On May 6 we joined the FMCA 4 Wheelers for a week-long rally in the wheeling mecca of Moab Utah. Over 100 families were registered, and there was plenty of demand for the 25 trails taken on the 5 days for running trails. The format for week-long rallies is to register on Sunday, do trails Mon, Tues and Wed, have a day off and run again Fri and Sat. Trail difficulty varied from 2 and 2 1/2, which we can do, up to 5, very difficult. Jo accompanied me on 3 runs in our Grand Cherokee, I drove one by myself, and I got a ride on a 4 rated trail on Saturday.
The agenda for a day’s trail running is to have a meeting conducted by the trail leader at the appointed meeting place, calling for a volunteer to be the tail gunner, with self introductions either there or on our CB radios wile driving the the beginning of the trail. At a place all members of the group can stop, most “air down” to decrease tire pressure to 10 to 20 psi. It does not hurt our heavy-duty tires and makes the ride a lot more comfortable. The sand condition of the roads by itself did not require reduced air pressure. Perhaps every hour to 90 minutes the trail leader called for a 10-100 comfort stop, with ladies on the right (aren’t they always?) and men on the left. Those in the group were welcome to pause for picture –taking and to take their time going over obstacles. The whole group stops for lunch on the trail and walks to scenic features. The run is concluded by a stop to “air up” as we approached smooth road to return to Moab for the day.
Sharon and Jerry Adcock and Karen and John Bellman were the ones in charge of all of the myriad of details to organize the large annual event. John had to miss most of the event for a medical problem of his son in Florida. Here the leaders are conducting a meeting on Sunday at the main RV park we used.
Steve Curtis was our trail leader on our first day’s run to Klondike Bluffs and Tower Arch
Some of the folks doing the run listen attentively to the leaders direction.
Our first stop was to inspect dinosaur tracks, mode more visible by pouring water into them.
This was typical of our road, with challenges near the top in crossing ridges.
We just completed going over this rocky ridge. Fortunately, the rocks in the area were quite rounded so were not likely to puncture our tires.
We eased our way over rocks imbedded in the road such as these.
The tower is the high place in the middle with the lighter colored top, and the arch is behind the second bush from the right.
Tower arch is more visible in this shot due to the shadow under it.
Lunch at Tower Arch parking area. The lady on the right is 90 years old and was a passenger with her daughter and son-in-law on the run.
Pinnacles along one of our ridge lines.
Jerry Adcock airing up at the end of the first day’s run.
OUR SECOND DAY WAS A “LADIES RUN” IN WHICH THE LADIES WHO WISHED DID SOME OR ALL OF THE DRIVING. THE FIRST OBJECTIVE WAS RAINBOW TERRACE.
Jo let me drive! I had trouble with my “dry eye”, so we left the group after lunch.
At the left side, rear, was the most challenging obstacle on this day’s run, climbing up a ledge. A “spotter” near a bush behind the second Jeep is helping the driver place wheels correctly to get up the steep spot. The lead Jeep then must go over the second challenge, the rock in the lower left corner. At first glance, these two spots looked impossible, but it is amazing what our Jeep can do when asked. I made both of these on the first try!
The second challenge in a short distance!
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