Although this run is called Golden Spike, Doug explained to me that it covered half of Poison Spider, all of Golden Spike, and half of Golden Rim. It runs for 30 miles of 4 wheeling in all. We had very few stretches of 100 yards of relatively smooth road. The rest was either high rocks or medium sized rocks. The body of Doug’s Jeep was raised 4.5 inches and the taller tires added 2 more inches. His has lockers for the front and rear axles. Engaging a locker results in both wheels turning at the same rate when one wheel has little or no traction. When the front axel is locked steering is very difficult.
The route shown here is the more difficult of two ways to get up the canyon. Doug elected to take this option to see how his new Jeep will perform. It climbed it flawlessly. The easier route is at the right.
Larry Cairncross felt something wrong with the front of his Jeep before trying to take the easier route up. Inspection showed that a nut and spacer had come off a bolt, allowing it to drift out of the suspension, and a bracket to be torn.. He found the bolt, which was damaged beyond further use. Larry had a collection of bolts, nuts and washers for Doug to use to put everything back together so that Larry could complete the run. Doug here had plenty of onlookers, but no one offered supervision!
His Jeep repaired, Larry continued the run.
A spotter guided Doug down this steep narrow spot.
At the edge of the rim we were treated to a fine view on highway 191 at the bottom of the Moab Rift. This road takes one up to I 70 north of Moab.
Here are several pictures of the Jeeps crossing the Golden Crack. Often one tire has no traction, but the other three pull the vehicle through. Extreme articulation (the angle between the body and the front axe) is the reason they can make it. Low tire pressure also helps.
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