I'm writing this so that next year I can look here to see which trails I've
already been on, and which ones I'd like to run again.
Every one of the trails that I've been on has incredible scenery, so I'm not
going to comment on that unless the scenery wasn't up to par. I'm just going
to comment on how interesting the driving of the trail was.
Also, I'm not too concerned with body damage. I don't WANT body damage, but
if it happens, I'm not going to be too worried about it, so if you get all
upset when you scrape the underside of your cladding, the your opinion will
probably differ from mine on these trails.
Year 1 (Zuzoo V)
Devil's Racetrack taking Fix it Pass exit (Couldn't Find Rating. 3.5 maybe?)
I'm not sure if this is the official name of the trail, it's not on any of the
trail lists. It's WAY outside of Moab, so you have to drive for a while (hour
or so) to get there. I'm not sure if my memory is flawed because it was my first
trail ever in Moab, or if this trail is just awesome, but I REALLY enjoyed this
trail. It had plenty of technical stuff to keep it interesting, and it also had
some dirt road portions where you could really get some speed which was really
cool if you are into that whole going fast while not on pavement thing.
I would definately run this trail again if I ever have the opportunity.
Elephant Hill (3.5)
This was an average trail. It didn't have much as far as obstacles go. Seemed
like it was mostly dirt road. If you haven't run it, you should, but after
you've run it once, it isn't worth the drive to run it again because it's so far
from Moab. There was a cool hiking trail that we did at the lunch spot that was
better than the trail.
I'd run this trail again, but it won't be until I've run all the other trails at least once.
Dome Plateau (3.0)
I didn't care for this trail very much at all because it was almost all dirt road.
It did have some really cool caves with cave drawings though. It also had a great
view off the side of the cliff at the lunch spot.
I will run this trail one more time in the future because there was one optional obstacle that I didn't do, but after that I probably won't do it again.
Pritchett Canyon (5)
First of all, I didn't drive on this trail, I rode in Blue Dodge's (from 4x4wire.com)
pickup. This trail actually lacked a little on the scenery, but it MORE than made
up for it with the trail itself. You don't have time to look at the landscape on
this trail because the trail takes most of your attention. There are just so many
cool obstacles on this trail. We took 4 trucks out on this trail, and only one of
them came back 100% functional.
I won't run this trail (yet) because I'm not equiped for it, but I'd definately ride with someone that was running it.
Year 2 (Zuzoo VI)
Tip Toe through Hell (3.5)
This trail scared me. It seemed that there was always a danger of falling
off something. I did the first fin of this trail on the last day we were there
and it didn't bother me as much as it did the first time, so it is probably
possible to get used to the edge of your truck being next to a drop off.
Even though this trail scared me, I really enjoyed it. There was plenty of
stuff to keep you interested. There were also several optional obstacles that
we weren't equiped to do.
I'd run this trail again in the full Hell's revenge form. I'll probably do it at Zuzoo VII.
Kane Creek (3.5)
This trail was ALL dirt road with 2 obstacles that give it its rating. The
first one is probably the hardest of the two, and it wasn't that hard. My
opinion is also skewed by the fact that we had 20 rigs on this trail, and
it took FOREVER to get up the first obstacle. Do not run this trail with
more than 15 rigs, especially if most of them are stock.
I won't run this trail again.
Metal Masher (4)
I loved this trail. I can't say enough good things about this trail. It was
plenty difficult to keep me interested, but the only spotting done was on an
optional obstacle called "Rock Chucker." The obstacles were difficult, but all
of the obstacles were sufficently far from cliffs that you didn't feel any
danger of falling to your death. We ran it with 6 rigs that were equiped
properly for the trail and it was fun. We ran it in the rain and I discovered
that slickrock actually has good traction in rain. I wouldn't run this trail
in a stock rig.
I will run this trail every year until I find one I like better. This is currently my favorite trail. (May 2003)
Steel Bender (3.5+)
This was a very good 3.5 trail. It seemed like the whole trail was made up of
obstacles. Nothing major, just lots of small obstacles. One obstacle that was
a little too close to the edge of a drop for my taste, but it wasn't enough to
make me not like the trail. There were also several optional obstacles to do, one
of which I didn't make it up and will try again the next time I run it.
I would really enjoy running this trail again.
Fins & Things (3.5)
Most of this trail is driving up and down fins. Most of the trail is not all that
scary, unless you haven't done the steep climbs up slick rock before. It still
impresses me just how steep of a climb you can make. There was one obstacle that
scared me. Something about having your rig lose traction and start bouncing on
a steep climb that just bothers me.It took me three tries to get up the
obstacle and I only made it because of the inspirational words of the trail
leader, Randii. He comes over to my window and sings me a song entitled
"What would Anthony Monday do?" to the tune of the Bryan Boitano song from South
Park. I then hit the hill with way more speed that I was comfortable with, kept my
foot on the gas, and spun my tires all the way to the top.
Ok, he didn't actually sing me a song, but he did ask me to think about what Tone
would do in this situation.
I would really enjoy running this trail again.
