Pritchett Canyon

1995zj

I'm addicted
Location
Herriman, UT
Bart and I passed you just below Axle Hill on Friday but I couldn't get your attention and we were bombing down the trail so I could get to the U4 booth

Dang too bad I missed ya. That must've been right before I blew up my rear-end on Rock Pile :ugh:



A Memorial clean-up should work for me!
 

drtsqrl

I luv Pritchett
Location
Moab
I would love to come out on a day over memorial weekend and help organize a work party and do some repairs. The more people we have the quicker it could go and we could have a great time too.

If that's a realistic time frame let us know!

Thanks, Shane (and everyone else too!). Our next work project will probably be to repair the fence at Chewy... add a bunch more fence posts and string a second cable. If we get our drill back by Memorial Day weekend, I would certainly be up for doing the repairs on Sunday the 24th. If we don't get the drill, I'd still be up for a Pritchett run that day anyway. Right now I'm also waiting for a chromo D44 stub shaft that is on backorder, so if it doesn't come in, I'll have to hitch a ride with someone.
 

CJ Matt

Registered User
I am with a group that was planning on running Pritchet and Behind the Rocks on Sunday. Maybe we could help out. I hate to volunteer others but I would be willing to help. I have been wanting to get more involved with things like this but I always seem to be gone (military).
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
I wonder if a different type of sign would help.

Something that says "Fence Built and Placed by 4-Wheelers for 4-Wheelers. Help keep our Trails Open, STAY ON THE TRAIL!"

Maybe people would be less likely to remove them and more likely to respect them? I don't understand why they are being messed up like that.
 

crazyyo

Active Member
Location
slc
i was there mid week after ejs fence was part in tacked the pole was broken but the wire was not cut ..... one thing that might help (@chewy) would be another winch point one of the guys in our group nearly pulled himself on his side just a thought
 

1995zj

I'm addicted
Location
Herriman, UT
I wonder if a different type of sign would help.

Something that says "Fence Built and Placed by 4-Wheelers for 4-Wheelers. Help keep our Trails Open, STAY ON THE TRAIL!"

Maybe people would be less likely to remove them and more likely to respect them? I don't understand why they are being messed up like that.

I really like this idea, I bet it would help out
 

1993yj

.
Location
Salt Lake
I wonder if a different type of sign would help.

Something that says "Fence Built and Placed by 4-Wheelers for 4-Wheelers. Help keep our Trails Open, STAY ON THE TRAIL!"

Maybe people would be less likely to remove them and more likely to respect them? I don't understand why they are being messed up like that.

Maybe signs like this need to become the norm. We could even have a statement at the bottom about how people who run trails that are posted as closed are ruining the sport for EVERYONE.

Don't know if it will work, but at this point anything is worth a shot.

I know that when I was younger I did some things on/off the trails that I would kick my own ass for doing now, but I was also ignorant. I had no idea, no one had ever told me, and I wasn't involved in any groups to learn these "common sense" things. I would like to believe that if something was posted people might finally understand why staying on the trails is so important.
 

drtsqrl

I luv Pritchett
Location
Moab
I wonder if a different type of sign would help.

Something that says "Fence Built and Placed by 4-Wheelers for 4-Wheelers. Help keep our Trails Open, STAY ON THE TRAIL!"

Maybe people would be less likely to remove them and more likely to respect them? I don't understand why they are being messed up like that.

I like this idea, I think I'll bring it up at our next club meeting.



i was there mid week after ejs fence was part in tacked the pole was broken but the wire was not cut ..... one thing that might help (@chewy) would be another winch point one of the guys in our group nearly pulled himself on his side just a thought

We have discussed putting another anchor point at Chewy, this is probably something that we will do.


Thanks to all, and keep the ideas coming! We are open to all suggestions!
 

thenag

Registered User
Location
Kearns
I have a couple of questions about Pritchett, I have run it a few times over the past few years.

The bypass for rocker knocker is that ok to use or not?

The bypass for rockpile is that ok to use or not?

Nathan
87 Bronco 460, NP435, NP203/205, D60 lockrite, gm 14bolt detroit, 37 inch mtr's
 

drtsqrl

I luv Pritchett
Location
Moab
I have a couple of questions about Pritchett, I have run it a few times over the past few years.

The bypass for rocker knocker is that ok to use or not?

The bypass for rockpile is that ok to use or not?

Nathan
87 Bronco 460, NP435, NP203/205, D60 lockrite, gm 14bolt detroit, 37 inch mtr's

Technically, everything to the left side of the original trail is WSA, and is therefore off-limits. The Rocker Knocker bypass fits this description. However, the BLM seems to look the other way on this one. My thoughts would be don't use it, but if you do, make sure you stay on the existing route!

The Rock Pile bypass ("Son of Rock Pile"), on the othere hand, is not in the WSA. It has been used now for so long, the original route (Rock Pile) is now the "option" for the vast majority. Just always be sure to never make new bypasses or obstacles!

By the way, the left line at Yellow Hill that first showed up a few years ago is also technically illegal, but it is so well established that every BLM attempt to close it has failed.
 

