It began with a thread on the Trail Rides, Meeting, & Events discussion board at JeepsUnlimited.com. It ended with Jeepers from all around the US getting collectively to make the 4th Annual JeepsLimitless Moab Run a actuality in the course of the week of April 18-24. The planning levels for 4AJUMR began in mid-2003 when Josh Bingham introduced that he can be unable to coordinate the 2004 gathering at Moab. After a fast dialogue with my spouse Donna, we determined to tackle the coordination duties and 4AJUMR was on its means. About 550 thread responses later, 50+ Jeepers had indicated they’d be becoming a member of their associates in Moab. Just below 40 made it to Moab (if my rely was correct). To people who didn’t make it, you missed some nice path rides and a brilliant pot luck dinner on Wednesday evening on the native Lion’s Club Park.
Before I get into placing up some pics of the path rides I did, I need to thank the entire collaborating distributors who took the time to answer my e-mail requests for raffle prizes. These prizes had been raffled off after our pot luck dinner on Wednesday night. Every grownup acquired a ticket and as a ticket was drawn, the winner was in a position to decide from any of the remaining prizes. We figured this was the easiest way to do the drawing because it allowed the individual to pick one thing that they needed and helped get rid of them receiving an merchandise that they might not use or already had put in on their Jeep.
I need to thank the next corporations/distributors and people that contributed objects for the raffle drawing. The donations you equipped spanned fairly a variety of things. There had been a whole lot of smiling Jeepers, because of you, and I’m certain they are going to be telling their associates about your generosity. I’m certain they may proceed to refer enterprise to you within the years to return. Thanks once more in your help of 4AJUMR!
4 Wheelers Supply
4x4GroupBuy.com
Applied Innovative Technologies
DPG Offroad
Donna Olson
Kent Warner
Kilby Enterprises
Kwan Motor Systems
Raingler.com
Supplee 4WD
Teraflex
Tom Wood Custom Drive Shaft
Tough Stuff Products
Toys by Troy
Tuffy Products
Warn Industries
Here are some photos from the pot luck dinner/raffle.
Some of the Jeeps parked on the fringe of the picnic space. We had all the park to ourselves, which was good. About quarter-hour earlier than we had been able to wrap up, the wind picked up and we had been launched to the start of the storm entrance that was pushing by means of the world. LOTS of wind to say the least…..after which got here the rain.
One of a number of tables that was coated with loads of meals. I didn’t get round to sampling almost as a lot of it as I hoped to do. Oh nicely, perhaps subsequent 12 months!
We positioned the assorted raffle contributions on high of the desk and I used the bench to rearrange the present certificates envelopes. We had somewhat little bit of every part within the combine, together with such objects as air tanks, TJ sport bar, no-battery flashlights, seize handles, shirts, caps, paint protectors, oil spill absorption mats, beef jerky, license plate holders, and lots of different objects. Some of the present certificates had been for particular objects, comparable to fast disconnects, whereas others could possibly be redeemed for any merchandise carried by the seller (as much as the $$ quantity of the certificates).
OK…every part is setup and able to go. Everyone had just about had there fill of the great meals that each one delivered to share. Once Mike handed out the raffle tickets, we had been able to go.
As a ticket was drawn, the fortunate winner got here up and picked an merchandise from the desk. The smiles had been fairly BIG when she or he obtained precisely what they had been hoping for. I do know Mike obtained one of many air tanks (he had a model new Extreme Air compressor ready at house to get put in) and Trina was fairly excited when she picked up a present certificates for a pair of fast disconnects. Hers had been actually on their final leg!
Once once more, a BIG thanks goes out to these distributors and people that helped with the raffle prizes. You made for some fairly pleased Jeepers!
Moab 2004
For people who attended 4AJUMR, you already know that Donna (my spouse) was not in a position to attend this 12 months. She intends to be at 5AJUMR! I need to thank her for the effort and time she put forth in serving to get this 12 months’s flags prepared. She discovered some mild weight netting that will not trigger your antenna to fold in half at freeway speeds. She made me a beta take a look at flag and I attempted it round Phoenix for a few weeks earlier than she began making the remaining. It even survived the 9 hour drive house to Phoenix from Moab and appears none the worsen for it! I noticed some feedback from a few different Jeepers and one talked about it survived the 800+ mile journey again to his house. The better part was that we didn’t have to fret about whose Jeep was going to be within the graphic….the best way I see it, everybody’s Jeep made the flag this 12 months!
Five of us left the Phoenix space early on Saturday morning, headed for Moab and a bunch of enjoyable. We stopped in Kayenta for lunch. We had been getting the good thing about a 30 MPH tail wind throughout many of the Navajo Nation….sufficient in order that our gasoline tank refill confirmed a number of of us getting 20+ MPG! However, the sturdy winds additionally brought about one heck of a sand storm on the reservation too. As seen above, the sand is beginning to decide on the freeway and visibility at instances was fairly unhealthy. It can also be a bit breezy as we journey by means of northern Arizona, however this time it was a LOT breezy!
A visit to Moab simply wouldn’t be full and not using a run on Cliff Hanger. MikeW snapped a pic of me as I used to be rounding the nook, heading for the ledge.
Another image taken on Cliff Hanger. We are coming back from the great lunch we had on the overlook. A small group of mountain bikers stopped to observe us climb the ledge. I’m not certain in the event that they thought we might make it or not. But once we completed, one in all them gave us a giant wave as they headed off to the overlook.
