SWFWDA Summer Quarterly
Farmington, New Mexico
July 30 - August 1, 1999

"The Iron Mountain Goats"
Rock Garden

By: Bob Norton - NM 4-Wheelers, SWFWDA 4WDrive Lines

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Stanley, driving his "Heat Seeker" hood scoop adorned CJ was the trail leader on our scheduled run to "Wagon Trail". On the way we would play on some of the harder obstacles in the lower part of the original Rock Garden. We are first confronted with a big step onto the slickrock which tended to pull the shorter Jeeps to the left and into a tippy situation. A cedar tree keeps Steve's CJ-5 from a roll as his left rear tire becomes planted in a hole and the front slides over. The Rock Garden has gotten our attention in a hurry!

This ledge greeted us as we entered the Rock Garden, tippy for the short 4x4's.

Dubbed the "Toilet Bowl", a nose dive is inevitable.

Soon, we are shown the "Toilet Bowl". The idea is to drive (slide really!) to the bottom of the depression and then right back up the steps on the other side. An optional route back down at the cliff edge and up (hopefully) completes a loop. The descent into the bowl is pretty steep and the sensation is that the vehicle will plummet. Three of us decide to try the alternate return route. Twisty going down as one falls off the ledge. There are several options to climb out. To the left is less steep, mogul-like, suitable for the shorter wheelbases with tighter turning capabilities and less overhang. The routes farther right are more abrupt. My turn. But the spotter takes me on a line much closer to the edge...alas, after several tries the Cherokee wants only to hop and slide closer to certain doom. The strap is welcome!

"Bear" starts down the alternate return loop through the bowl.

Rock Garden ascent.

The next major obstacle that we attempt is called "Jeep Eater". Even tougher than it looks, very steep with pesky ledges part way up this wall. I never could determine the key to scaling this one. In fact, none of our group that tried it were successful. This is one of the challenges used in the "Rock Crawling Competition" and it certainly earns the 4+ rating.

The "Jeep Eater" is a particularly difficult obstacle for most 4x4's.

Other slickrock climbs followed. Bypasses are available for those that prefer to skip ledges that might be regarded as too steep. Our group then leaves this play area down slickrock ledges and a steep sandy hill, marking the end of this segment of fun before the lunch stop and the "Wagon Trail". Both this lower and the upper portions of the Rock Garden are ideal in that all 4-wheelers can have some fun on the variety of challenges that range from mild to wild, based on their skill and equipment.

Homer’s Jeep doing the twist.

The Rock Garden abounds with a large variety of ledges and steps in difficulties ranging from mild to wild.

On the descent of the sandy hill, my driver's side rear tire began to chew up the fender flare. Not normal. Stopping on level ground to investigate, it was obvious that the tire was not centered in the wheel well and the rear driveshaft spline was exposed. Alas, the front bolt holding the leaf spring pack to the uni-body sub-frame had sheared completely off and disappeared. That side of the axle was floating about! The end of my ‘wheeling this day. Helpers got the axle held roughly in place with a come-along attached to the axle and the transfer case skid plate. The come-along is a most amazing piece of "survival gear". This held it together as I carefully drove the 40, or so, miles to the 4x4 fix-it shop; bumps were a little squirrelly, as you would imagine.

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