Spidey

Active Member
Location
Lehi,Ut
This makes me sick, add to that sign in bold at the top, "DONT RUIN THIS FOR EVERYONE ELSE!!!
Below- "You will not drive the legal portion of the trail ahead without front and rear lockers, 35+ tires, expert driving and most likely a winch, regardless of how big your ego is. Any and every attempt less equiped than this (or too big headed) will damage the trail and create accessibility problems for jeeping in the area. Even if your vehicle has the minimum required you will most likely cause problems and damage to the trail without a winch and careful driving. Please continue only if you are very well equiped, capable, responsible, and willing to turn around at failure to drive the legal portion of the trail ahead. It is ok to turn around. Dont be a chump, this sign is not a challenge, it's a request. Please do not justify bad choices, or think that you are just one person or the exception to the rule. Do it for your friends, keep this and other trails open by being responsible."-or something like that I'm sure someone can say it better.

I think signs like this should be all over moab. Honestly I dont think many people realize the problems they are causing when they drive off trail, litter, or damage/remove signs.
Its time we educate the general public in the form of signs that are from the 4 wheelers addressed to the other 4 wheelers, rather than signs from land management that rev up the rebellious streak in far too many people. I'm willing to contribute time and money.

I deleted the stuff about chewy, I wanted that as a side note and not to over shadow my main point written above.
 
Last edited:

choptopbII

Well-Known Member
Location
Clearfield, UT
Wow i cant belive that there is people out there like that. How hard is it to stay on the trail. Such a fun/challanging trail that people are going to ruin for the rest of us.
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
I don't think the winch anchor on chew should be removed. If people are going to use their winches to get up those obstacles, chances are they are going to stay on trail and use the other points. Also, I see the winch points as safety factors because no matter how badass you think you are, you can get yourself in a bad situation fast.

It's the people who are "too good" to take a winch line are the ones taking bypasses.
 

rockreligious

NoEcoNaziAmmo
Location
Ephraim
It only takes one Idiot, making new tracks around an obstackle. then there are enough newbies that have never been on that trail, who dont realize that its not part of the trail, because it can become a beaten path in one busy weekend, I did pritchet the first time over 14 years ago, and I took the bypass around rocker knocker, behind about a dozen other rigs that did the bypass not knowing it wasnt part of the trail. it happens mostly because of one jerk and a dozen others that dont know better. EDUCATION is key to keeping these trails open.
 

SAMI

Formerly Beardy McGee
Location
SLC, UT
IMO take out any winch post on chewy. Then build a permanent fence on the left side. If you cant make it up chewy without a winch you probably shouldn't be making the attempt to drive Pritchett. You're creating a danger to yourself and causing problems for the 4 wheeling community when you drive this kind of trail without being well prepared.

I disagree with removing the anchor. In my first driving experience on Pritchett I had issues on Chewy, but the rest of the trail was relatively easy. I didn't know the 'best' line of attack for Chewy, so it slowly spit me out of the right side near the ledge.. I got winched up over the last ledge.

We didn't cause any damage, and got our group through quickly and effectively. Though Chewy is(and should be) a great gate-keeper, I as well as others might struggle on it at first but also run the rest of the trail without issue.
 

surgeryturtle

RedRoxx
Location
Draper/Moab
Thanks to everyone for their comments and to Dave for posting our link to RME. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to fix or band-aid those fences every time we run this trail. I know our club will appreciate all help, both in labor and EDUCATION!

As an FYI-there is a warning sign at the entrance and exit of Pritchett, stating difficulty and risk of damage and roll-over. Unfortunately, I think those willing to tear up the trails are not those who can read or perhaps think the rules don't apply to them?

I can tell you that I got REALLY tired of the dirt bikes out there that morning. I don't think they took one correct line up anything and looked for their own route through the desert, over plants, pinging off the rocks, and making a huge NOISE the whole time. The first bike makes a track for the ATV, and then soon its a bypass for Jeeps.

I don't blame anyone for taking that wash by Axle hill (except for the first few) as it's become so established in a few weeks that it looks like part of the trail. It's closed now and hopefully it will stay that way!?!

Pritchett is my favorite trail. I know environmentalists REALLY want to close it. Tracking into the WSA is going to be the final straw that closes the trail. Right now, the BLM looks to us to maintain and keep this trail in order. The traffic on it is making this almost impossible. Anyone of you who runs it, can you put on your list to let us know of any damage? You can send e-mails to us at webejeepinmoab@yahoo.com or send comments through www.moabfriendsforwheelin.com

Like I said, thanks again for your support of a great trail! I look forward to meeting some of you over the Memorial Day weekend. I'll for sure be at the BBQ and if we plan a work day, I'll be there too!

See ya on the trail!
Melissa

P.S. We've had that second winch anchor at Chewy on our work list for some time.
 

petesoffroad

Registered User
axle hill

I was in Moab on Pritchett and watched the Axle Hill so called bypass made. A jeep had a broken u joint on Axle Hill and was trying to fix it when the bypass happened. Not to start a fight, but one of the so called ambassadors of our sport was impatient, rude and didnt want to wait; so he and all his friends in their high dollar rigs went around and made the new so called bypass. It made me sick and I have lost all respect for this man. For someone who has been in the offroad industry as long as he has, he should know better.
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
I was in Moab on Pritchett and watched the Axle Hill so called bypass made. A jeep had a broken u joint on Axle Hill and was trying to fix it when the bypass happened. Not to start a fight, but one of the so called ambassadors of our sport was impatient, rude and didnt want to wait; so he and all his friends in their high dollar rigs went around and made the new so called bypass. It made me sick and I have lost all respect for this man. For someone who has been in the offroad industry as long as he has, he should know better.

Is this the new bypass that happened over EJS this year? Or are you talking about the bypass that happened last year (or was it 2 years ago?)
 
Top