anyone up for MOAB in april???

[sidriptide]

a few of us from new england are heading west in the end of april.. we plan to be there the week of april 25 - 29... anyone interested in heading west with us? or meeting us there?? would be cool if we could hook up with someone with some local knowledge out there... probably paying for a trail guide for one day and "wing it" for the rest of the week... this is not a NAXJA thing.. who's up for a trip to remember????

[catyrpelius]

ill go if i got my rig finished by then, and that depends on when the weather starts warming up come that time, what is the tarrain like where your going and what difficulty are the trails

[sidriptide]

ill go if i got my rig finished by then, and that depends on when the weather starts warming up come that time, what is the tarrain like where your going and what difficulty are the trails

april is great weather out there... check this link and look at all the pics everyone posted from Moab last month. http://www.naxja.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=93
imagine the grand canyon, no tour buses, few tourists, and your rig taking you up the canyon trails instead of a mule..... a good visual picture would be to remember the landscape from the old "Road Runner and Coyote" cartoons.... thats exactly what its like out there....

[DrMoab]

probably paying for a trail guide for one day and "wing it" for the rest of the week...
Don't pay for a guide. Big waste of money. How confident are you guys in your wheeling skills? Even if one of you is a semi-hardcore wheeler you can tackle whats down there yourself. Buy a good book that has all the trails.
http://4x4books.com/mub.htm This is one of the best. Just wing it the whole time. Or that time of year there is always people down there. Find someone to tag along with.
I know someone will disagree with me but I think the guides down there are a big waste of money. I mostly say that because I can't stand the one guy who prolly is the best known.

Or you can pay me :laugh3: :laugh3: . Buy my gas to get there and I will show you all a good time :laugh3: :laugh3:

[sidriptide]

it has nothing to do with my ability as a wheeler... it has to do with my understanding that i am not traveling 2300 miles to spend several days lost on open slickrock looking for tire tracks and cairns.... hell's revenge is a "must do" and i'd love to run poison spider/gold bar/etc.. i have been religiously reading "self guide" books since last october so i know what trails i want and can probably wing-it most of the week anyways.... if someone HONESTLY KNOWS some of these trails and has run them more than once, i'm sure we could work out some kind of "deal"..

[DrMoab]

it has nothing to do with my ability as a wheeler... it has to do with my understanding that i am not traveling 2300 miles to spend several days lost on open slickrock looking for tire tracks and cairns.... hell's revenge is a "must do" and i'd love to run poison spider/gold bar/etc.. i have been religiously reading "self guide" books since last october so i know what trails i want and can probably wing-it most of the week anyways.... if someone HONESTLY KNOWS some of these trails and has run them more than once, i'm sure we could work out some kind of "deal"..
I didn't mean to offend. I guess comming that far I would want to make sure I was doing it right too.
I have been going to Moab at least two times a year since I was born. Really.
One thing you might want to think about...Last year the IC chapter had a run down there after the EJS. Small group I think we had around 30 rigs. Maybe a few more. I think...but I am not sure that we are doing it again this year. You might want to come out at the same time. Most everybody in the IC chapter is totaly familiar with the trails around Moab.
In that book I showed you I have been on every trail in it except two(talking the mid to hard trails here). I'm sure alot of the others here have been too.
Its not hard to get me or most of my friends to go down for any good reason.
I only live four hours away so its not a big trip.
think about it though before you spend all your money hiring you a cokcy local to show you around. I'm sure there are more then enough of us to show you a good time. Then you can spend that money on beer at the end of the day!

[sidriptide]

that would be cool.. i was thinking about hitting up the local chapter for interest.. at this point there are only 4 of us and i dont expect many more.. i picked that week because the EJS will have blown thru town at that point and i dont want to deal with congested trails.. i will update this thread as time gets closer..

