Save Our Trails! The TAP Tour 2012

Save Our Trails Darrell Wades Chevy Blazer

Darrell Wade from Total Karnage was our trail guide and helped us out considerably. His Blazer has seen more than its share of modifications—and carnage. Wide vehicles and other fullsize rigs can make this trail, but longer rigs struggle a bit.

Darrell Wade from Total Karnage was our trail guide and helped us out considerably. His Bl

The Southwest corner of our great nation has some of the most incredible four-wheeling. That would be a brag if it weren’t fact. But another fact is that the anti-access crowd has been hammering our government agencies to limit what you and I can do on our public lands. They are closing existing trails, banning certain uses, and severely limiting our choices of recreation. And while good environmental stewardship is always an important factor of our sport, someone has to step up and carry the torch for land access and for the multiple uses that favor the 4x4 crowd.

Del and Stacie Albright have been on the forefront of these issues, fighting back the tide of anti-access hysteria and putting the best interests of our sport and the 4x4 world forward. Del has been the representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) for years, which is one organization that has been working hard to save our trails and promote wise use of our public lands. Last year the Albrights devised an ingenious plan to link a few off-road events together along with a week of scouting and four-wheeling to promote trail access with partners in the industry, clubs, and other organizations. That’s why we jumped at the chance to be part of the inaugural TAP (Trail Access Partnership) Tour. Del’s motto is: “We will not be tapped out of our trail access!”

Jon Rushing ran with us on the Bronco Falls trail at the 31st Hump-N-Bump event. His Comanche has been a 16-year work in progress, with a rebuilt engine, a swapped-in AX-15 tranny, an SYE kit, and spooled and locked axles with alloy axles and 4.56 gears. Rusty’s Suspension helps the trickster flex easily over the red rocks.

Jon Rushing ran with us on the Bronco Falls trail at the 31st Hump-N-Bump event. His Coman

Right after the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, we trekked to Logandale in our Ultimate Adventure F-150 for the famous Hump-N-Bump event put on by the Vegas Valley 4 Wheelers. This event has been around for 31 years and is situated on some of the most spectacular red rocks this side of Moab. The TAP Tour culminated the following weekend in Parker, Arizona, home of the 16th Annual Desert Splash event hosted by the Parker 4 Wheelers. This area is hardcore rocks and desert terrain with all kinds of runs available, from guaranteed carnage and broken parts to spectacular vistas and view for every style of rig.

In between these famous bookend events we spent time with the Bullhead 4 Wheelers in Bullhead City, Arizona, and the Havasu 4 Wheelers in Lake Havasu City. While scouting trails and discussing land use issues, we felt much progress was made in organizing the good fight.

Next year’s TAP Tour may have happened before you get this, but check out the schedule at www.trailaccesstour.com. And make sure you look into the Hump-N-Bump event at www.vv4w.org and Parker Splash at www.parker4wheelers.net. We guarantee you’ll be glad you did. And don’t forget to support the BlueRibbon Coalition at www.share trails.org.

Participating clubs this year included the Desert Wranglers, Nevada Backroaders, Total Karnage, and Vegas Broncos. Area clubs volunteer to help in a number of ways, including leading some of our trails. Hump-N-Bump committee chairman Jeff Jorgenson of the Vegas Valley 4 Wheelers set us up on the Bronco Falls trail, which was an awesome experience. Steep hills, off-camber cliffs, and incredible traction culminated with a rocket ship climb to the top.
Participating clubs this year included the Desert Wranglers, Nevada Backroaders, Total Kar
Andy Brown and Lorna Mildice stayed with the TAP Tour all week, and cruised their JK Wrangler through the Wred Wrocks of Logandale. Thankfully, Mildice stepped up to the plate and showed off her photographic skills in the coverage of this event, while I Wrangled the Ultimate F-150 through places it shouldn’t have gone. It was dubbed the Blue Whale due to its size and the fact that I beached it more than once.
Andy Brown and Lorna Mildice stayed with the TAP Tour all week, and cruised their JK Wrang
GenRight sponsored the Hump-N-Bump and the Parker Splash. As usual, GenRight owner Tony Pellegrino’s buggy drew a huge crowd waiting for a show once the trail was finished. The red rock sandstone of Hump-N-Bump provides incredible traction for your tires. This area is not to be missed, just like the event itself.
GenRight sponsored the Hump-N-Bump and the Parker Splash. As usual, GenRight owner Tony Pe

