We are not EXTREME off-roaders, not that we wouldn’t like to be. Our off-road vehicle is not our toy, it is our everyday vehicle. Our Jeep is not “tricked-out”, and we have smaller, all-terrain tires that are fine for road driving and light off road.
There are lots of publications and maps of the Moab area depicting all the trails for off-road vehicles and bicycle trails, with ratings and information about each. These are the 3 we have found most helpful.
The maps (Moab North and South) are VERY detailed and we would have been “lost” without them. The Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails book is more geared to our type of off-roading and gives great descriptions of the trails. So, if you come out here, invest in good maps.
There are plenty of campgrounds around the area and John wanted to check some of them that were along RT 128. From there, the Onion Creek trail, connecting to Castleton Gateway Road trail, would have brought us back to civilization. Cool, then we can go to the Jeep vendor show.
After being on dry desert trails, the Onion Creek trail with its many water crossings was a welcome change. I wouldn’t say the creek smelled like onions…more like sulfur…bleh.
The trail wandered out through the mountains towards the La Sal snow covered peaks.
Long ago, when the French/Spanish explores first came to this part of Utah they were amazed at the white covered mountains. The Indians explained to the travelers that it was snow on the peaks but they did not believe snow could be there in the middle of the hot summer. With the abundance of salt at the base of the mountains, the explores decided the Indians were wrong and named the mountain range La Sal, meaning salt in both French and Spanish.
What a surprise when explores encountered snow and frigid temperatures while attempting to cross the 12,000 foot peaks.
At 7,000 feet we didn’t have snow, but it was getting noticeably cooler.
Still in off-roading bliss, we were only slightly concerned that we were still heading UP, and not down towards town yet. Remember those maps I told you about? Yeah we should have checked the elevation marks before heading down this path…
The heights were dizzying as we looked down into the canyon from the road’s edge.
8,000 feet and we are starting to see snow and the road is becoming soft and muddy on top.
Yummm, mountain snow tastes so good! Soft, powdery snow turns into a nice texture slush…I need flavored syrup to make the perfect snow cone.
Okay, this is seriously getting nerve racking. Again no one knows we are up here and the only thing saving us from sinking in the mud completely is that the ground is still frozen underneath. The temperature is also plunging lower.
I’m starting to have flashbacks to all of the trouble we got into when traveling off-road in Pennsylvania.
The Jeep is starting to look like it did during PA’s spring fun too.
It just keeps getting worse. We have come to a corner at almost 9,000 feet of elevation, mile marker 4666 (is that a sign?) and the road is completely snow covered with at least 8 inches of wet heavy snow.
Frustration to the max. We are 35 miles up this road, it is 40 degrees. It has taken us 3 hours to get here. We are 3 miles from a paved road we can’t get to. Turning around.
This is a skinny snow/mud covered bridge, barely wide enough for the Jeep to fit. John couldn’t understand why I was nervous, until he looked down. Big Big fall; those little bushes would do nothing to hold us back.
At mile maker 4680 we ran into this group of motor bikers. Left to right is Todd, Brian, and Jason. Todd’s bike had broken down, and even being a mechanic, was unable to fix what was wrong. Brian had been towing Todd when we met up with them.
They too, knew how close we were to safety. Jason went ahead to where we turned around to scout and see if we could make it through. He came back and said no way were any of us going that way. 
Obviously we were not going to leave anyone stranded. 2 choices. Stash the broken bike and give Todd a lift into town, or tow Todd to town.
Todd was willing to be towed 35 miles to the Onion Creek campground and catch a ride with us into town.
Kudos to both Todd and John. It was not easy for either of them, mostly Todd. They were super nice guys and we all made the best of the ride back into town. They had a good time taking pictures and videos of poor Todd being dragged along behind us.
Todd and the others couldn’t thank us enough, they said they were really in a bind and were grateful we came along and were willing to help them.
Search and Rescue we will always be.
