- First Name
- Dave
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2020
- Threads
- 24
- Messages
- 3,117
- Reaction score
- 11,848
- Location
- Hanging Rock, North Carolina
- Vehicle(s)
- 19 Z71, 06 VTX1300, 94 Cobra, 21 BL Bronco 4dr.
- Your Bronco Model
- Badlands
- Thread starter
- #1
Wow. Epic adventure!
My wife, daughter, and I left out on the 15th of March for a meandering trip to Moab and returned at 4:39am this morning finally to our much-awaited own beds and showers.
We left NC and went SW, visiting Rte.66 as we could, eventually ending up in Winslow, AZ.
After a day-diversion to the Grand Canyon we left for Moab, finally arriving in the dark to rest up for the coming several-day adventures.
We met up with a few fellow B6G friends @HotdogThud @Rick Astley @talbot @Natai @Kickit @618TRVLWILD and began our adventures.
A couple of us tackled Fins N Things after a morning of sightseeing and shopping. It was a good introduction and first-trail ride, offering beautiful views of the La Sal mountains and whetting our appetites for some non-paved fun.
The next day we all met up together and entered White Rim via Potash Rd because Shafer Switchbacks were closed due to winter conditions.
Day 1 of it was comprised of the first half, camping at Murphy’s Hogback.
The first day offered up multiple beautiful vistas and further enticed us to venture onward.
We ended the day going up the Hogback climb, quickening our pulses and offering up the first shift into anything I felt needed 4 hi for security’s sake.
Little did we know what we would face on the last half would make that hill climb seem like a mall parking lot in comparison.
The intent was to get to camp with plenty of daylight left and hang out together.
The first part worked out but the weather made it less-than-ideal for hanging out much.
Temps in the 30’s with a constant drizzle-laden chilly wind cut our campfire time down considerably.
Day 2 began with a rocky descent down the backside of Murphy’s and onto some more pretty simple, picturesque trail riding that took us really close to the canyon ledges at times, and far into the expanse at others.
I have read and heard about Hardscrabble Hill being “difficult” but none of what I expected prepared me or the group for what we encountered.
To be fair, Ford made us a vehicle that is quite capable, and for this we were all grateful.
Those of us with trail camera capability really put it to some use on those blind turns and hill-cresting “where is the trail!?” Moments.
One of the group had a friend in a brand-spankin’ new Tundra come along and I was more than a little impressed with his ability to get that beast turned and threaded between rocks.
Hardscrabble hill is now regarded as “Pucker Pass”, and forever will be in infamy as such. Quite the fitting name.
Just wide enough most of the time for a Bronco with a sheer several-thousand ft. drop on the driver’s side and rock scrabble/Mesa verticals on the passenger. Most of these pics were of the wider sections of it.
When there were shelves to navigate they were on the uphill side of the blind curves, and often off-camber, wanting to push you even closer to the edge should you shift or slide.
Definitely a challenge and highlight of the trail, I found myself radioing in to ask for a breather to collect my nerves once we were back down near the River.
I don’t have a full blown fear of heights, but more of a “dislike for sketchy heights where I could die in a fiery crash” where I can’t always see the trail over the hood. This section blurred that line for me.
Once we enjoyed the muddy flat section nearest the river, we ascended the switchbacks at Mineral Bottom, aired up, and ventured back to Moab for some supper and a shower.
We had plans to camp over in Sand Flats but a constant cold rain and wind made it an easy decision by popular vote to grab a real meal and a hot shower.
The next day we mostly parted ways, some continuing to venture around Moab, some heading toward Kanab, and some headed home.
We ended up “stranded” in Eagle, Co. due to Vail Pass being snow-covered and the interstate closed.
After a late noon start again we found it to still be icy but passable.
Without the boring details of everything past Denver and points East, we covered a lot of miles and added a lot of states to our “visited” list.
I feel extremely thankful for being able to make this trip, meet my friends in person, and do the entire trip without anyone breaking anything, breaking down, or incident.
I stopped at a Ford dealer in Kansas and bought a new air filter, as I saw my MPG’s were drastically lower after the trip out and the salt-filled road spray of CO.
