'97 Winter Meeting SWFWDA 4WD Trails Las Cruces, New Mexico February 21, 1997

Wolf Run
by The Flatlander

Please visit our Sponsor, CLICK on the Banner above

The drop into Wolf Run starts with a plunge off of Columbus Hill, so named because it looks like you're driving off the edge of the earth. I was able to hitch a ride this time with Jim Werkmeister, Marks brother. I was quite happy to get a ride and concentrate on getting pictures rather than trying to preserve my sheet metal. My 4WD still bears scars from last year's Wolf Canyon run.

To enter Wolf Run you need to first climb a tilting slab with a fissure down the middle which then drops you down between two boulders with just enough room for a Jeep to squeeze through. Boulders underneath and just past the opening make it almost impossible to keep your 4WD's sheet metal from getting "remodeled." Multi-color paint adorns the massive silent sentinels.

Boulders beak up out of the ground and try to knock out your undercarriage or lay you on your side as you proceed toward a 10' cliff. As you get closer you can see a boulder chute that has been formed off to your right to make it almost possible to climb the cliff there. The boulders are about 3 feet short of the top of the cliff and a 120 degree turn is required while trying to climb the cliff at the end of the chute. The technique is to get just the right line such that your left rear tire is held back by the cliff face while your other tires slip and rotate your 4WD enough to mount the cliff. This is demonstrated in the Quick Time Video of our trail leader, Mike Holmberg, demonstrating the proper technique in his classic Bronco. Seldom will you see this done this smoothly. Very few drivers make it in just one clean turn as Mike did (he didn't do it as fast as the video shows though - the video has been sped up by a factor of 2-3 times to save download time). During the Winter Meeting a winch equipped 4WD is stationed on top of the cliff to tug up the 4WDs that break or can't quite get the right line. The winch stays quite warm.

This is just a typical example of what you can expect once you surmount the cliff. Boulders and ledges just waiting to make your day. A ground guide is often advisable.

Near the end of the trail you will come across some fairly routine looking boulders with a tree at the left side of the trail. The Wolf has done his best to wear you down so that he can tag your top or rear quarter panels. Lose your patience and power through and his teeth will bite deep.

"The Slab" will tilt you to the left so he can take a bite out of your top from the tree. The limb is heavily scarred from hard tops and soft tops alike.

Just past the tree the Wolf will roll you to your right and try to take a bite out of your right rear quarter panel. And in fact, he did just that to a few vehicles in our group.

Of course you can try going past these obstacles on the other side of the trail as this blue Wrangler did. Although it was beginning to look like we'd need a helicopter to get him out, Chris Long's skill and determination got him through on his own. He escaped with only minor sheet metal damage to his left rear quarter panel. No one that tried this side got through without the Wolf leaving his sign in their sheet metal.

Wolf Run is rated a 4+++ for difficulty and likelihood of vehicle damage. 33s and at least one solid locker or two clutch lockers were required to attempt this trail.

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

Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association - Four Wheeling Responsibly!

Who/What are we? | SWFWDAland Trails | Events | History | Officers | Clubs | 4WDrive Lines | Membership App

New Mexico Trail Guidebooks, Trail Maps, and Trail Videos

4X4NOW Feature Page
4X4NOW Trail Reports | Moab 4WD Trails
4X4NOW "How-To"  | 4X4NOW Buildups
4X4BOOKS | MAPNOW

get Garmin at GPSNOW - Order by 5pm and have it Tomorrow!
Choosing | for Laptop/Pocket PC | Basic | Handheld Mapping | 2-way Radio | Automotive | Motorcycle | RV/Truck/Bus | Land & Water
Accessories
eTrex H | Legend | Vista | Venture HC | Summit HC | Legend HCx | Vista HCx
GPS 18 DLX | 60
Mobile 10 | Mobile 10 for smartphones
GPSMAP 60 | 60Cx | 60CSx | 76S | 76Cx | 76CSx | 276C | 376C | 378 | 478
MapSource City Navigator North America | US Topo | BlueChart
nüvi 200 | 270 | 350 | 360 | 370 | 650 | 660 | 670 | 680
Quest | Quest 2
Rino 110 | 120 | 130 | 520 | 530 | 520HCx | 530HCx
StreetPilot 2820 | 7200/7500 | c330 | c340 | c530 | c550 | c580
Astro GPS dog tracking system
zūmo 450 / 550
© 4X4NOW