Trails: Hell's Revenge

Hell's Revenge (10/02)

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.

Lining up at the entrance to Sand Flats Rec. Area--Dump Bump is in the foreground

Looking back at the slot above Dump Bump

A good long slickrock climb

On the way to the overlook

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.

At the overlook--view is north and east up the Colorado River

Sean Rose and Beezil's lightly modified XJ's

Me headed down into Hell's Gate

Another view of the descent

Looking up at Hell's Gate

Beezil getting too far into the wall

Beezil getting up and out

Steep climb--follow the tire tracks

Me starting up

Half way up

Getting close to the last ledge--this is a tough spot

A little air under the front pass. side tire

Nice view from above, looking down into Hell's Gate

Erik getting out

Another shot from below

Going up Hell's Gate was frankly pretty scary. The route straddles a deep notch but isn't just a straight shot up--it winds back and forth with a couple of holes and a good sized ledge right near the top which requires taking a very careful line. The idea is to just follow the tire tracks up, straddling the notch. If you get too far off line, you slide into the notch and probably really mess up the sheet metal on the pass. side (or you could roll all the way to the bottom--we heard stories of a woman in a TJ taking the last ledge too far to the left and going all the way to the bottom on her lid!) The last ledge was a spot for a little drama for some drivers, who had to back up (a lot of fun!) or got too much air under the front and needed some extra weight on the front bumper to keep the Jeep level as it climbed out. I made it up no problem, but like I say, it was a little hairy. Not sure I will ever need to do that one again!

Bones, I think

MJ Dan straddles the v-notch

Can't remember who this was, but he got way off the line

Terry Klap, slightly off the suggested line

Jeff hops on the bumper for some ballast up front

Another shot of Jeff's acrobatics

Terry getting big air on the way out!

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

Nothing but slickrock

Jeff spots, Grant looks on

Beezil trying to get out

Brian gets a strap after breaking a driveshaft u-joint

XJ's lined up below the hot tub

Another view of the same

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.

Sean Rose starts up Escalator

Getting the rear tire stuck in a very deep hole

Looking back at Escalator from below

Stuck

Getting winched out of the hole

Sean P. tries a different line

Oops, laid it on it's side--twice in two days is pretty ambitious!

Hagen spotting Sean P. out the top

Another shot of Sean P.

Sean Rose hooked to two winch cables after blowing a tire off the bead

Coming up...

...and out

Borton makes it look pretty easy

Me on the way up Tip Over Challenge

Looking back down Tip Over

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!