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View Full Version : Arizona MOAB aftermath



Triathlete
11/16/2003, 08:03 PM
Awesome time, awesome people, awesome weather...:dance:
Day one started early. Myself, my wife Regina, Jeff (Wetmutt), Shawn (Charon_Sin), his girlfriend Patricia (who did a majority of the driving and a very fine job at that), their son Michael and Mike (Jeep Rubicon) met at Sonic. After the introductions and general VX chat we were off. The first trail we hit was the trail to Chivo Falls. Everyone made it through Three Feathers and we ventured on making everything look easy. Upon getting to the falls we found the recent rains had left them flowing very nicely. The trip back wasn't quite as uneventful thanks to Jeff. On a nice little line up a moguled, steep hill he got a little off line and gave a little too much gas pedal and ALMOST put his VX on its side. Fortunately, I was very close by and was able to grab hold of his fender and prevent disaster. We backed him up and he collected his cool;eekr;. After everyones heartbeat was back to normal we were on our way again. Once back to Three Feathers we all challenged the obstacle tackling differant lines impressing the congragation of people who hang out there to catch the action. Patricia tackled the left line, I took the harder center line, Mike took the center line also (making it look easy with his Rubicons lockers) and Jeff tested his pucker factor again by attempting a line none of us had attempted before. Jeff didn't succeed but gave it a great effort:thumbup:. We then rallied at the trail head where Bob (VXCAVER) joined up with us. We then cruised out to Chimney Rock (Mini MOAB) and played around on the sandstone formations. The sun was sinking into the sky. Shawn, Patricia and Michael headed off back to Phoenix. Bob, Jeff, me and Regina set up camp. We then sat around a great camp fire staying, warm and cooking some fantastic steaks. The dark sky made for an excelent viewing of the stars! Then as the fire wood ran out and the last flames began to fade it was time to get some rest:snooz:.
Day two After waking to a brisk but quickly warming day we ate breakfast and then began to break camp while we awaited the arrival of Kirk (Zu4TWO), his dad riding shotgun, Christian (AZPETRAK), his friend Dan (Jeep Rubicon) and his son riding shotgun. Once they all arrived we hit Chimney Rock once again and played around on sone of the formations. After the little warmup we all agreed to try a new trail which would take us to Chivo Falls as our destination again. The first part went flawless. On a particulary slippery water crossing Christian sustained the only trail damage. Then things stopped looking familiar, then familiar, then not familiar, then i started second guessing myself (I was navigating):wtfb: :wtfg: :wtfo: . Alarge rock took out his skid plate, which had to be removed. My appologies to Dan and Christian who at that point decided to turn back and head out the way we came. Dan, we were exactly where you thought on the map. Your GPS and map knowledge were correct. Coming in from a differant way through me off. We got instructions from another group and found out we were actually on the right track the whole time. Within 20 minutes Bob, Kirk, his dad, myself and Regina were at the falls:thumbup: . We spent a little time hanging out and eatting then started to head out. We played some on the obstacles on the way to Three Feathers. Once getting to Three Feathers we had to show off a bit. there was a huge crowd of people there to check out all the action. Jeff chose the left line, making it look easy as the "fans" cheered him on. Next, Kirk roared his supercharged Vx up the center line exciting the "fans" even more. Bob, who had vowed to "take it easy" on the way back couldn't resist. He made his first attempt at the center line. Bob gave it 110% but his tires just couldn't get enough traction. The "fans" gave him a big cheer for his valant effort. I then took the center line. Had a little more trouble than in the past (maybe the pressure from the "fans") but made it. We then became part of the "fans" as a couple of tricked out trail rigs(Jeeps) took a totally extreme line up the path. The first one made it look totally easy. The second one ended up getting winched out. Great entertainment!:clap: :clap: . we then cruised on out with Jeff at the front, who inadvertently showed us a few "new trails" on our way out. Once reaching the road we all said our goodbyes and headed on home. Another great day.
Pictures to follow soon!

