'97 Winter Meeting SWFWDA 4WD Trails Las Cruces, New Mexico February 20, 1997

Broad Canyon
by The Flatlander

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"Fuzzy" winters and Earl Rahder of the Victor Valley 4-Wheelers were kind enough to give me rides so I could concentrate of pictures and video. Fuzzy's CJ was the luxury ride with 8lbs of air in his new 35" Dunlops and well used springs while Earl's YJ was newer and more comfy. Richie Monroe, President of the Sun Country Jeep Club out of El Paso, Texas, was our trail leader. The first stop was the "entrance obstacle" which everyone is required to show they can negotiate prior to entering Broad Canyon. It is a substantial obstacle and caused some strong rigs to struggle.

Through most of the Canyon there are easy, moderate and hard routes. Fuzzy always took the hard route and, as you can see his CJ articulates well.

Earl's YJ makes like a mountain goat as it surmounts this hard route option.

Fuzzy took on one too many challenges. These rocks took out there revenge on the U-joint in his right front axle. No big deal though as Fuzzy had a spare short shaft ready to go. He caught back up to us just past the "Snake Pit".

The "Snake Pit" is aptly named for its tendency to bite you both entering and leaving. Our trail leader gives a driver some help as a counter weight on the way into the "Snake Pit."

There are two ways out of the "Snake Pit". This is the more extreme optional way out. The other way is almost certain to result in a few "Snake Bites" on your rims as you squeeze through but otherwise much safer and saner. See the Quick Time Video of this escape.

There is an easy way and a hard way at the "Rock and A Hard Place" obstacle. The Hard way looks easy but leans your 4WD much too much as shown here.

The easier way is steeper and rockier and tight enough to get your sheet metal in trouble. But all of our group got through without damage.

As a reward for successfully negotiating Broad Canyon, you get to play in the rock "Playground" at the end of the trail.

Broad Canyon is rated a 4 because of the potential for body damage and our group did experience some though not real noticeable.

Base Camp | Broad Canyon | Wolf's Run | The Guardian

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