2008 XJ 25th Anniv. Event Trails

[XJEEPER]

I have a working draft of trails and am in the process of matching up trails to leaders.
Thanks to those who have volunteered to lead trails so far, anyone else who is interested, please PM me with the trail/trails that you are willing to lead.

I realize that knowing what trails are being run each day is important for those making plans to attend this historic event and I will post up a draft of the trail run list and leaders later this week, with the goal of having all trails and assigned leaders finalized by March 31st.

[IntrepidXJ]

PM sent.....I'm up for helping lead.

[David B.]

I can lead a trail, Jeff. I would prefer to see the trails list first and what is still needed (just make sure I know the trail well enough). I'll be there Wednesday night thru Sunday.

[YELLAHEEP]

As always, you can sign me up to lead Steel Bender if it's available.

[johnnyc]

Yeah, Steel Bender is the only trail I feel comfortable leading (led last year). But I learned from the best...Troy.

I'm sure there will be more than one Steel Bender run during the week.

[IntrepidXJ]

any progress/updates?

[XJEEPER]

Just made some additions tonight. Realizing that it's no longer March 31st........look for the draft list to be posted in the next few days. As Richard and I have discussed, we'll take feedback for a few weeks and then firm up the trail runs so folks can firm up their trip plans.

I have a list of folks who have PM'ed me, willing to lead runs (thank you!) but I wanted to get the list out there first, then get your commitment to lead on a specific date.

Trail runs will be limited to 20 vehicles, including Trail Leader. NAXJA will collect $5 per vehicle, per trail run, which is used to offset the BLM Trail Use Permit Fee that NAXJA is required to pay for this event.

We plan on modeling the Trail Run scheduling after the Red Rock 4 Wheelers Easter Jeep Safari, in that attendees will pre-register for runs, prior to the event. Unlike EJS, changing your mind on what trail you want to run at the event will be handled on a case by case basis. If a person wants to switch from the trail they've pre-registered for to another trail, at the time of the event, this will be allowed, under the conditions that the Trail Leader approves and there are unfilled slots on that trail run.
Last minute attendees that do not pre-register will have the option to run trails that have open slots. First come, first served.

[WayneXJ]

10 vehicle limit on Pritchett?

[Jump This]

I wouldn't even know what trails I should run.
Never been there before...
:dunno:

[IntrepidXJ]

I wouldn't even know what trails I should run.
Never been there before...
:dunno:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=945251

Highly recommended for anyone who would like info about the trails around Moab. Get the spiral binding, too :)

[XJEEPER]

I wouldn't even know what trails I should run.
Never been there before...
:dunno:

Then, you'll want to run them all........:laugh:

Here's a good Moab Trail source as well. RR 4Wheelers have given me permission to use this as a reference source for our event. http://www.centralpt.com/pageview.aspx?id=16364

[XJEEPER]

10 vehicle limit on Pritchett?

Wayne, with you leading, 20.....or even 30 rigs should be no problem. :shocked:

10 is a good number for PC.

[Jump This]

Then, you'll want to run them all........:laugh:



I'm going to be there for ten days, I'll give it a shot!!

[XJEEPER]

Here is the Trail Run draft that has been compiled to provide a good mix of popular trails in the Moab area. If you are interested in leading a trail, please PM me so I can revise this schedule and add in the Trail Leader names for each run.

821

822

Moab Area trail descriptions, compliments of Red Rock 4 Wheelers Inc.
http://www.centralpt.com/pageview.aspx?id=16364

Also, we welcome feedback regarding this schedule from those planning on attending this event. We will take your input for 2 weeks, before finalizing the trail run schedule for the event, which we want to have nailed down by May 25th so folks can firm up their travel plans.

[Handlebars]

Looks good, Jeff! Just a couple of things…

Do you have departure times planned out yet, some of those trails will leave early due to the distance or difficulty involved, right?

It might be worth mentioning on the schedule about the $10 National Park entrance fee for accessing Elephant Hill and Lathrop Canyon. Also the $5 fee for the trails in Sand Flats Recreation Area- Hell‘s Revenge and Porcupine Rim. Unless NAXJA is picking up the tab. :)

Oh yeah, how about putting the 10 vehicle limit for Pritchett on the schedule?

[XJEEPER]

Looks good, Jeff! Just a couple of things…

Do you have departure times planned out yet, some of those trails will leave early due to the distance or difficulty involved, right?

