RATING TRAI L
6
Strike Ravine Trail
Dave Swafford
Saturday, March 24
Scott & Chris Lyon, Leaders Tuesday, March 27 To be used: Saturday 3/24 Tuesday 3/27 Thursday 3/29
Jim Broadbent
Thursday, March 29 This trail enters an area that remains beautiful despite the marks of “range improvements”, power lines, and uranium mining. Today, grazing continues, the power lines hum, but the mines are in ruins. Four wheeling gets better as the mine roads deteriorate. The trail is about 12 miles south of Moab and between US 191 and the La Sal Mountains. Much of it is in and about Pole Canyon and the other headwaters of Kane Springs Canyon. One badly eroded trail portion crosses a tributary canyon that we are calling Strike Ravine for the outcrop of a tilted sandstone layer that forms the base of the trail. The rocky hills and bouldery wash bottoms make high ground clearance throughout the underside of the vehicle an important consideration. There are sneaky rocks that make it easy for vehicles to use their sheet metal panels as “paint brushes”. Approximate mileage: 32 total, 11 off road.
Road Surface: The easy parts of the trail are sandy dirt with enough bedrock poking through to keep the speed down. The difficult creek bottom parts have rocks, boulders, ledges, and the most difficult hills have large, loose rocks. Highlights: Two hills have loose dirt and rocks that cause poor traction. The rocks and ledges in the canyon bottoms can change with every flood. Strike Ravine is ledgy and rough, with a combination of rock steps and loose dirt. Tall tires, short wheelbase, and short overhangs are the order of the day.
Associate Leaders: Maurice Brown, Bruce Bryant, Ken Bunge, Don Campbell, Michael Grove, Clark Hendrickson, James Kellie, Bob Weber, Bob Owen.
TRAIL SPONSOR
Tuesday March 27
Scenery: In addition to the views inside the rugged canyons, there are beautiful vistas of colorful rocks, forested slopes, and the snow covered La Sal Mountains.
148 - 2018 Moab Easter Jeep Safari
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