Chief TAP Tour organizer and instigator (and BRC representative) Del Albright cruised his stickered-up TJ over the Sleeping Princess Trail outside of Bullhead City, Arizona. The desert trail is steep and rocky but provides a spectacular vista from the top of the mountain. We opted to go down the backside for a more interesting way home. Contact the Bullhead 4 Wheelers at www.bullhead 4wheelersinc.com.
Chief TAP Tour organizer and instigator (and BRC representative) Del Albright cruised his
The Bullhead 4 Wheelers took us on an impromptu tour of the area. Reg and Karen Beck in their ’98 Jeep TJ known as the Mach Turtle wheeled with us all day. Doug and Paula Ohm, Phil Strittmatter, and Joan Beck, along with Reg and Karen Beck, took us on the Sleeping Princess Trail. The club maintains the trail as part of the Adopt-a-Trail program, maintaining it at least twice a year with trash removal and sign upgrades. The view from the top is spectacular—and spans four states.
The Bullhead 4 Wheelers took us on an impromptu tour of the area. Reg and Karen Beck in th
Driving the Ultimate F-150 over 1,000 more miles on tough trails and desert highways was more fun than should be allowed. Getting used to the abilities and drawbacks of a hardcore IFS rig was a great experience. Shane Miller, secretary of the Parker 4 Wheelers, suggested a few trails we could try it out on.
Driving the Ultimate F-150 over 1,000 more miles on tough trails and desert highways was m

The Havasu 4 Wheelers (www.havasu4wheelers.org) gave us an impromptu tour of the Mohave Mountain area and Cactus Canyon. Jim Bowen, Darryld Kautzmann, Ken Weller, and Mike McClean took us through Cactus Canyon and showed us some great wheeling trails. That night, Del Albright hosted a BLM workshop with Rick Mooneyham from the Desert Sidewinders (who donated $2,000 to the BRC), and talked about their event called the 4x4 Fun Weekend (check it out at www.sidewinders4wheelers.com). About 50 folks from the area attended the workshop that the Albrights put on about land use, getting involved, and working with the BLM for public lands.
The Havasu 4 Wheelers ( www.havasu4wheelers.org ) gave us an impromptu tour of the Mohave
Rob and Katherine Graft from Nemesis took their four-door JK through the thick of it in Parker. We even let Rob drive (or dent) the Ultimate F-150 on a tight trail. His rig, Dixie, is set up with J8 axles stuffed with ARB Air Lockers turning 39-inch Krawlers on Hutchison beadlocks. A Burnsville 6.4L Hemi motors the beast along with plenty of power.
Rob and Katherine Graft from Nemesis took their four-door JK through the thick of it in Pa
The Desert Splash is a three-day event with almost 20 trails, from mild to wild. Due to the size of our F-150, we decided not to go on the tight trails. The wide ones would be tough enough. The club decks out its members in “Staff” T-shirts so you know exactly whom to ask for help or spotting. Steve Hart of the Borrego 4 Wheelers tries a little squeeze in his Wrangler TJ—a spot where our big truck got gashed.
The Desert Splash is a three-day event with almost 20 trails, from mild to wild. Due to th

T&T Customs out of Wyoming came with its yellow JK as well as a spare two-door JK. Bob and Mary Levenhagen try to take as many wheeling trips as possible while still minding the store back home. Getting a hardtop four-door JK through this squeeze was just as dicey as with the Blue Whale. However, the yellow ride made it through unscathed.
T&T Customs out of Wyoming came with its yellow JK as well as a spare two-door JK. Bob and
One lady not afraid to wheel is Joan Beck, of the Bullhead 4 Wheelers. She’s been a member since 1989 and is currently the club secretary. She trailered her ’78 CJ-7 down to the Parker Desert Slash, where she is a regular. Beck’s an octogenarian that can outwheel most people we’ve seen on the trail, with a style and smoothness not normally seen. Her rig is fully capable from the ARB Air Lockers to the muffled small-block, and she’s not afraid to use it. This optional waterfall denied the Blue Whale and Beck, but she only needed her own winch to get over.
One lady not afraid to wheel is Joan Beck, of the Bullhead 4 Wheelers. She’s been a member
Don McMillan from Daystar (yes, known as the Daystar Don) helped support the TAP Tour as well by bringing his snazzy TJ-sorta-8 on the trail. Naturally it’s loaded with Daystar stuff: motor mounts, 3-inch suspension pucks, 1-inch body lift, winch rope rollers and isolator, and a Gr8tops half-cab kit. McMillan even applied the flat Tangelo paint as well. The GenRight sliders and Metal Cloak fenders save the sheetmetal on the Parker trails.
Don McMillan from Daystar (yes, known as the Daystar Don) helped support the TAP Tour as w