[DrMoab]

that would be cool.. i was thinking about hitting up the local chapter for interest.. at this point there are only 4 of us and i dont expect many more.. i picked that week because the EJS will have blown thru town at that point and i dont want to deal with congested trails.. i will update this thread as time gets closer..
ya know...EJS sucks anymore. We decided that we don't want to be anywhere near that place when its going on.
Easter is in March this year and the end of april...first of may is the best time to be there.
Keep an eye out on the IC board. I'm sure we will be doing it again this year...best trip to moab I have had in a few years. It would be fun to have ya.

[Mike in NJ]

... it has to do with my understanding that i am not traveling 2300 miles to spend several days lost on open slickrock looking for tire tracks and cairns....

Mike:

Considering that I know you, your rig, and what you are capable of doing - as well as the fact you were with us out there in 2003 - you will be fine on HR, PSM, and Gold Bar, among others. It's not like you haven't been on any Moab trails before, so you are already used to the trail marks anyway. I think it's a great that you're trying to coordinate something with the locals, and Doc's suggestion of hooking up with some IC guys is a great plan. But, even if something comes up that keeps them from meeting up with you, you shouldn't hesitate to head out anyway with your group.

Actually, having a few of you together on the cross-country ride may be more important than making sure you have the locals available once you get there. Doc's also right about early to mid-May - a very good time to be in the area.

Don't sweat the guide thing - just assume you folks will be able to hook up with somebody, or be able to follow the "road signs". Of course, when you're on Gold Bar Rim - watch out for that last "ridgeline" on the way up - the reverse slope is a bit of a doozy. :D

Mike in NJ :patriot:

[Danno]

Buy the Charles Wells book on Moab and you won't have any problem. His directions are good and he over estimats the difficulty of the trails by our standards. Hell's Revenge looks like a freeway now with all the black tire marks. A blind man can follow it now! I'm amazed at how much rubber it has on it. Avoid EJS week like the plague. Waay too many yahoos there then. I take the family out there usually in June cuz that's when school gets out. Hot and dry but no crowds. We seldom see anybody on the trails. May, September, October are the best weather wise.

[sidriptide]

the charles wells book has been "required reading room material " since i got back from Moab last year!!! i am just thinking ahead and expect alot of trail markings and tire tracks to be wiped out by the winter but maybe re-tagged for the EJS.. i will keep in contact with the IC and hope to hook up with them up there.. and i agree Danno... EJS = baaaad JU JU... the only problem with going in april is that i may not get out there again in october.. :rattle:

[DrMoab]

the charles wells book has been "required reading room material " since i got back from Moab last year!!! i am just thinking ahead and expect alot of trail markings and tire tracks to be wiped out by the winter but maybe re-tagged for the EJS.. i will keep in contact with the IC and hope to hook up with them up there.. and i agree Danno... EJS = baaaad JU JU... the only problem with going in april is that i may not get out there again in october.. :rattle:
The tire tracks are there year round. It gets used enough down there that they are always there.

[Geepfreak]

Even if IC is not going down the same time you are going to be there, I am SURE you could talk a few of us into going down. You know you might have to twist the arm pretty hard, but we will go.

[DrMoab]

Wanting to move to Moab.
Are you that sore about losing to me? :laugh3:

[sidriptide]

well now that you put it that way.. i'm going to be a real pain in your a$$e$ until then.. :sunshine:

[jjmat3]

L.O.S.T. KJ WEST will be there for their annual National run April 22-30.
While there will be many KJ's in the group, there will also be other vehicles too, my XJ included. We had a great turn out last year at EJS but decided to do it later in April to avoid the possibility of crappy weather in March. We anticipate quite a few vehicles to attend our gathering. We have a few in our group that are familiar w/ the various trails. I'm Sure we will see you all there. Can't wait!

[DrMoab]

Even if IC is not going down the same time you are going to be there, I am SURE you could talk a few of us into going down. You know you might have to twist the arm pretty hard, but we will go.
Being only four hours away its not hard to say Hey! I wanna go to Moab lets go and just hop in the heep and head that way for the weekend...Green with envy yet?

