Rusty Nail Trail

K.L. & Erin Young

Monday, April 11

The Rusty Nail Trail is a short (1 mile) but tough segment that provides a short cut to the Golden Crack area of the Golden Spike Trail. For the all out Yahoo Jeeper the trail is combined with the toughest part of the Golden Spike Trail, and the entire Gold Bar Rim Trail to provide a trip guaranteed to keep the adrenaline pumping and the 4wd equipment thoroughly tested. Approximate mileages: 49 total, 27 off highway.

Scenery: There are some vast panoramic views of the Colorado River and the canyons and mesas that surround it. Jeep Arch can be seen, the top of the Gold Bar Rim provides views into Moab valley and Arches National Park. The Gooney Bird rock is passed twice.

Road Surface: There are a lot of ledges and off camber sections, climbs over boulders, and even a couple of smooth slickrock sections.

Highlights: There are numerous ledges and tippy sections, but only two have earned names yet. “Riff Raff ” is the fi rst, encountered about halfway into the trail. It is a two section obstacle, the fi rst being a large slab of rock that has an undercut that must be overcome to get up onto the slanty slab. The second part consists of a climb up numerous large rocks, again featuring undercuts, with sizeable holes between them. The second named obstacle is “No Left Turn”. Obviously it features a hard right turn around a rock wall. Next it drops steeply down some slickrock to enter a narrow section that features a drop on the left and a wall to the right. A large boulder lies in the path, so the left tires must climb over it, all the while trying to avoid making contact between the vehicle’s top and the wall. Once through Rusty Nail, the fi nal Golden Spike obstacles await, as well as “The Waterfall” on the Gold Bar Rim Trail.

Associate Leaders:

Brook Hill, Brad Carey, Rich Mickelson, Matt Hornback, Scott Stone, Garrett Young.

Richard Mick

Thursday, April 14

To be used:

Monday 4/11 Thursday 4/14

TRAIL SPONSOR

Thursday April 14

TRAIL SPONSOR

Big Saturday, 4/16 8:00 am

KL & Erin Young, Leaders

Pritchett Canyon is becoming more diffi cult every year, and is now to the point where the average well equipped rig may have great diffi culty in completing the trail. Vehicles with large amounts of lift will fi nd the trail especially harrowing, as the many off camber spots will induce body roll and severely test a driver’s nerve. Rollovers and broken parts are very common, and there are no easy bypasses. We have found the majority of rigs will require a winch or strap on at least a couple of obstacles.

If you can take your eyes off the obstacles long enough, you’ll fi nd a splendidly beautiful, narrow canyon. The trail climbs the lower part of the canyon and exits via a side canyon over a divide into the Hunter Canyon system. Depending upon how long it has taken to get to this point, your leader will then choose among several routes to head back to the highway.

Approximate mileage: 37 total, 21 off highway.

Scenery: While in the canyon the views are of steep canyon walls, large side canyon pour off s, and a pool speckled creek bottom. Pritchett Arch, Window Arch, and some smaller spans are visible from the trail.

Road Surface: The trail follows the bouldery creek bottom at fi rst but then climbs onto ledge routes on a mixture of rock layers and dirt. The major obstacles are several forms of bedrock now exposed after erosion of the early roadway.

Highlights: Obstacle 1) Just a few hundred yards into the trail there is a ledgy downhill that got so bad Grand County graded it with heavy equipment a few years ago. It is starting to deteriorate again, so care should be taken on the descent. Obstacle 2) After passing a small mud hole caused by a seasonal spring, the trail drops into the canyon bottom. “The Brickyard” is the name of the climb back out. Several options are available, none are easy. Obstacle 3) “Chewy Hill” is the next challenge. Once a graded dugway, it has eroded to become a major obstacle. It is slippery and very off camber, with numerous medium to large ledges that must be driven up. Obstacle 4) Approaching Rocker Knocker is a sizeable slickrock area. There is an optional obstacle to the right called “The Waterfall” that can be tricky if it is wet. Obstacle 5) This is “Rocker Knocker”. This double ledge requires the perfect line, and a successful climb will usually push a rig to the brink of rolling over. It is next to impossible if wet. Broken parts and tipovers are common here. Obstacle 6) Next up is an unnamed hill that resembles a 30 foot wide staircase. This series of large ledges claims numerous axle shafts and drivelines, and tipovers are possible. A bypass to the left can be easier, but a large rock that must be driven over can easily create some body damage. Obstacle 7) “Axle Hill” waits just a few yards up the trail. This hill starts in the wash bottom and climbs out in two stages. The fi rst part is very steep and slippery, and is the site of many rollovers. The second part is steep, as well as ledgy and off camber. Obstacle 8) The famous “Rock Pile” is next. It is an 8 foot ledge that once had rocks stacked 2/3 of the way up. The rocks are all gone now, and the ledge regularly triumphs over some of