Triathlete
11/16/2003, 09:04 PM
Billy (Triathlete) going down...
http://pstr-m01.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/008/11/B2/14/44/wEWtC2RIwpzFj6diAWfpYCz3l0HzClAX0180.jpg
Patricia and Michael take their turn...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/004/64/1F/D9/63/z8rW5t5s3ieDDRBv07pLXZOSJKAeUx-w0300.jpg
Mikes Rubicon flexing...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/002/48/89/6F/40/YGN96IXIov3JZMx5+s16bzED0O0TBOTj0300.jpg
Jeff...
http://pstr-m03.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/007/52/0F/27/4A/SUwsQKMVTpr3k5g2+sIxBhKpjATFtfuS0300.jpg
Patricia climbing...
http://pstr-m03.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/001/5F/B9/7B/36/ge5wEg-bbpoF5xZyIcS2cjRnCr7bFCoc0300.jpg
The falls...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/008/08/0A/4A/62/UAKvIG3cB9E+8h+Ue5LwBxJPH66wlcFx0180.jpg
More pics to come

Triathlete
11/16/2003, 09:22 PM
Me washing my hands...
http://pstr-m03.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/006/5F/50/9E/6A/TQfz-4HO1Brg5UrWpDjAp14ZyFe8dWqp0180.jpg
This hill looks harmless enough!
Jeff just before his "scary" moment...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/003/30/BF/ED/55/fdIPCCUHQaeZ1HSh7YrmzEFeLl50MYRx0300.jpg
Me starting up the center line of Three Feathers (between the rocks)...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/009/5A/9D/BF/DD/l1j3rz+HAsBxlTZYk8yWVpCUjGxQtfie0300.jpg
Mike, his Rubicon and lockers making it look easy...
http://pstr-m03.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/009/46/33/0A/C9/vEIeRrdE0nNYs1PG6250TnzIzgmEcTOg0300.jpg
Me, Jeff, Bob, and Shawns VXs posing in the sun at Chimney Rock...
http://pstr-m01.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/006/51/40/8E/56/GyWgcUPyyo76x-TtgMzgKELrzjqEkqks0300.jpg
Another veiw with a great look at Bob's bat...
http://pstr-m01.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/004/04/3A/A0/D1/e-hVWXMV5P3XzlNbRQv-2Ob7Iml6+hUY0300.jpg

Triathlete
11/16/2003, 09:35 PM
Regina, Bob and Jeff getting warm around the camp fire...

http://pstr-m01.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/008/5F/F3/B2/2B/Dc3fuOQWI0eqVljGOvZMOgixn9vP+2b+0300.jpg
Me going up the "step" at Chimney Rock...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/004/4A/33/0C/DC/VzQ6EYgzuBugHu6I9JOoaEtfw+bWju520300.jpg
Up and over...
http://pstr-m03.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/004/0B/56/B2/7A/-vW3GYHBbdOQ6zpzMCoZFp8HnHmZpotg0300.jpg
Christian sizing up the "step"...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/001/5B/30/20/59/vAPdaf9FbXPsYrPKRwTcKA+LPH2SgjDX0300.jpg
Dans son taking his turn behind the wheel of the Rubicon...
http://pstr-m01.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/003/4A/1B/9B/45/JvhV0SHM4WXtURBhasjWlEzBKnOEn5xr0300.jpg
Jeff "playing on one of the rocks at Chimney Rock...
http://pstr-m01.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/008/4C/79/08/EE/iBZKLBc-5dpLZ6Jav6mw-T-1XIUjNe4y0300.jpg

nocturnalVX
11/16/2003, 09:40 PM
While we are starting to talk MOAB, it's still a ways off, but these shots make the wait bearable. Thanks for sharing!

Triathlete
11/16/2003, 09:53 PM
Me playing at Chimney Rock...
http://pstr-m01.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/004/68/84/88/B8/AjpRyab1Ug-x6W5M0pk7OOHCHeZeI9sI0300.jpg
Christian spotting Kirk...
http://pstr-m03.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/006/71/D3/FC/3E/cFjt-w5qNQZ-VXxVtLIkaViLyqFKQ4CJ0300.jpg
Dan posing proudly...
http://pstr-m03.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/001/34/8F/FA/A5/s6tCF81JfdZt6y3McIztS3SNjni9CJ8f0300.jpg
Bob's galant attempt as we revisit Three Falls...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/004/59/C0/CC/0F/XfnPPyHTGXMI0021VeqMV2tVi5ItjYpu0300.jpg
The "entertainment! He made this extreme line look easy...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/008/45/8F/D3/EB/NWIPZ783ZesziyxPp4eI47WZJkxZ+oNr0300.jpg
He climbed right on up and out...
http://pstr-m02.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/003/41/39/4F/8C/We96gwO-sLKKoNyEc8jkfWaLQA7NwqP40300.jpg
This guy wasn't so lucky and had to be winched out...
http://pstr-m03.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00A/7C/46/8F/32/rkpxlwVWhoBKp8zu12RE+lYjR3VOR7HW0300.jpg
Then we all drove off into the sunset!