[sidriptide]

Green with envy yet?

you're G'damn right i am!!!!!!! have thought of moving to Co in the future myself.. its sobering when i realize how seriously i take wheeling sometimes... Co or northen Cali...

a KJ convention?? now that would be a sight to see... and to tell the truth if my woman (if i ever find another one with enough patience to put up with this lifestyle) wanted a minivan.. i'd compromise on a KJ...

[Geepfreak]

Are you that sore about losing to me? :laugh3:


:wave: :kissyou:
Not anymore, consulted with the staff, said this year would'nt be the best anyway, but we'll make a run next year...... :us:
By the way, are you having a Ball at your swearing into office?

[jjmat3]

a KJ convention?? now that would be a sight to see... and to tell the truth if my woman (if i ever find another one with enough patience to put up with this lifestyle) wanted a minivan.. i'd compromise on a KJ...

http://www.lostkjwest.com/moab.htm

http://www.lostkjwest.com/moab/mb33.jpg

http://www.lostkjwest.com/moab/mb34.jpg

[Geepfreak]

http://image18.webshots.com/19/2/56/91/218125691NZEpAI_ph.jpg

Maybe I should join :laugh3:

Ya I think we are kind of spoilled living with such a short drive to Heaven. April is my second favorite time of year down there, fall being the best. we have always gone down for the last 2 days of EJS and stayed the following week, everyone leaves and you have got the trails to yourself.

[DrMoab]

http://image18.webshots.com/19/2/56/91/218125691NZEpAI_ph.jpg

Maybe I should join :laugh3:

Ya I think we are kind of spoilled living with such a short drive to Heaven. April is my second favorite time of year down there, fall being the best. we have always gone down for the last 2 days of EJS and stayed the following week, everyone leaves and you have got the trails to yourself.
You going to EJS this year? Not me...not ever again

[Geepfreak]

You going to EJS this year? Not me...not ever againDID YOU READ,,, THE LAST 2 DAYS, then the following week>

sorry not yelling> the caps are stuck :laugh3: :wave: :kissyou:

[DrMoab]

DID YOU READ,,, THE LAST 2 DAYS, then the following week>

sorry not yelling> the caps are stuck :laugh3: :wave: :kissyou:
still won't do it...nope not me

[sidriptide]

i thought about hitting the EJS.. then i woke up.. the only way i'd do that is if i couldnt find anyone from out here to go with me.. like last year.. they all pussed out..

[Geepfreak]

I"ll go with you!

[sidriptide]

I"ll go with you!


thanks! you guys in the IC are ok.. i dont care what the WCGIC says about you.. :wave:

[Geepfreak]

What trails do you want to run?... i can lead on Chicken cornerns. Klondikes bluff, or Moab main street..ha,,,. dude, if you get out here, we will some good runs. Moab Rim, Pritchett Canyon, OH,, Highway 128, Route 121, and Kane Creek Blvd.... They ROCK!

[sidriptide]

i was thinkin Klondike bluffs, gemini bridges and metal masher, Hells revenge (a must!) rose garden hill and top of the world, Moab Rim, and Pritchett canyon... i also wanted to run out thru the La Salles and loop thru geyser and la salle passes.. sooooooooooo many trials....... soooooooo little time...

[Geepfreak]

thanks! you guys in the IC are ok.. i dont care what the WCGIC says about you.. :wave:


NO, we rock! :laugh3:

Anything for anyone...........We"ll show you the REAL Potatoe Salad Hill. :pig:

[rightseatsis]

Wow, Moab in April. I'd like to try that. You wouldn't mind if some West Coast folks showed up? I just did't get enough in October. Will have to check my work schedule to see if I can do it. Maybe we will have the green Jeep lifted by then. Hope to see you in April.

Mary

[sidriptide]

Wow, Moab in April. I'd like to try that. You wouldn't mind if some West Coast folks showed up? I just did't get enough in October. Will have to check my work schedule to see if I can do it. Maybe we will have the green Jeep lifted by then. Hope to see you in April.

