Its worth the hike but not in 98 degree heat. Bring a backpack with LOTS of water and go in the morning like smart people do. Thankfully we did bring water.
Trail #2 the next day was Fisher Towers. Same deal. Easy trail to start off and do Fins & Things next. Yeah, right. More of the shelf roads and she just couldn't handle the heights. Honestly, I've never seen someone that terrified. She tried like hell but just couldn't do it. I turned around took her back. The kids & I finished but on the way back we went over some obstacles and heard an big ass thunk that all made us stop & look at each other. Turns out the issue I thought I had fixed with my rear track bar wasn't fixed and the passenger side bracket took a one inch chunk out of the composite stop block and bottomed on the spring. That is gonna be phone call #1 tomorrow morning. I cannot believe how many issues I've had with this RK kit. I cant believe I am the only one having issues with it.
That's all for part 1. I'll post up pics & more stuff tomorrow. Thanks for reading...
