Trail Reports

X-cursions

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I don't know why but I can never tear myself away from the great outdoors, I guess I've spent so much outside that I need to get away from the city at least every two weeks. It's like an addiction, if I don't get out I start to get depressed and moody. Anyway this is the place for all the pictures of trips and outings I've been on, I can't post all the pictures I've taken but the best will be here. While you're browsing the galleries I recommend hitting F11 to expand the browser to fit all of the picture onscreen.

(All Routes, Waypoints, and Maps are to be used for personal use only. If your computer mistakes the files for media files right-click and select save target as.)

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MOAB Pictures The greatest place in the world.

There are so many pictures of Moab they need their own page. If you've never been here you need to make the trip at least once, you never know 4-wheeling till you've been here. It's unlike anything else, even if you're a veteran 4-wheeler anywhere else you'll be a beginner as soon as you start a trail here, it's a completely different type of terrain.

And if you've never been here before start off easy, you shouldn't feel you've got something to prove when you arrive, it you do you'll probably be one of the people who breaks something or worse. You need to get a feel for the terrain before you try anything hard or you'll struggle up something that shouldn't be a challenge, and when you struggle its hard not to get annoyed and get frustrated.

Click here for GPS Route

San Rafael Swell (Feb 2004) Central Utah 4-wheeling.

UXOC has a trip scheduled at least once a month. February was it trip to Salina and the San Rafael Swell over Valentine weekend. I wasn't able to make it for Salina but I left early in the morning to catch up with everybody to go down the San Rafael Swell.

The trail started out easy but a side trip down Black Dragon Wash had a little more excitement. The trails are in the "Big Book" 4WD Adventures Utah, Buckhorn Wash (trail 1), Swasey's Leap (trail 2), and Black Dragon Wash (trail 3). We did Buckhorn Wash, the first part of Swasey's Leap, and the southern leg of the Black Dragon Wash all the way to I-70. The Big Book says that the end of Black Dragon Wash is too tough for stock vehicles. It's not as hard as they let on but it's tough enough that you should have some experience or somebody to help you thorough.

Click here for GPS Route

Pony Express (Jan 2004) UXOC recreates the first group trail run we ever did.

This time there were 3 times as many vehicles, and the trail was half covered in snow. It's not a hard trail by any means, but it goes through some interesting and scenic areas. The trail follows the old Pony Express route between two Air Force Testing Grounds. Ruins of the old Pony Express stations still exist at most areas and the ones that have been wiped clean have a marker to tell what was once there. 2/3rds of the way through you come to a Wetland preserve in the middle of the desert; it's quite a shock to find so much life in the middle of what Utahn's call the "West Desert". Alot of birds can be seen including many endangered species. There aren't any services along the trail so be sure to pack a few gas cans with you just incase, luckily the trail is pretty well traveled so if you break down help will likely come by within a day or two. But be prepared anyway.

Uintas My favorite place to make a quick day trip.

I go into the Uintas alot for some mountain wheeling since they're only an hour away an all the trails are relatively tame. I'm familiar enough with the area that I usually go alone I just make sure to tell people where I'm going and that I'll be home before 10:00. These are just miscellaneous pictures of the area in no order or date.

Alot of the trails are 2WD but the mountains are so beautiful that the trails don't need to be really hard for you to enjoy yourself. I've also done alot of Geocaching in the area; it's a great way to find new and hidden areas of the mountains.

Gathering of Xterras 3 (September 2002) Like Camp Jeep but with Xterras and $500 cheaper.

My second time to GOX, I had done all the trails except Poughkeepsie Gulch so I spent most of the trip running trails on my own and exploring the San Juans. Midway through the week I ran Poughkeepsie so I decided to hit as many other trails in the area as I could. I spent alot of time down by Silverton exploring old mines in the area, and Kendal Mountain.
But trails aren't where the most fun is. As soon as everybody gets back into town everybody shares the days stories at the social events. Usually everybody keeps from drinking too much, you need to be ready for the trails the next day.

Kansas City Road Trip (July 2002) Getting stuck alone hundreds of miles from home.

While I was in Kansas City for a VICA competition I spent alot of my free time exploring the area. They gave us the option of taking a plane or deriving and having the plane ticket cost reimbursed for gas money. Since I love road trips I decided to take the Xterra and explore on my own. Others were stuck at the hotel while I took in the sights. While driving around I stopped at a place they called "Space Mountain". At the top of the hill the road went right into the side in a tunnel that was easily 25ft wide and 15ft tall, and was surrounded by cameras. I had the sudden feeling I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be but my curiosity was too strong so I pulled into a parking lot and asked the first people I saw what this place was. It had been a limestone mine that was now being sold out lot by lot as underground storage. I found out it was perfectly fine for my to drive on through to the back so I drove through nearly 1/4 mile of underground caverns, passing a mirror shined metal door that lead to the US immigration records storage.

Turns out I'd be coming across more limestone caves later on...

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