Mary

hey mary.. come on out.. and bring tom too!!

i'm staying at slickrock CG again.. they didnt call me back friday.. are they on limited hours because of the off-season??

[rightseatsis]

We will discuss it over Thanksgiving dinner to see if it is possible. I know I have the beginning of that week off so far, but I want to see if Tom can come. I would really like to do the Gemini Bridges trail again and the Shafer Trail. I missed a bunch of caches that were on these trails.

As for the green Jeep we have most of the parts for the lift we just need a front drive shaft and most importantly, time to do it. Maybe a deadline like this will get us motivated. Hope to see you at Slickrock. You might try sending them an e-mail to check on reservations.

Mary

[DrMoab]

i was thinkin Klondike bluffs, gemini bridges and metal masher, Hells revenge (a must!) rose garden hill and top of the world, Moab Rim, and Pritchett canyon... i also wanted to run out thru the La Salles and loop thru geyser and la salle passes.. sooooooooooo many trials....... soooooooo little time...
If you come in April you can forget about the passes though the LaSals. Still be ten feet of snow up there then.

[Geepfreak]

If you come in April you can forget about the passes though the LaSals. Still be ten feet of snow up there then.

No way,,, maybe 8 :laugh3:
2 years ago we were able to go up over the loop, early april, took awhile but made it.

[sidriptide]

If you come in April you can forget about the passes though the LaSals. Still be ten feet of snow up there then.


i seemed to overlook that somehow.. i will be snow-wheelin for the next 5 months here at home.. AM NOT driving that far to do it some more... shafer trail up to deadhorse point and down long canyon would be a good easy day.. maybe a 1st day run to take in some sights and stuff.....

[sidriptide]

As for the green Jeep we have most of the parts for the lift we just need a front drive shaft
Mary

whats wrong with the current one?

[poomba]

[QUOTE=Mike in NJ]Mike:

Considering that I know you, your rig, and what you are capable of doing - as well as the fact you were with us out there in 2003 - you will be fine on HR, PSM, and Gold Bar, among others. It's not like you haven't been on any Moab trails before, so you are already used to the trail marks anyway. I think it's a great that you're trying to coordinate something with the locals, and Doc's suggestion of hooking up with some IC guys is a great plan. But, even if something comes up that keeps them from meeting up with you, you shouldn't hesitate to head out anyway with your group.

Actually, having a few of you together on the cross-country ride may be more important than making sure you have the locals available once you get there. Doc's also right about early to mid-May - a very good time to be in the area. Don't sweat the guide thing - just assume you folks will be able to hook up with somebody. End quote


DrMoab and Mike have it exactly right. And yep, its likely we'll be there in April, but if not, do what I did..hang out in the parking lot of City Market, talk to the folks who have their head on straight, and have fun. But if we're there the same weekend, that would be great :).

[poomba]

thanks! you guys in the IC are ok.. i dont care what the WCGIC says about you.. :wave:

Everything they said about us is true..and we worked hard for the rep :laugh3:

[DrMoab]

DrMoab and Mike have it exactly right. And yep, its likely we'll be there in April, but if not, do what I did..hang out in the parking lot of City Market, talk to the folks who have their head on straight, and have fun. But if we're there the same weekend, that would be great :).Or you could be like Poomba and spend your whole trip sitting in the Parking lot of the 4X4 shop. This is his very favorite thing to do you see. He seems to think that wheeling his jeep isn't nearly as much fun as watching it being worked on on a lift. :laugh3: :wave:

[rightseatsis]

whats wrong with the current one?

The green Jeep picked up a wicked vibration in the front drive shaft and Tom removed it until he can get around to repairing it. Coast Guard has kept him very busy and he is in the middle of painting his house. No time for the Jeep.

Mary

[Kejtar]

Hmmm Moab in April... pretty tempting :)


Hey Mary, you know there is not going to be any drawings in Arpil, right?

