Easter Jeep
Safari:
How to do Moab During Spring Break
by Bill Burke
 Part
I: How to Get
There...
It's likened to Sturgis or
Daytona or, for that matter, Fort Lauderdale. It's a
4-wheelers' dream. Like a kid in a candy store, I wandered
the streets and the vendor midway at the Spanish Trail Arena
gazing in awe and some jealousy at all the rigs. All sorts
of rigs, from butt ugly to stock to highly modified and show
type, small Suzukis to Unimogs and Hummers were there in
mass.
This is Moab--the
4-wheeling Mecca, the magnanimous magnet that attracts
thousands of 'wheelers every spring to see the arches,
bridges, spires, fins and, of course, the trails. This is
the Easter Jeep Safari!
Each year at Easter, the
Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc. and the Moab Chamber of Commerce
do a really great job to bring about the biggest 4-wheel
drive fest in the world! This year there were approximately
1600 registered vehicles and at least another (so it seemed)
500 vehicles just hanging on! What's the attraction for this
special event?
To find out, I sent for a
registration packet and received the newspaper that
explained the simple procedure for getting signed up for
trails I wanted to do. I filled out the registration form to
the letter, signed it and sent it off with my check because
I didn't want it to be returned, which would have kept me
out of the lottery for my requested trails.
Around mid-February I
received my assigned trail confirmation sheet. I made the
mistake of just glancing at the sheet, though, instead of
actually reading it, saw it had the three trails I selected
and didn't give it another thought! Lo and behold (obviously
I wasn't a member of Mensa!), the days for two of the trails
I wanted were reversed from my notes. I showed up on
Wednesday for a trail I was scheduled for on Friday! Duh! I
then had to rush through town to get to the assigned
trailhead for my first run.
The impressive logistics
that the Red Rock 4-Wheelers perform would make any military
unit proud. I showed up early at the registration table
(lucky for me due to my faux pax) and was greeted by a
friendly and efficient group of Red Rock volunteers. They
walked me through the registration effortlessly, gave me my
packet of information about the area, told me about the MUD
fund and sent me on my way.
The packet contained lots
of goodies and a ton of information about Southeast Utah.
Inside was a garbage bag sponsored by all the land agencies
and groups affected by off-highway vehicle use. It's good to
see a combined effort on the land managers part to help
promote safe and environmentally sound vehicle operation on
public lands.
Included were small
brochures about impact practices, using undeveloped
campsites, Utah's Canyonlands, lodging guide, tour and
recreation guide, a Moab Chamber area map, a coupon for a
t-shirt imprint, a flag for my antenna, and a dash
plaque.
Also included was a
"tattletale" card to report (confidentially) on anyone seen
abusing the land, CB or littering. They will then be taken
off the list for subsequent mailings. A nice system. I
didn't use the card, as everyone I encountered had good
trail manners.
The packet gave me lots of
insight to the historic, geologic and recreational
significance of the Moab area.
Since I lead guided trips
and offer private instruction several times a year in Moab,
I'm very familiar with the area. I wanted to sign up with
the Red Rock 4-Wheelers to show my support for the sport,
for their cause, and to have a "busperson's" holiday. Plus,
it's a great time to check out all the rigs and see what
suspension, tire, body, winch, lights and other extra
goodies people put on their rigs--some good ideas, and some
bad ideas! Every type and combination of aftermarket
accessory is in use.
The manufacturers' midway
outside and inside the Spanish Trail Arena is full of
equipment and specialty items that can be utilized for a
rig. Several tire companies had demo tires set up on various
wheels for people to try out on the trail. They install a
set of tires and let participants run them for two days. The
users could then buy them in town at Chip's Grand Tire
Company. There were demonstrations of trailers, axles,
swaybar disconnects, lockers, suspensions, custom tops,
welders, air compressor systems, winches, body lifts,
4X4NOW
Internet services, Tuffy security products, plus various
parts warehouse dealers were there.
Whether new to the sport
of recreational 4-wheeling or a hard core rock crawler,
there is something for everyone to see and do. The Friday
night Boy Scout BBQ and raffle is THE party to attend. On
"Big Saturday," Moab closes the highway on Main Street to
let the trail leaders head out.
The parade is a sight to
see--1600 rigs heading out within about a half-hour's
time.
Some 31 trails leave out
of Moab, that's right, 31--at least 6 to 27 are offered each
day. Everyone meets at the prescribed place in town defined
by which trails have been chosen. They check in with the
trail leader and find a place in the line-up. With some
trails having a vehicle limit of 15 and some a limit of 60
(YES - 60!), get to the meeting place early. Of course, me
being a dork, on the first day (see above), my buddy Gus and
I ate a lot of dust.
I decided which trails to
run based on my skill level and vehicle set-up. The trail
descriptions and ratings are explained thoroughly in the
newspaper I received in the mail. I selected two 3+ trails
and one 3 rated trail. I knew from past experience the 4 and
4+ rated trails would not allow me a chance to relax in
between challenge sections. The trails I chose gave me
enough challenge, yet allowed me to absorb the spectacular
scenery that draws 4-wheelers to southeastern
Utah.
Join me for Part II when
I'll discuss how to prep your rig, including some Moab
driving tricks!
Don't be a
stick-in-the-mud!
©Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America LLC
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