Located down the highway just a few miles from the well-known Moab Rim Trail, Cliff Hanger was a brand new path for us throughout our October, 2001 run to Moab. We had been Jeepin’ for per week with Scott and Teresa, our “simply married” mates from Phoenix (they had been honeymooning in Moab and invited us to wheel with them). As it turned out, this path would convey us greater than we anticipated, within the type of two new Jeep mates that joined up with us as we began the path. Andy and Robert, each from central CA, had been wrapping up their Moab week as had been we. We ran Cliff Hanger with them and in addition Poison Spider Mesa. We have a standing invitation to go to them in CA. Oh, did I point out that they aren’t too removed from the Dusy-Ershim Trail? Oh yeah….I can see us stopping by to say hello….for per week!
Scott and I verify tire stress initially of the path. There is a pleasant spot on the path head to type up a hand stuffed with Jeeps for a enjoyable run. At this level, Andy and Robert had been nonetheless coming down the highway, as they’d seen us go previous the flip off they took and determined to observe us and see the place we had been headed.
The trails off to a enjoyable begin, instantly dropping you down a steep jumble of stair-step rocks. There is a bit of riff-raff filter you undergo (enjoyable to observe the stockers that had been forward of us), however with 35″ tires, we walked by way of it with no downside. It was about there that Andy and Robert caught up with us. A bit additional down the path, we stopped to eye-ball a ledge and received to speaking with them. As we had been all operating 35″ tires or higher w/ lockers, we determined we would as properly run collectively. Everyone is aware of that 4 Jeeps can get into and out of extra bother than simply two!
Here is Scott trying out a spot on the path. According to our path ebook (I had already loaded the GPS with this trails waypoints), we might have a few notable obstacles on the path. The one the ebook talked about, and for which Cliff Hanger is finest recognized, is the 4′ ledge that you simply cross whereas the path is at its narrowest part on the cliff edge (and it’s a loooooooooooonnnnnnggggg approach right down to the underside of that cliff, let me let you know).
Scott snapped an image of Lady as we went over that part he was simply trying out. Donna is protecting monitor of the passenger facet tire for me. No have to hop out and spot on this one. We can be saving that for that ledge that was ready up forward for us. The ebook mentioned it was a ledge that we might keep in mind, lengthy after the remainder of the path had pale away in our reminiscences. Hmmmm…..perhaps we must always have ran Moab Rim once more and left this path for another person! LOL
Cliff Hanger
We pushed on ahead, working our approach over ledges and rocks. We had seen harder trails earlier than, however that didn’t imply you can day dream on this one. There had been loads of locations the place a misplaced tire would imply embarrassment at least and a straightforward hi-centering of your Jeep for those who weren’t cautious. The solar was beginning to heat issues up a bit and it wasn’t too lengthy earlier than my cold-blooded co-pilot stopped shivering (boy, I positive am glad she doesn’t learn these journey reviews!).
We continued on the path and the rocks would get a bit larger once in a while. Here is Scott working his approach over one. I received him to cease lengthy sufficient to snap an image. Scott’s TJ is properly constructed. It sports activities an RE lengthy arm equipment, 6″ springs, Tera 4:1 and 2LO, and a half dozen different issues that I’m not going to listing right here. Trust me to say that his journey is a most succesful one and Scott is an effective driver (and spotter). We’ve performed a good variety of AZ trails collectively and this was his first Moab go to, so he was actually entering into the slick rock traction (and having fun with each minute of it).
While we labored our approach alongside the path, we had an opportunity to speak with Andy and Robert. Both had been driving CJ-7s that had been transformed to EFI. Andy’s mild blue CJ was operating on 35″ tires and pushed together with a Tera 4:1 and a NV4500 tranny. Robert was operating on 39.5″x17″ Swampers with D44 axles entrance and rear and the identical t-case and tranny setup that Andy had. Both ran ARB air lockers.
We made it to the primary impediment and all received out to test it out. We spent a very good period of time strolling up and down it, trying on the traces that may be performed. We rapidly seen the varied colours of paint on the underside of a rock shelf and realized that it most probably the outcomes of careless Jeepers who weren’t watching the place the hood went as soon as the tires began climbing the rocks. (make notice to self….don’t attempt that line!)
Scott was subsequent over the ledges. He was certain and decided to make it up that first line that I didn’t…and by golly, he did (though I did toss a few rocks below that proper rear tire of his). We discovered that an awesome massive rock was ready for his entrance diff simply after he received his again tires up on the primary ledge. Talk about no room to maneuver…..geez, I’ve seen the inside of a telephone sales space that had more room than this ledge did. Scott managed a bit of 7 level flip (backwards and forwards about 3″ every time) and we lastly received his driver facet tire up on prime of that nasty diff catcher. From there, it was just about a straight line to the highest of the impediment. He labored his approach over the remaining ledges and was quickly on the prime.
Here is Robert, nearly to the highest of the ledges. At this level, he had not let a lot air out of his Swampers (he was at about 16 psi). He had tried the identical line I had and didn’t make it both (so I didn’t really feel too unhealthy primarily based on the variations in our tire top and clearance). With his ARBs turned on, he sat together with his entrance tires up on the primary ledge, slowly digging in his again tires. Later on within the day, he dropped them right down to about 6 psi, earlier than we headed again over THE ledge (oh yeah, we haven’t go to that but on this a part of the journey report).