SYNOPSIS:
I humbly invite the others to post up their (better) pictures, and Videos.
below are a few quick clip videos (quite raw and unprofessional quality).
My wife, daughter, and I left out on the 15th of March for a meandering trip to Moab and returned at 4:39am this morning finally to our much-awaited own beds and showers.
We left NC and went SW, visiting Rte.66 as we could, eventually ending up in Winslow, AZ.
After a day-diversion to the Grand Canyon we left for Moab, finally arriving in the dark to rest up for the coming several-day adventures.
We met up with a few fellow B6G friends @HotdogThud @Rick Astley @talbot @Natai @Kickit @618TRVLWILD and began our adventures.
A couple of us tackled Fins N Things after a morning of sightseeing and shopping. It was a good introduction and first-trail ride, offering beautiful views of the La Sal mountains and whetting our appetites for some non-paved fun.
The next day we all met up together and entered White Rim via Potash Rd because Shafer Switchbacks were closed due to winter conditions.
Day 1 of it was comprised of the first half, camping at Murphy’s Hogback.
The first day offered up multiple beautiful vistas and further enticed us to venture onward.
We ended the day going up the Hogback climb, quickening our pulses and offering up the first shift into anything I felt needed 4 hi for security’s sake.
Little did we know what we would face on the last half would make that hill climb seem like a mall parking lot in comparison.
The intent was to get to camp with plenty of daylight left and hang out together.
The first part worked out but the weather made it less-than-ideal for hanging out much.
Temps in the 30’s with a constant drizzle-laden chilly wind cut our campfire time down considerably.
Day 2 began with a rocky descent down the backside of Murphy’s and onto some more pretty simple, picturesque trail riding that took us really close to the canyon ledges at times, and far into the expanse at others.
I have read and heard about Hardscrabble Hill being “difficult” but none of what I expected prepared me or the group for what we encountered.
To be fair, Ford made us a vehicle that is quite capable, and for this we were all grateful.
Those of us with trail camera capability really put it to some use on those blind turns and hill-cresting “where is the trail!?” Moments.
One of the group had a friend in a brand-spankin’ new Tundra come along and I was more than a little impressed with his ability to get that beast turned and threaded between rocks.
Hardscrabble hill is now regarded as “Pucker Pass”, and forever will be in infamy as such. Quite the fitting name.
Just wide enough most of the time for a Bronco with a sheer several-thousand ft. drop on the driver’s side and rock scrabble/Mesa verticals on the passenger. Most of these pics were of the wider sections of it.
When there were shelves to navigate they were on the uphill side of the blind curves, and often off-camber, wanting to push you even closer to the edge should you shift or slide.
Definitely a challenge and highlight of the trail, I found myself radioing in to ask for a breather to collect my nerves once we were back down near the River.
I don’t have a full blown fear of heights, but more of a “dislike for sketchy heights where I could die in a fiery crash” where I can’t always see the trail over the hood. This section blurred that line for me.
Once we enjoyed the muddy flat section nearest the river, we ascended the switchbacks at Mineral Bottom, aired up, and ventured back to Moab for some supper and a shower.
We had plans to camp over in Sand Flats but a constant cold rain and wind made it an easy decision by popular vote to grab a real meal and a hot shower.
The next day we mostly parted ways, some continuing to venture around Moab, some heading toward Kanab, and some headed home.
We ended up “stranded” in Eagle, Co. due to Vail Pass being snow-covered and the interstate closed.
After a late noon start again we found it to still be icy but passable.
Without the boring details of everything past Denver and points East, we covered a lot of miles and added a lot of states to our “visited” list.
I feel extremely thankful for being able to make this trip, meet my friends in person, and do the entire trip without anyone breaking anything, breaking down, or incident.
I stopped at a Ford dealer in Kansas and bought a new air filter, as I saw my MPG’s were drastically lower after the trip out and the salt-filled road spray of CO.
SYNOPSIS:
-11 days of travel.
-4,857 miles
-17 states travelled (8 new additions to my “been-to” list).
I humbly invite the others to post up their (better) pictures, and Videos.
below are a few quick clip videos (quite raw and unprofessional quality).
Sponsored
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