We were staring at three straight trail days on Hell's Revenge (Saturday), Top of the World (Sunday) and Metal Masher (Monday) to kick off the event and using the word excited doesn't seem to convey our feelings as that first ride grew closer.
For Hell's Revenge, we started later in the afternoon as we wanted to catch a good Moab sunset on the overlook, as well as get a little deep into the trail to see (and ride) Hell's Gate. We also had a first-timer along for the ride, so we wanted to make sure we hit all the history as well as the dinosaur tracks that adorn one of the trailside locations.
Needless to say, we hit our marks and really did get a good view of the sun sliding down past the western horizon. Plus, we got a chance to see a Willys haul it up Hell's Gate with no issues.
Sunday meant Top of the World and we decided to take a stock Jeep, along with our YJL up the trail to reach the iconic lookout spot over Onion Valley. And while the trail guides say to avoid using a stock Jeep, we encountered no issues on the ride — the key factors being to listen to your spotter and not try to take a harder line than the vehicle can take, even though you really want to take that harder line.
Top of the World is best known for a little rock outlook that slides several feet out from Waring Mesa and makes for a great photo of your Jeep. We made sure to get ours, as well as some great pictures of the valley below.
Monday saw us head to Metal Masher, one of the more difficult trails in the Moab area. With stubborn obstacles like Widowmaker and Mirror Gulch in the way as the group headed towards Arth's Rim, this trail surely was a challenge to most of the group.
Like everywhere else in Moab, there was plenty of slickrock as well as ledges and tons of rocks of all sizes. And then the obstacles loomed and thankfully, many had a bypass for those who wanted a bit less stress in the day. But most chose to overcome everything in their path to reach that rim, which stands some 1,300 feet in the air and has some great views of Utah Hwy 191.