Wow, Moab in April. I'd like to try that. You wouldn't mind if some West Coast folks showed up? I just did't get enough in October. Will have to check my work schedule to see if I can do it. Maybe we will have the green Jeep lifted by then. Hope to see you in April.

Mary

[DrMoab]

Hmmm Moab in April... pretty tempting :)


Hey Mary, you know there is not going to be any drawings in Arpil, right?
There might be! If we do our IC Moab run we will have a small rafle. At least we did last year.

[Kejtar]

There might be! If we do our IC Moab run we will have a small rafle. At least we did last year.
You know that you gotta charge Mary double for the tickets?? :D Hmmm in any case there is more incentive for me to show up now :D

[DrMoab]

You know that you gotta charge Mary double for the tickets?? :D Hmmm in any case there is more incentive for me to show up now :D
The more the better....We had a guy like that last year.....The lovable Poomba cleaned up....course be bought about a million tickets too but still he was sitting next to me and I sure got sick of hearing "um...thats my number" then a collective sigh from the rest of the crowd.

[Boatwrench]

Mike,
I'll do my best to be there. Parts are piled up in the basement but after Christmas the time should free up to dedicate to the Jeep.

Trouble with Moab is with Mary now having an XJ who will tow the house trailer?

happy holidays,
Tom

[sidriptide]

Mike,
I'll do my best to be there. Parts are piled up in the basement but after Christmas the time should free up to dedicate to the Jeep.

Trouble with Moab is with Mary now having an XJ who will tow the house trailer?

happy holidays,
Tom

buy a tent!!!!!!!!

[sidriptide]

got my reservations at slickrock today!!!!! :)
i'll be in site #146..

[Geepfreak]

I'll be there.. Moab Rim campground.

[MontanaXJ]

I have been reading Chuck Well's book for a while now and have been dreaming of going to Moab for over a year. My schedule looks clear to make it the week of the 25th, now only if I can get the ride done by then. We'll see. Moab is only 810 miles for me. Can these trails be run with open diffs or do I need to lock?

[DrMoab]

I have been reading Chuck Well's book for a while now and have been dreaming of going to Moab for over a year. My schedule looks clear to make it the week of the 25th, now only if I can get the ride done by then. We'll see. Moab is only 810 miles for me. Can these trails be run with open diffs or do I need to lock?
What part of Montana are you in? I lived in Missoula for a year or so...My sister lives in Bozman.
You can do some of the trails lockerless but you will have much more fun with one in the rear...Go buy a lunchbox locker and have fun

[Geepfreak]

I have been reading Chuck Well's book for a while now and have been dreaming of going to Moab for over a year. My schedule looks clear to make it the week of the 25th, now only if I can get the ride done by then. We'll see. Moab is only 810 miles for me. Can these trails be run with open diffs or do I need to lock?

we can DRAG you through these trails. Not that bad. YOU CAN DU IT!

[MontanaXJ]

What part of Montana are you in? I lived in Missoula for a year or so...My sister lives in Bozman.
You can do some of the trails lockerless but you will have much more fun with one in the rear...Go buy a lunchbox locker and have fun

I live in Great Falls, ~90 miles north of Helena and ~3 hours east of Missoula. As for lockers, I would want a selectable type, preferebly electric(if they make one for the 8.25). An ARB would be cool too. Maybe a True-Trac in the front. I still want the jeep to be perfectly streetable without the side affects of a true locker. My '99 Taco had the factory electric locker and it was awesome.

[Geepfreak]

WE,, YOU,,, can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Strap.. or no strap.... You can dew it.....

[MontanaXJ]

If you have the will, i'll have the D-Rings and the strap.

[poomba]

If you have the will, i'll have the D-Rings and the strap.