It might be worth mentioning on the schedule about the $10 National Park entrance fee for accessing Elephant Hill and Lathrop Canyon. Also the $5 fee for the trails in Sand Flats Recreation Area- Hell‘s Revenge and Porcupine Rim. Unless NAXJA is picking up the tab. :)

Oh yeah, how about putting the 10 vehicle limit for Pritchett on the schedule?

Thanks for the feedback, Alex.
Departure times will be added, factoring in trail difficulty and distance. Not a big deal right now. $5 BLM and $10 NP fees will be noted on the final doc.

NAXJA is not planning on picking up these additional fees and the $5 fee that NAXJA will collect for each rig is a direct pass-thru to the BLM.

We could structure the trail run event fees like RR4W does for the Easter Jeep Safari; $50 per rig the first day and $25 per rig for each additional day and you are awarded trail choices in a raffle process. Nothing wrong with this, just not the model we're adopting.


The goal of posting up this draft document is to get feedback on the trail selection itself and see if there are other trails that folks would prefer to run, before we finalize the trail run schedule for the event.

[DrMoab]

In the past few years, if a trail required a fee, like canyonlands or the sand flats area, we didn't charge a trail fee. Will this still be in place this year?

[Handlebars]

The goal of posting up this draft document is to get feedback on the trail selection itself and see if there are other trails that folks would prefer to run, before we finalize the trail run schedule for the event.
How about an area BFE day for the hardcore crowd? It's not my kind of wheeling but I know there will be a bunch of people there who like to abuse... I mean, do that sort of thing. Metal Masher is deteriorating to that point also, with a couple of roll-worthy obstacles. Otherwise there is only 2 days on Pritchett Canyon limited to 10 Jeeps each.

[WayneXJ]

How about an area BFE day for the hardcore crowd? It's not my kind of wheeling but I know there will be a bunch of people there who like to abuse... I mean, do that sort of thing. Metal Masher is deteriorating to that point also, with a couple of roll-worthy obstacles. Otherwise there is only 2 days on Pritchett Canyon limited to 10 Jeeps each.


I ran Metal Masher a few days ago and I agree that it's getting harder, Widow Maker is huge now. I had some pictures of it but I left my camera in Moab. :(

[Goatman]

In the past few years, if a trail required a fee, like canyonlands or the sand flats area, we didn't charge a trail fee. Will this still be in place this year?

If the trail is on the schedule, we're obligated to pay the $5 fee to the BLM. Unfortunately, we need to pay the Sand Flats or NPS fee as well.

[DrMoab]

If the trail is on the schedule, we're obligated to pay the $5 fee to the BLM. Unfortunately, we need to pay the Sand Flats or NPS fee as well.
You better check.

The BLM lady told me that if you were on non-BLM property IE Canyonlands or Sand Flats area that the fee per trail was not required because they were effectively collecting that fee at the gate.

[Handlebars]

If the trail is on the schedule, we're obligated to pay the $5 fee to the BLM. Unfortunately, we need to pay the Sand Flats or NPS fee as well.
Ryan, how did you work it last time you ran Elephant Hill at the Fall Fling? I can competely avoid the fee booth on the Lathrop Canyon run if it will help out the club.:D That would mean missing the sunset drive down Long Canyon though. :(

I just checked Mapsource, you could bo it too... drive in through Canyonland's back door on the Beef Basin road. Only 107 miles to Elephant Hill that way! The fee booth will probably be closed by the time you are finished so you could drive home through the front door. ;)

[Goatman]

You better check.

The BLM lady told me that if you were on non-BLM property IE Canyonlands or Sand Flats area that the fee per trail was not required because they were effectively collecting that fee at the gate.

Well, that makes sense. We only have to pay BLM if we're using their stuff. Sounds good to me. That way we could also pay the Sand Flats fee out of the $5 per trail, and the leader could pay for the group rather than having each rig stop to pay at the gate. We can work that out.

[DrMoab]

Ryan, how did you work it last time you ran Elephant Hill at the Fall Fling? I can competely avoid the fee booth on the Lathrop Canyon run if it will help out the club.:D That would mean missing the sunset drive down Long Canyon though. :(

I just checked Mapsource, you could bo it too... drive in through Canyonland's back door on the Beef Basin road. Only 107 miles to Elephant Hill that way! The fee booth will probably be closed by the time you are finished so you could drive home through the front door. ;)
Personally I don't mind paying them their ten bucks. I have never been checked on Elephant hill but I had a ranger stop me on Shafer trail once and give me a bunch of crap for not having paid...even though I came in from the Potash road way.

But to answer your question, we just paid at the gate on our way in.

