- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
We had a very capable and fun group for Saturdays Hanging Tree Trail run, 6 capable rigs with very skilled drivers.... and it still pushed our groups abilities! Along for the trip was @Bart in his CJ, Jared in his YJ, @UPNO4 (Matt) in his LJ, Derrick in his LJ, and @Pile of parts in his CJ. I was leading the group in my TJ.
Driving into the canyon, we noticed that there has been a massive amount of water running down the canyon and so much material washed into and out of the narrow little wash. Right off the bat it was very washed out, with a 4' drop next to the trail. As we headed into the start, the massive rocks were rolling around under us and much of the small rock had been washed out around them, making the trail way more challenging than I've ever seen it. There were no tire tracks before ours, so it felt like we were breaking a new trail after all the changes!
We picked our way thru the lower portion of the trail, with certain obstacles completely changed and almost unrecognizable from past trips. We had to be pretty cautious and do a bit more spotting than usual, but the challenge was welcome and we all were having a good time. Making progress thru all the different challenges often required spotting and I was struggling up front. There were many loose boulders that rolled under my TJ, lots of deep washouts to be navigated and even several spots where big trees were blocking or covering the trail.
We had plans to take lunch around Noon, but shortly before that time the skies darkened. We were over half way into the trail and it started raining.... lightly at first, then it changed into a massive downpour. The forecast for the day mentioned storms in the afternoon, but it was early!! We got drenched, the trail got slick and muddy in no time at all! Luckily the rain only lasted about 20 minutes, then it cleared out and we had blue skies again. The water running down the canyon picked up, but it wasn't quite a flash flood... like a previous trip. During the peak of the rain, Bart was negotiating a very washed out dirt V-notch and it got slick and nasty... his rear axle slid into the bottom and he was very sideways. We winched him back semi-level in the middle of the rain storm with Jared's YJ and got him out of the sticky situation. Getting everyone past this point took some very careful spotting.
We decided to eat lunch on the go and get off the trail before the rain returned. The rest of the trail was more challenging than usual, the dirt (now mud) and large boulders made for maintaining traction and forward progress much more difficult.
Driving into the canyon, we noticed that there has been a massive amount of water running down the canyon and so much material washed into and out of the narrow little wash. Right off the bat it was very washed out, with a 4' drop next to the trail. As we headed into the start, the massive rocks were rolling around under us and much of the small rock had been washed out around them, making the trail way more challenging than I've ever seen it. There were no tire tracks before ours, so it felt like we were breaking a new trail after all the changes!
We picked our way thru the lower portion of the trail, with certain obstacles completely changed and almost unrecognizable from past trips. We had to be pretty cautious and do a bit more spotting than usual, but the challenge was welcome and we all were having a good time. Making progress thru all the different challenges often required spotting and I was struggling up front. There were many loose boulders that rolled under my TJ, lots of deep washouts to be navigated and even several spots where big trees were blocking or covering the trail.
We had plans to take lunch around Noon, but shortly before that time the skies darkened. We were over half way into the trail and it started raining.... lightly at first, then it changed into a massive downpour. The forecast for the day mentioned storms in the afternoon, but it was early!! We got drenched, the trail got slick and muddy in no time at all! Luckily the rain only lasted about 20 minutes, then it cleared out and we had blue skies again. The water running down the canyon picked up, but it wasn't quite a flash flood... like a previous trip. During the peak of the rain, Bart was negotiating a very washed out dirt V-notch and it got slick and nasty... his rear axle slid into the bottom and he was very sideways. We winched him back semi-level in the middle of the rain storm with Jared's YJ and got him out of the sticky situation. Getting everyone past this point took some very careful spotting.
We decided to eat lunch on the go and get off the trail before the rain returned. The rest of the trail was more challenging than usual, the dirt (now mud) and large boulders made for maintaining traction and forward progress much more difficult.
