2008 Touareg and Friends Moab Moonlight Challenge May 18-20

[Arkarch]

Just got back from Hells Revenge....

Holy Slickrock!!!!!

Fins is warmup.... half of what Hells is -- steeper climbs, hairy offcamber ascents, maybe 1 foot error room in spots on a 200 ft high mesa - descents that are wild. And a multiple ending... keeps throwing stuff at you.

We did the full loop, including the overlook. Only missed Hells Gate, Escalator and Tip-over optionals. Everything else was done.

We all made it though!!! Yippeee.... long day.

Photos coming.

[Arkarch]

Hi,,, a select group of photos from Hells Revenge in Moab are up. At the tail end of my Fins photos. I'll caption later.

Let me add a couple important notes...

Yes we all made it... but by no means is this an invitation for any Touareg owner to drive up Hells Revenge. This is a Masters-Level Touareg trail. You better have complete and total knowledge of your offroad settings and all their nuances. You better know when your Touareg will break traction; slide out from you; and knowing to stay in the fuel feed when its all looking bad. It is best advised to go with an experienced Touareg spotter. Not taking these warnings seriously may lead to death. And we are not bragging.... it took some real gut checks and many of us have years and years of offroad with the past several in a Touareg.

So take that as fair warning.

Enjoy the photos...

Picasa Web Albums - Karl - Moab 2008

[Arkarch]

Just added a few more photos. All captioned.

Here are some samples.

















Hell's Revenge took us 10 hours to run seven miles. It was intense. Lots of white knuckle blind spotting on places far too narrow and high.

Tomorrow? Rick and Ann head home early. Orttaug and his group also leave early. For the rest of us - something fun and easy.

[Vegas Matt]

A pleasant surprise occurred yesterday here in Moab. After reading about Hell's Revenge, and all the stuff in the book about how "stock vehicles are not recommended" for this trail, I became a little apprehensive, but figured I would give it a shot. I figured worst-case was I would end up taking one of the other exit/bypass routes if things got too hairy. Suffice it to say I stayed on the trail with everyone else, and was amazed at how well my Touareg did on it.

My '05 V6 has the steel suspension, center locker only, and I'm running the stock Pirelli Scorpion STR highway tires in the stock (255/60-17) size.

With some great spotting by other members of the group, I not only managed to go through Hell's Revenge, but I did it with no damage underneath! I did, however, scrape the hitch a lot! I did touch down lightly a couple times, and I did rub the tranny crossmember for about 8 inches or so on a steep descent, but no new dents to the rocker panels, crossmembers, or subframes on this trek. I attribute this to some incredible spotting and taking it as slow and easy as possible.

That being said, the ground clearance of air suspension and/or taller tires would have been helpful. But, as has been proven, it is not an absolute requirement to off-road your Touareg.

As Arkarch said, this is a very advanced level trail, with not a lot of room for error. Before attempting anything like this, you better have some very experienced spotters and a very good sense of how the Touareg ticks. Be careful...

Matt

[TREGinginCO]

Great pix and glad to hear you all had a great time... safely!!!

[Arkarch]

Back from a quieter, more relaxing day.

We headed out to Porcupine Rim, went down one of drop trails and into the main route. Route had lots of rock gardens and ledges that on a full day we might have wanted to do; but today was supposed to be relaxed. So we backed on out, went up to a quiet area high in the La Sal area (7300') for lunch. Then dropped back down, worked the back side of Fins, a second pass on Baby Lions Back (one earlier today), then scooted down to look at Potato Salad Hill. We are just trading photos and will be on the road.

Photos to come

[Arkarch]

Day 3 -

With the intense Hells Revenge behind us and only Hap and family, VegasMatt and Arkarch remaining, we sought a relaxing adventurous day focused on the remaining parts of Sand Flats Recreation Area.

Among our excursions...
Baby Lions Back; Porcupine Rim; Lunch in the Lasal Forest; Fins repeat of the back portion; more Baby Lions Back; and a visit to Potato Salad Hill.















Thank-you to all for an awesome time at Moab!

A wide spectrum of Touaregs represented - from steel V6's to air V8's to V10 Turbo Diesels.

'Til next year.



Now... its time to look to Colorado Touareg Rally in July. See everyone there!!!