[DrMoab]

Well, that makes sense. We only have to pay BLM if we're using their stuff. Sounds good to me. That way we could also pay the Sand Flats fee out of the $5 per trail, and the leader could pay for the group rather than having each rig stop to pay at the gate. We can work that out.
In the past events, at least the last couple, it really wasn't that big a deal to have each vehicle pay at the gate. However if you have 40 Jeeps on Helldorado (which is highly possible this year) it might be worth working it out with Sand Flats to pay in advance.

[XJEEPER]

In the past events, at least the last couple, it really wasn't that big a deal to have each vehicle pay at the gate. However if you have 40 Jeeps on Hells Revenge (which is highly possible this year) it might be worth working it out with Sand Flats to pay in advance.

fixed

[DrMoab]

fixed
Thanks...Sleep deprivation working its wonders. :D

In fact I had to look at it for a couple minutes to see what you fixed.

[DeadEyeJ]

I noticed Behind the Rocks was not included this year. Any particular reason?

Jared:patriot:

[DrMoab]

I noticed Behind the Rocks was not included this year. Any particular reason?

Jared:patriot:
Try to keep up Jared.. :D

Its because the big bike race is being held at the same time.

[IntrepidXJ]

I noticed Behind the Rocks was not included this year. Any particular reason?

Jared:patriot:

24 hours of moab is going on later in the week

[Goatman]

I noticed Behind the Rocks was not included this year. Any particular reason?

Jared:patriot:

The 24 Hrs of Moab bike race is on Fri/Sat, but they spend the whole week prepping the trail. Much of the Behind the Rocks trail is part of their course, and they actually go out and sweep the loose sand off the route. If we run it we'll mess it up.

I spoke to them about working it out, and we talked about us running it early in the week, and then have volunteers from our group help them prep the route on Thurs. We thought it could be a great gesture, and they would make sure the two groups working together would get some press. However, it seems simpler to just avoid that trail.

It would, however, be a cool thing to do if some folks wanted to run the trail, and/or volunteer to help them with route preparations. They would provide lunch and an event T-shirt to those who volunteered for a day.

[xjblue]

Well, that makes sense. We only have to pay BLM if we're using their stuff. Sounds good to me. That way we could also pay the Sand Flats fee out of the $5 per trail, and the leader could pay for the group rather than having each rig stop to pay at the gate. We can work that out.

Reminds me of the 02 Fall Fling Hells Revenge run, Danno IIRC standing at the gate counting while 49 rigs drove by.

[karstic]

Would an annual NPS park pass cover a vehicles fee in NPS administered areas?

[Handlebars]

Would an annual NPS park pass cover a vehicles fee in NPS administered areas?
My magic 8 ball says, "Yes-Definately".

[jmaxj]

My magic 8 ball says, "Yes-Definately".
that works for sand flats?

[xjblue]

that works for sand flats?

Sand Flats isn't NPS administered. And no :bunny: :explosion there either probably.


















I saw those emoticons next to each other over there and just had to use them in a sentance.

[XJEEPER]

http://www.naxja.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=821&d=1210513848

OK Folks, time to firm up the Trail runs for the 25th Anniversary event. If you plan on attending and haven't had time to review the trail list and provide feedback, please do so now by clicking on the link above.

We will be finalizing the trails so we can get online Registration underway. If you desire to lead a specific trail on the indicated date, PM me now.

Thanks!

[Tom R.]

You may want to consider adding Gold Bar Rim or a similarly rated (4 or 5) trail to Friday's run. If I remember correctly, GBR itself isn't very long and will bridge the gap between the trails currently offered.

[WayneXJ]

I think metel masher should be thrown in somwhere.

[XJEEPER]

Good feedback, keep it coming........

[Handlebars]

How about Metal Masher on Friday? I have no intention of leading it but will happily play tailgunner.

[XJEEPER]

You may want to consider adding Gold Bar Rim or a similarly rated (4 or 5) trail to Friday's run. If I remember correctly, GBR itself isn't very long and will bridge the gap between the trails currently offered.

GBR is being run on Sat, Metal Masher will fill in nicely on Friday.

[Tom R.]

GBR is being run on Sat, Metal Masher will fill in nicely on Friday.
On Saturday, GBR is run in conjunction with Golden Spike, making it a 7-rated trail. But I suspect you knew that already. ;)

GBR, by itself, is rated 5 and would fit nicely in the Friday schedule. Or some other trail that's rated 4 or 5. The point is to bridge the rating gap on the Friday schedule so there's more variety.

Isn't MM a fairly long trail? Any concerns with folks returning in time to make the Friday night dinner?