Here is Robert recognizing Andy up and over the rocks on the identical impediment. These pics (as all the time) don’t do the rocks justice. You actually lose the depth of the impediment with these very flat images. Oh properly, perhaps they are going to make a digital 3D digital camera a while quickly that we mod-poor Jeepers can afford! Then you’ll be able to take a digital Jeep tour with out leaving your keyboard!
Cliff Hanger
According to our path ebook, and my GPS, we had been getting fairly darn near that ledge they saved referencing….that massive 4′ tall ledge on the narrowest a part of the path. I used to be starting to have my doubts about this journey. What occurs if the outboard tire slips over the sting….bye, bye Lady (and me too most probably). How massive is a 4′ ledge when you find yourself attempting to crawl over it with out falling to your demise? Oh boy, perhaps I ought to get Scott to go first (NOT).
In a short while, we made it to the ledge that the path ebook was speaking about. This was the view out of the driving force facet window. A few ft to spare earlier than you dropped many hundred ft to the valley ground. Those are HUGE washes within the image….sure, those that appear like wrinkles on the crimson dust. I’ve seen pics of trails with much less clearance, however this one was the tightest one I had been on.
We hopped out and scoped out the ledge. Going down wasn’t going to be too unhealthy. We needed to look ahead to a attainable excessive middle on the entrance axle, however that was principally it, as soon as we received an opportunity to look it throughout. Climbing up….properly, we determined proper then and there that Robert and his BIG tires can be the primary particular person to return up. Like I advised him, “I paid good cash for my Warn winch and if I used to be going to make use of it, I needed to tie off to his rear bumper!”
Here is one other image, taken from on prime of the ledge. I’m standing half approach down it (white t-shirt). Teresa is watching off from the left facet as the remainder of us focus on tire placement, what was going to catch the rear bumper, and so on. As you’ll be able to see, the trial is fairly slender hear and you’ve got the cliff wall on the passenger facet. Luckily, it was not too off camber so the probabilities of placing our sheet metallic into the rocks was enormously lowered.
Cliff Hanger
With Scott recognizing me, I hoped into Lady and began down over the ledge. It went higher than I hoped, and I managed to squeak by the entrance diff hanger half with however just a few millimeters to spare. By now, some mountain bikers had caught up with us. They parked their bikes and climbed up on the rocks to see the 15 minute present as all of us proceeded down the ledge. It is humorous…..each time I see them using their bikes over these items, I’m very impressed with their skills to maintain it on each tires (more often than not). But, once we cease and discuss with them, they’re fully amazed at what we crawl our Jeeps over. We don’t suppose that a lot of it, they usually suppose it’s so cool that we will creep over these items and are available out good and clear prefer it was a stroll within the park.
I’m simply clearing the rest of the rocks on the finish of this impediment. I used to be off the ledge some 10’+ in the past, however you continue to have to observe your self as you crawl over the remainder of the rocks. Many of them will catch the diffs, even when operating 35″ tires, so tire placement is until vital right here, except you need to get the HI-Lift jack out and have a rock stacking occasion! As you’ll be able to see within the above pic, I simply cleared a rock with my left entrance tire that’s virtually touching my rocker guards.
We lastly made it to the tip of the path (it’s a lifeless ender so that you exit the best way you got here in). As you’ll be able to see, we’re just about on prime of the world right here. The valley, with the Colorado River operating by way of it, is definitely accessible by my backing up about 5′ and falling off this mesa (all the best way to the valley ground….DOH!) It was lunch time and all of us piled out to stretch our legs, benefit from the surroundings, and seize one thing to eat.
The journey again was performed in reverse order. As we had promised, Scott and I made Robert go first (new path chief for the return leg) so he may sort out the ledge together with his larger rig. We all made it over the ledge with out even slipping a tire. In face, Scott hopped out and noticed for his spouse so she may have the fun of climbing that massive ledge. She did a very good job and all of us agreed that she deserved a Cliff Hanger t-shirt from the native t-shirt store in down city Moab. (excellent spot…..you gotta go there when you find yourself in Moab)
So, we cleared the ledge and had been in search of a lifeless finish flip off that went over to a pleasant overlook of Moab. We got here to rock ledge on the path and Andy determined to take the laborious line over it. Well, he received his t-case skid completely held on the rock. Not sufficient traction with both set of tires (entrance or rear) to get him off the skid, so Robert needed to put a tow strap on him and provides him a bit of jerk. We all received a fairly good snort out of it. After all the things we had been by way of that day, Andy will get caught on a ledge in the course of NO impediment!
We made it again to the primary main impediment we did and everybody made it again down simply wonderful. The line I used coming down this impediment was the road I couldn’t make attempting to go up it. Here is Scott working his approach down the rocks. He went down the best way I got here up and I went down the best way he got here up (does that make sense?)
At this level, we’re nearly again to the path head. We are working our approach right down to the creek crossing (you’ll be able to inform there may be water within the space as a result of there are GREEN bushes round). Even this a part of the path was fairly steep, as you’ll be able to see (and really good surroundings too).
After everybody cleared the creek and climbed the stair steps again as much as the path head, we headed again to city. After a fast cleanup (us, not the Jeeps), we headed off to a restaurant for some dinner, a few chilly ones, and a few good firm. We received to fulfill Robert’s and Andy’s wifes and spent a pleasant night collectively. I can’t consider a greater approach to wrap up an awesome path run.