Myself, if I had it to do over, I'd not have the locker in the front, but sure, one in the back, even a lunchbox like I had before in the rear helps. But there's a lot of trails you can do lockerless, either by doing bypasses..or not needed at all. Many options there. And if need be, yup, we'll hook a string to ya and get ya thru. I'd like the IC to nail down the dates with the eastern folk, so we can request leave at the end of this month..Federal..we've got to ask at the first of the year, for the entire year, to figure out manpower requirements...so if you organizational types can get on that, I'd appreciate it...and besides, having a goal and a date to push for, means we might actually put a wrench to the jeep BEFORE april...just a thought :gag:
I think that's *25th* the week the 'yota's are doing their run..but, hell, tis a popular place...

[DrMoab]

I live in Great Falls, ~90 miles north of Helena and ~3 hours east of Missoula. As for lockers, I would want a selectable type, preferebly electric(if they make one for the 8.25). An ARB would be cool too. Maybe a True-Trac in the front. I still want the jeep to be perfectly streetable without the side affects of a true locker. My '99 Taco had the factory electric locker and it was awesome.
Thing about a lockrite is....You keep your spider gears in a box and you can change them out in about a half an hour....Real easy. I have a detroit in the rear of mine and don't really notice it except when it snows. Then it can get scary...at least untill I put it in 4wd.

[DrMoab]

I'd like the IC to nail down the dates with the eastern folk, so we can request leave at the end of this month..Federal..we've got to ask at the first of the year, for the entire year, to figure out manpower requirements...so if you organizational types can get on that, I'd appreciate it...and besides, having a goal and a date to push for, means we might actually put a wrench to the jeep BEFORE april...just a thought :gag:
I think that's *25th* the week the 'yota's are doing their run..but, hell, tis a popular place...
Jan8th soon enough? Lets nail it down when we meet for the holiday party.

[sidriptide]

i have people here banking on the week of the 25th.... so i really want to stick with it unless someone has a real good reason to change it.. i got my reservations at slickrock for that week already.. i run a detroit in the rear and i'm not gonna lock the front.. hope i have my winch and bumper mounted by then.. get a lunchbox locker and lets go!!!!

[MATTVW65]

im itchin for a moab run...... :wave:

matt

[DrMoab]

i have people here banking on the week of the 25th.... so i really want to stick with it unless someone has a real good reason to change it.. i got my reservations at slickrock for that week already.. i run a detroit in the rear and i'm not gonna lock the front.. hope i have my winch and bumper mounted by then.. get a lunchbox locker and lets go!!!!
Ive got a concert to go to on the 11th of april and a wedding on the thurs or april that starts with a 20something...Can't remember the date and I dont have a calender in front of me.

[MontanaXJ]

I'm already getting set for the week of April 25 and trying to get other people here to go. I have already put in for leave for that week. If the date changes I need to know ASAP.

Greg

[poomba]

I take it the dates are still 25 to 29 april, for the new england group?
If not..need to know, because I'm putting in for leave assuming the above is still accurate.

[MontanaXJ]

I'm still plannin on the April 25th date and have secured myself a co-pilot who also had to put in for leave, but I have yet to do anything about a hotel at this time.

[rightseatsis]

I have already put in for a few days off. I just need to make some motel reservations. I am planning to stay at the Holiday Inn Express, since it is within walking distance of the Slickrock campground. See you in April.

Mary

[DrMoab]

keep checking here for more info...we are planning on this weekend for a IC run and might try and make it an official NAXJA run. I will keep in touch to let you know.

[sidriptide]

I take it the dates are still 25 to 29 april, for the new england group?
If not..need to know, because I'm putting in for leave assuming the above is still accurate.

it's still a "go" for us.. i'm having a hard time pinning people down to commit to this.. but as long as you guys will be there i'm IN.... not sure what XJ will make the trip but i'm there.. can't wait.. got my reservations at Slickrock already so it's now a waiting-game....

[MontanaXJ]

I have made my hotel reservations at the Super 8. Now I just need to get the Jeep done, sigh.

[sidriptide]

Now I just need to get the Jeep done, sigh.

done? hell i havent even started yet!!!! more discussion on this topic in the Iinter-mountain chapter forum..