Everyone is aware of that the wheelin’ in Moab is fairly good, however there’s extra there than simply the slick rock and ledges. Spring had apparently sprung and issues (don’t ask me what type they’re) had been blooming. With the stitching that Donna does, she all the time enjoys getting close-up pics of flowers and such to make use of in her designs.
Moab 2004
There is a “candy” spot on the finish of the Wedgie impediment on Poison Spider Mesa. I didn’t have a lot luck getting of us into it apart from Mike. He was close to the top of the road and we had found all of the spots that will not give any air. When Mike got here by means of, he obtained his entrance find yourself a bit and I obtained to trip it again all the way down to landing.
Ernie, who was at 3AJUMR, got here up with us once more to have some enjoyable. This 12 months, he left his YJ with 358K miles (sure, that’s appropriate, 358,000 miles) at house and introduced his Jeep Commanche. He has a protracted arm equipment within the entrance and leaf springs within the rear, with lockers at each ends and a 32″ Swamper sort tire. Ernie picked up only one small ding within the rocker panel throughout his week at Moab. Not too unhealthy for a protracted wheel base Jeep!
During Wednesday evening and all day Thursday, we obtained some climate. We opted to cross on Thursday’s try at Moab Rim and headed as much as Top of the World. The path places you at a 7000′ excessive overlook on the cliff’s edge. At about 6300′, the rain turned to snow which gave me my first expertise on snow coated slick rock. I discovered that it actually does get fairly slick as soon as the snow is added….far more so than when it’s simply moist. Of course, the mud wasn’t serving to issues both.
Some of the oldsters had been working with bikini tops. With the air temp chilly sufficient to help snow, I’m considering a few them had been a bit chilly, though they did have some fairly heavy jackets on.
You all the time should do a mirror shot….you understand, utilizing the mirror to get a fast pic of the oldsters behind you. So right here it’s….the compulsory mirror image.
Here are a number of Jeeps from the group of 14 that went on the Poison Spider Mesa run. We ran the whole loop after which took a brief detour on the Golden Spike path so a few of the of us may play on Launch Pad.
Moab 2004
MikeW slips down the ledge on Cliff Hanger. Our new buddy from Montana, Larry, broke a pinion strap bolt on his rear drive shaft which left him sitting proper on the creek crossing. He rode shotgun with me on the rest of the path and once we returned, we needed to winch and strap his TJ as much as the street. It all went very nicely and we had him to the highest of the hill with out an excessive amount of effort. One factor I discovered was that having two Jeeps as winch anchors works a lot better than only one!
MikeW took this one out of his entrance window whereas I labored my means up the final couple of ledges close to the highest of Rose Garden Hill. We ran that path on Friday….a little bit of enjoyable on the hill with the earlier evening’s rain however everybody did nicely in attending to the highest. Donna and I ran this final 12 months as our final path for 3AJUMR and loved it. Once on the high of the hill, you have got a pleasant view of Cottonwood Canyon whereas the path goes alongside the sting of the cliffs.
TimD obtained fairly flexed up as we got here down the Wedgie from the highest of Poison Spider Mesa. Next 12 months, we’ll work on getting the rear axle down within the crack a bit extra so we will get extra flex!
A pleasant row of Jeeps are dropping air strain at the beginning of the week on Sunday’s Fins & Things path run. Fins & Things is a superb path to check out in case you are new to Moab and need to get an concept of simply how steep the slickrock climbs and descents can actually get. There is a ledge or two to climb (and drop off) and a few good views too. All in all, it’s form of a Moab Sample Platter.
Another one in all me going up one of many slickrock climbs. I believe this one was on Fins & Things however I’m not sure. You know what they are saying….”If you’ve seen one slick rock fin, you’ve seen all of them”.
Moab 2004
OK, so I needed to squeeze in one other pic of the native Moab desert blossoms. This one was on high of a cactus that was actually stepping into the spring factor. At full decision, the image may be very neat wanting.
This is usually how the path runs begin….a dialogue of what’s taking place and a few web page flipping by means of the Well’s path information e book. You discover a group of parents you might be snug with and are prepared to run a path that each one may have enjoyable on….and when that’s all lined up, decide a CB channel, hop within the Jeeps, and head off for a enjoyable crammed day.
I consider my new discovered Jeepin’ buddy, Jay, was the smallest Jeeper at 4AJUMR. For being simply 4 years outdated, he did fairly darn good on the path. His dad, T.Dome and his grandpa, Dome, drove down from Washington state to hitch within the week’s festivities. Jay is one rock chucking little Jeeper. I’m considering he must drive a bull dozer or one thing like that when he will get greater!
Da Judge (aka., Al) took me to the highest of Launch Pad after which again down. I’ve by no means been on Launch Pad as a passenger. Pretty cool….provides you all types of time to gaze on the native surroundings on the best way up and when you’re coming down, you may even cease and get a number of issues off your chest, in case you are so inclined. Pretty cool!
Well of us, that’s about it. I needed to thank everybody that helped make 4AJUMR what it was….a good time to wheel along with family and friends. I hope these of you that couldn’t make it this 12 months will have the ability to catch 5AJUMR. I’ve no concept who’s going to be coordinating it, however I’m wanting ahead to hitting Moab once more! How could days until 5AJUMR?
