Trail Reports : Poison Spider Mesa, Sept. 2001
Moab, UTBy: Brent Winter-Holm (pix: Denis Glennon & Liz Demco)
Check the Trail Reports for Moab Rim and Fins-n-Things reports from this trip!
For the second trail on Saturday we went for Poison Spider Mesa. This trail is rated a 4 on a scale from 1-4+, we saved the 4+ for Sunday. The trail starts from a parking lot olong the river and winds back and forth across some switchbacks. Right away this trail was looking better. One of the first obstacles was a rocky ledge descent, the pic shows Jock easing through. There was an easier line but I think he was playing with his inclinometer seeing how big a number he could put up.
Shortly after that was an optional climb said to be one of Moabs steepest. It is a sheer rock face that goes up at a 45 degree pitch. I went for it first, I must have been a little too heavy on the throttle as all four tires began to howl. I eased off the gas and onto the brakes, we slid back about a foot and stopped, then I gently eased back on the gas and away we went with no further drama. I'm tellin ya though, that bugger was STEEP! There were some more pretty challenging switchbacks, lots of rocks and ledges to negotiate, my rear locker got quite a bit of use on this trail.
Next was probably the best obstacle of the trail, the wedgie. The pictures do not do it justice, the rock wall on the pass side is pretty well vertical. John and I chose to straddle the crack, as I guided John up I could see that there was little more than two inches worth of tire holding him up on the high side, even though I had just done it I was kind of holding my breath watching John. Jock and Erwin went and rode the slant, a no, no for Jeepers as they tend to roll here. Naturally the G's had no trouble. Then we had the first G get stuck.
Jock daring to be different took a lower, softer line and began to slide on the soft sand into a wash. We had to chide him a bit, Just like a California boy to try and stay on the beach! Erwin hooked up to him and pulled him right out, on on we went.
Reaching the furthest point you look out over the river. The scenery is spectacular, there is even a natural arch you can peer through and see the river below. The trail then loops back and you retrace your path through the wedgie and switchbacks. When we got to the big rock hill again, I was forced (ya right) to make the climb again for some kids in Jeeps. All were rightfully impressed by the troop of G-Wagens. The trail took about six hours, lockers are definately a big help. This is a very scenic and challenging trail, and was definately to the liking of the group!
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