Getting both front tires this high off the ground on the Dump Bump is definitely a recipe for going over backward, but luckily gravity was friendly to this Suzuki. The little guy came back down right side up. A few more attempts were made, with similar results, before the driver decided not to push his luck anymore. |
Potato Salad Hill is the primo spot to catch rollovers. This unfortunate soul was all the way at the top and trying to climb over the last bump when his rear driveshaft gave way. The result was a wild ride all the way to the bottom of the hill. Amazingly, through a combination of skill and luck, the Jeep slid backward down most of the hill and then tipped onto its side at the bottom. The cage and the seatbelts did their job and no one was hurt. |
Smaller tires and a lack of articulation led to this IFS Toyota pickup being swallowed up and nearly getting dumped on its side at Golden Crack. It drove out with damage to the front bumper, but the passenger side never smacked the rocks. |
Rocker Knocker is always a source of anxiety for the drivers but a source of excitement for everybody else. The best line is to start about halfway across the ledge and turn hard left when the front right starts to climb the second ledge. However, whatever line you take, you&8217ll still wind up with the rocker on the big rocks on the left. This Hummer tried to use plenty of diesel power to avoid this but still wound up in the rocks. |
The second hot tub on Hell’s Revenge is steep both in and out. It&8217s easy to drop in but not so easy to get out. This CJ tried to claw its way out and did a gnarly wheelstand on one tire. During the wheelstand, it smashed the exhaust pipe and killed the motor. Some cutting of the exhaust got the motor going, and a quick tug of the tow strap got the CJ out of the tub. |
Look out below! Things can get pretty tippy on Double Whammy, since the best line (approaching it at an angle) also holds the most rollover potential. This Jeep teetered on the edge but didn&8217t roll. |
The Rocker Knocker claims yet another victim. No, this guy is not using superhero-like strength to keep the Jeep from rolling. He&8217s simply trying to help the stranded Jeep pivot its way off of the rocks that are wedged under the driver-side rocker panels. |
This is a typical Potato Salad Hill scene: full-throttle-induced mayhem with the only options being (1) going over the top and getting all the glory or (2) going back down the hard way and crushing both Jeep and spirit. |
This is the point on Double Whammy where the driver and his brain must decide whether to give it more throttle and possibly induce major carnage or simply let off and back down. |
We go ’wheeling in a lot of nasty areas with plenty of ugly rocks and surroundings which, while challenging, provide nothing but rocks to look at. Part of the lure of Moab is the chance to go &8217wheeling in spectacular settings, which seems to make everything better. If you break, it just gives you more of a chance to take in the scenery! |
This Suzukis supershort wheelbase made for a spooky descent down Rocker Knocker. A brave spectator pitched in and added a little ballast to the rear to keep the Suzuki from doing a front flip. |
The little-used line that the Jeep way over to the right is trying takes the double out of Double Whammy. Now comes the scary part: To proceed from where this Jeep is, you must somehow make an extremely sharp left-hand turn and proceed without rolling. This driver wisely decided to back down and try a different approach. |
Every year we see more and more fullsizes tackling the trails at Moab. This Chevy proved to us that wheelbase can help: It walked right up this rock waterfall without any problem. |
The High Dive is the first major obstacle you encounter on the Behind the Rocks Trail, and it definitely gets your attention. Steep and slippery, the downhill can be a major challenge. You will get to the bottom--one way or another. |
Slickrock is plentiful in Moab. It can provide loads of traction but will quickly get slippery when covered with dirt and small rocks, as this Blazer discovered. Smooth application of the throttle and sticky tires finally resulted in traction. |
More fun in the hot tub! The second hot tub on Hell’s Revenge claimed yet another victim when this Jeep couldn&8217t claw its way out. It finally escaped by backing out the way it came in. |
Fullsizes have a major advantage when it comes to Double Whammy. Their long wheelbases keep them from hitting both ledges at once, which lets many of them to walk right up. |
Moab is the ultimate playground for off-roaders. Each year around Easter, vehicles of every description and from all over the country make the pilgrimage to southeastern Utah to take part in the Easter Jeep Safari.
What attracts so many to this one spot? First of all, the multitude of trails for all skill levels. Whether you have a super-trick tube-frame rockcrawler or are simply out sightseeing in the family stocker, you'll find a trail to keep yourself entertained. The high number of trails also helps keep crowds tame by ensuring that not everyone piles onto one trail.
If the trails are not enough to attract you, there is always the awesome beauty of Moab. The scenery alone--unique red-rock formations and spectacular vistas--is truly worth the trip.
Besides the variety of trails and bounty of scenery, Moab also provides plenty of action, which is what makes us whip out our cameras. We decided to tag along on some of the 4+ runs (the most difficult) because this is usually where we catch the wildest action. Don't worry. Not all of Moab is as difficult as what is shown in the following pictures. There are plenty of tame trails for anyone who doesn't want to have too much fun.
Check the photos and captions to share some of the fun our lenses caught at this years Safari. If you are interested in attending next years, contact the Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Dept. 4WOR, P.O. Box 1471, Moab, UT 84532.