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

"The Iron Mountain Goats"
Secret Trail

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

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Secret Trail

There is no beating around the bush with this one! The very first climb is long and steep, consisting of a series of 4+ challenges past nearby picturesque sandstone spires. I had convinced Frank, a business associate who lives in Farmington, to ride along with me and see what this extreme 4-wheeling was about. While looking over the start of Secret Trail, I think his comment was something on the order of: "You gotta be kidding, you are going to try to climb that?"

Action starts quickly on the Secret Trail.

Did someone say this trail could be a bit off-camber?

Begin by straddling a steep chute...a little too far to the left and things might get a bit tippy, and a bit rough on the rocker panels. The shorter 4x4's practically have to launch over! Ahead, an off-camber ledge must be conquered. It is undercut at the right side, the hole being so deep that likely no one can climb the obstacle without aid from a few well placed rocks. We would discover that spitting out those rocks resulted in the passenger side rear sliding towards the rock wall. Once beyond that, everyone gets some 3-wheeling air-time at a rounded step. Abundant air if you really want to play!

Shorter 4x's practically have to launch over the steep chute near the start.

An undercut ledge is deep. Slip off rocks in the hole and become friendly with the rock wall.

Other rock ledges and steps are encountered as we weave our way up the eroded mesa. One particular rock wall would frustrate the shorter wheelbase vehicles. Steep, sandy, and at the left edge of this barrier the ground falls away quickly! A very narrow line to take for even the longer 4x4's here.

Yee ha!

Ken’s Flatfender is ready for launch at this troublesome and disconcerting climb.

A series of big ledges greet the 4-wheeler on the approach to the mesa top on Secret Trail.

We reach an expanse of exposed slickrock. A number of climbing options are available here with telltale rubber marking the frustrations to other 4-wheelers. As expected, certain vertical ascents are tailored for the longer trucks in our group.

One of a number of routes on the slickrock, this one favors longer wheelbases.

A number of bystanders were watching the action as we worked our way along Secret Trail. After a bit, we noticed that a group of Native Americans had been hiking along observing the action, taking pictures and videos. Both Southern Ute and Navajo live in the area. One of them, using a cane, seemed determined to keep up and appeared at each obstacle. Frank made a comment to him about the amazing feats of these 4-WD vehicles. The young Native American smiled and stated: "Iron Mountain Goats!" Simple...fitting.

Tackling this troublesome and disconcerting climb is Homer with his capable CJ-5.

A clean line on Secret Trail.

We start driving up a wash. Abruptly, our run leader Don pulls to the side so that we can look over the waterfall known as "Tip-Toe". That is when one driver has a lapse in patience, roaring into the narrows without first looking it over. The Blazer takes the left side, digging deep holes in the sand and becoming high centered. Don points out that the line of choice requires carefully crawling upward at the right while straddling a deep, wide V. A bit of rockwork and the 4x4 has managed to move forward enough to try the climb up the steep wall. But the deep sand and an uncooperative carburetor spelled doom. It would not run. This was to be a very interesting extrication! Using the bypass, 2 Jeeps with winches and 2 more to add anchor weight gathered at the top to pull up the stranded Blazer. Now with winches laboring, 4 Jeeps were being pulled down the wash towards "Tip-Toe"! In the end, it took 6 Jeeps and 3 winches to get the heavy vehicle up!

Missed the turn for "Tip-Toe", identified by the rubber marks straddling the V at the left.

It would take 6 Jeeps to get the Blazer out of the predicament.

The last section of this trail has several alternate routes out of the wash to the mesa top. The left choice would require scaling a tall washed out ledge. Digging in the sand and sliding off the rock steps was the norm for all but the first couple that tried. Most chose somewhat easier routes upward to cap this day’s adventure.

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