Hell's Revenge is one of my favorite trails in Moab because
I really love climbing steep slickrock, and there's not much else
on this trail but steep slickrock. Jeff
led this all-XJ run, or at least the half of the group who wanted
to try the tougher obstacles. All combined, we had something like
47 Cherokees up on Hell's Revenge, a pretty awesome sight to see
them all winding around on the sandstone like little insects.
After a series of steep climbs and descents (many where you have
to pay close attention to marks on the rock so you line up right
for going down) we wound up at the overlook near Hell's Gate.
The view from this spot looking up the Colorado is typical Moab
spectacular, and it was clear enough to see the nearby mountains
just over the Colorado border to the east.
The usual suspects, City Market,
8:00 a.m.
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Lining up at the entrance to Sand
Flats Rec. Area--Dump Bump is in the foreground
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Looking back at the slot above Dump
Bump
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A good long slickrock climb
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On the way to the overlook
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After checking out the view, the next challenge was getting down
a very steep v-notch into the bottom of the canyon to line up
for Hell's Gate (an even steeper v-notch, only up instead of down).
The ride down is pretty straightforward, though there is one pretty
big hole with a turn after it at the top that gets your adrenaline
going.
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Terry getting big air on the way
out!
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After Hell's Gate, we headed up to the hot tub. This was the
only obstacle I think I bailed on--just didn't like the looks
of it. One of those obstacles where you have to line it up,
give it a bunch of gas, and just when you think you're going
to roll over backwards and you want to hit the brakes, you give
it even more gas! Most of those in our group made it out, a
few needed a strap. Only one guy broke, and that was just a
driveline u-joint. A jackass in a sandrail put on a good show
after we were done and completely flipped it upside down--too
light in the front.
On the way to Mickey's Hot Tub
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Nothing but slickrock
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Jeff spots, Grant looks on
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Beezil trying to get out
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Brian gets a strap after breaking
a driveshaft u-joint
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XJ's lined up below the hot tub
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Another view of the same
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The final tough obstacle is called Escalator, and only three
from our group made an attempt. Two already had lots of body damage
(and probably got a little more in the process) and the third
made it up without much problem. This is a tough thing to climb
because ther is one very deep hole filled with sand and water
that wants to suck the whole Jeep into. You have to take a very
tippy line in order to get the rear tire clear. It was fun watching
Sean, Sean, and Borton play on Escalator, but glad it wasn't me.
At the very end of the trail is a short off-camber climb called
Tip-Over Challenge. This thing was pretty easy, but a real bitch
if you're not locked front and rear. Hagen did a gonzo job of
piloting his rental up the far right side, great driving as usual.
Once past TOC, it's out through a narrow alley lined with off-camber
rocks and a lot of chances to mess up the paint. I leaned into
the rock just barely but managed to squeeze out without any damage.
This trail is a blast, and the cool part is that most of it can
be done in a nearly stock XJ, except for the toguhest obstacles
(which have bypasses)--thanks again to Jeff for leading!