VCAMILO
11/16/2003, 10:28 PM
Im sad that I could not make it. The wedding in the quad cities ( 3hrs west Chicago) was great. My firsat 24 hrs in Chicago I saw three VX's. WOOHOO!! See you guys back in AZ soon!

VXcaver
11/17/2003, 04:39 AM
In that photo of me going up 3 feathers my line is way off! Now I see why I didn't make it!!! I'm going back there... right now! I can do it! I know I can!!!

AZPetrak
11/17/2003, 08:17 AM
There are a few more pics HERE (http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=389613&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14&fpart=1)

Triathlete
11/17/2003, 08:32 AM
Cool pics Christian. Thanks for coming down. Hope you guys made it out without any problems. Did you go out the same way we went in? Ended up we weren't lost afterall. Just a little disoriented from coming in a differant way.

tomdietrying
11/17/2003, 11:09 AM
WOW!!! Great pictures.........looks like you had a fantastic time.

I've got one question. In picture 15,(step rock up to chimney), it looks like you would scrape the front and rear bumper going up that. Did it scrape? Also, did the Rodeo make it up that one?

Thanks for the pictures.

Tom

p.s.
just curious...but have you seen if a Jeep Liberty can do what our VX can do?

Apostle
11/17/2003, 11:20 AM
Anyone thought about putting rock crawlers on the VX?

that would be something i would enjoy seeing

AZPetrak
11/17/2003, 02:26 PM
Cool pics Christian. Thanks for coming down. Hope you guys made it out without any problems. Did you go out the same way we went in?
We had a great time! We made it back fine, except all the ramps onto I-10 were close in Tucson so we had to go on the access road for several miles. :mad:

We ended up going out through 3 Feathers like you, it was interesting and fun, I had one of the guys sitting on top spot me at the top but I made it pretty easily up the middle.
I will certainly try to make it out if there is a meet/wheel here in Phoenix soon.



but have you seen if a Jeep Liberty can do what our VX can do? They hav short wheelbases like a VX, by the wheel wells are small on a Liberty, you can get in-expensive 2.5 in lifts and squeez 267/74 tires on them. Check out the article HERE (http://www.rockcrawler.com/trailreports/lostkjwest/index.asp)

Charon_Sin
11/17/2003, 08:12 PM
We had a great time. Thanks for organizing it. I am now thinking Box Canyon or some areas around Sedona? Pleas post ideas. Now that it is cooler I want to get out just about every other weekend.

Charon_Sin
11/17/2003, 08:18 PM
Originally posted by tomdietrying
WOW!!! Great pictures.........looks like you had a fantastic time.

I've got one question. In picture 15,(step rock up to chimney), it looks like you would scrape the front and rear bumper going up that. Did it scrape? Also, did the Rodeo make it up that one?

Thanks for the pictures.

Tom

p.s.
just curious...but have you seen if a Jeep Liberty can do what our VX can do?

I did Broken Arrow in Sedona and ran into a stock Liberty on the trail. They don’t have as much ground clearance as the VX so he banged his up some. Nothing big just bent the running board. All in all it did not do that bad. (I still love my VX and would NEVER give it up.)

Triathlete
11/18/2003, 08:19 AM
The step was fairly high. I cleared it easily however I have a 3" lift. The stock VX's needed a little help (a rock or two) to keep from scraping the front cladding and the link hangers for the rear suspension. The rodeo did not attempt it due to not enough clearance and the longer wheelbase. I don't know about the liberty but the rubicons that were with us did quite well. They have a lot of clearance, articulation and of course the lockers!

AZPetrak
11/19/2003, 08:19 AM
I added a few more pictures from Sunday HERE (http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=391285&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=&vc=1&PHPSESSID=)