[Jump This]

On Saturday, GBR is run in conjunction with Golden Spike, making it a 7-rated trail. But I suspect you knew that already. ;)

GBR, by itself, is rated 5 and would fit nicely in the Friday schedule. Or some other trail that's rated 4 or 5. The point is to bridge the rating gap on the Friday schedule so there's more variety.

Isn't MM a fairly long trail? Any concerns with folks returning in time to make the Friday night dinner?


All Friday's runs should be gay (1's or 2's) That way I don't miss anything (I'm thinking I'll be cooking most of Friday!)

[XJEEPER]

On Saturday, GBR is run in conjunction with Golden Spike, making it a 7-rated trail. But I suspect you knew that already. ;)

GBR, by itself, is rated 5 and would fit nicely in the Friday schedule. Or some other trail that's rated 4 or 5. The point is to bridge the rating gap on the Friday schedule so there's more variety.

Isn't MM a fairly long trail? Any concerns with folks returning in time to make the Friday night dinner?

How about this for gap bridging........run Gold Bar on Friday and Metal Masher on Saturday?

[Handlebars]

How about Metal Masher on Friday, Gold Bar/Spike on Saturday with those who just want a 5-rated run turning around at the beginning of Golden Spike?:rtm:

Make Metal Masher an 8am departure or for that matter make all of Friday's trails leave at 8am so we get to dinner on time. :)

[Boatwrench]

I have a couple of late questions.

1. If a group wanted to take off and run a trail that was not on the schedule would BLM still want $5...not trying to be cheap, I'll pay...just curious. I was thinking of looping up over La Sal Pass and Geyser Pass one of the days and who knows who may want to join me.

2. Alex, the Saturday Shaffer/Lathrop/Long Canyon run, will you be entering from Potash Road and going up Shaffer? sounds like a nice trip have wanted to run Lathrop for a while now, but conflicts with other plans.

3. Looks like I'll probably need to stay through Saturday to run Elephant Hill.

I'll be honest, I'm not comfortable volunteering to be a trail leader, although I was by default to Top of the World a few years ago (me and three other XJs) I don't drive well enough and have not been to Moab enough. Please don't take this as a complaint, not meant to be.

Tom

[Handlebars]

1) It's public land... your land. You can drive it by yourself for free. Buuut NAXJA-sponsored runs have to pay.

2) Yes! It will be a long day, about 100 miles worth of driving.

3) If you can lead Top of the World you certainly can find your way through Elephant Hill on your own. :thumbup: Pick a day that works better. Take Charles Wells' book along. GPS tracks can be found here:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=949210

[XJEEPER]

OK, folks. Here's the latest revision of the trail schedule. Note that we still need 3 leaders, as we've had some fallout. Please PM me ASAP, if you can fill the open Leader slots.

We are prepared to add trails each day, should the ones on the schedule completely fill up. We have extra leaders, including myself that are intentionally uncommited to any specific trail, that can lead additional trails if needed, but will be engaged in other event duties as well, so I'd like to use them as a last resort.

Departure times have been changed to allow time to collect late comers each day who will need to register and get thru Tech in the morning before the run. Trial Leaders, look for a PM with a Staging area map, details on expectations and the basic NAXJA event guidelines that the group will need to adhere to.

Thanks to all, this is gonna be a great event!!

[WayneXJ]

Can you make a note about the $2 fee per vehicle at the entrance to Pritchett also?

[XJEEPER]

Will do

[IslanderOffRoad]

So how do I sign up for a trail? Or does that happen when I get to Moab?

On Friday, how short is Klondike Bluffs? I'm heading out Friday and need to meet a plane in Vegas that evening, don't want to be late.

[DrMoab]

So how do I sign up for a trail? Or does that happen when I get to Moab?

On Friday, how short is Klondike Bluffs? I'm heading out Friday and need to meet a plane in Vegas that evening, don't want to be late.

It's 460 miles to Vegas from Moab. You won't have time. :D

[IslanderOffRoad]

It's 460 miles to Vegas from Moab. You won't have time. :D

I kinda figured, but can you blame me for wanting to get one more run in :D

[Jump This]

I kinda figured, but can you blame me for wanting to get one more run in :D

We have been blaming you for global warming, we sure could blame you for more serious offences!

;)

[Handlebars]

Wanna download the staging area locations to your GPS? Click on the file below.

[tcharon]

Who's going to handle sign ups for trails, where is he camped and when will he start taking sign ups?

[Goatman]

Who's going to handle sign ups for trails, where is he camped and when will he start taking sign ups?

Trail sign ups will be available when you register. Look up at the top of this forum, there is a thread titled "What to do when you get to Moab". :)