We then headed north to South Coal Wash were the interesting part of our journey was to take place.

The group had stopped and as I looked up I saw Ray and Daynene’s Blazer hanging a tire off the edge on a steep dugway as they drove around a large rock. It is at times like this that having a small vehicle is comforting. Just getting up to the narrow place was a challenge for some. One vehicle had to be manhandled back on the trail. A few turns later is where the real "fun" began.

The recent storms had left snow in the shaded spots and the trail was very slick. We had come to a section that not only had snow on the road but tilted off towards a vertical cliff. Progress at this point had ground to a halt. When I saw the vehicle in front of us putting tire chains on, I opened the door and turned around and asked Kim if he had brought the chains he had just bought before we had gone elk hunting a few weeks earlier. He said "you didn’t tell me we would need chains!". I took that as a no, and took a walk down the trail to see what was going on. My chains and the vehicle they fit were back in Salt Lake.

About 150 feet down the trail there were two bad spots which required going very slowly so you didn’t build up any momentum and lose control. When I got back to the Jeep after looking the situation over, I got in the back, removed the winch control and handed it to Linda just in case. When I told her that she and Megan would have to walk down she said. "If something is going to happen I want to be with you." But after realization set in they both got out and followed the Jeep down.

On a trail a few years ago I was told the name of a steep tilted down grade was called "The Toe Tapper". This is a place where you have one foot on the brake, one foot on the clutch and ease yourself down. The name comes from the uncontrollable up and down shaking of your right foot as you modulate brake pressure, being very nervous while doing so. A good place to experience this phenomenon is coming down High Dive on the Behind the Rocks Trail near Moab Utah for the first time. Well I was doing the "Toe Tap" here. Under these slippery conditions, this was a very hairy spot. Certain death awaited any large mistake on the drivers part. This is the kind of stuff you talk about for years sitting around the campfire. I can remember 2 other times I have been in this situation. Once with Kim, who was behind me and once with Dave and Judy who were behind him.

During the introductions coming down into Eagle Canyon earlier, I felt like Grampa. Most of the people on the trail were fairly new to 4 wheeling but were members of clubs associated with U4WDA. Linda sternly corrected me when I said I had about 30 years of 4 wheeling experience. Actually I bought my first 4 wheel drive in 1971, a Scout, so it had been only 27 years. Grammy Linda doesn’t want to allude to her age any more than she has to. Anyway as we all took turns spotting, driving and spectating as the group made its way through this section, it became apparent how accomplished they were at the skills of 4-wheeling in hazardous conditions.

If you want to learn 4 wheeling the right way, join a club. After years of going it alone in southern Utah, I decided not only did I want to do tougher trails but that I needed someone to show me the way. I had heard of the Easter Jeep Safari and got the information to sign up. After our first Safari it was clear that the trail leaders and helpers were the people to seek out for the help I needed. The Red Rock 4-Wheelers of Moab Utah who put on the Safari also have club runs once a month. It was on these monthly runs that I started to get a real education in the proper way one drives the more difficult trails. Not only driving techniques are learned, but proper trail ethics as well.

When seeking out a club to join make sure they abide by Tread Lightly principles as well as other common sense rules. For example: The Rock Hoppers of Salt Lake City not only forbids drug and alcohol usage but assess fines for littering. Another sign of a good club is an affiliation with a larger group. Utah Four Wheel Drive Association is one such organization. There are many benefits but one of the best is to be able to see new country lead by a local club such as we were doing on this run.

It took about an hour to get the group past the slick spots. There are no photos of the icy spot, everyone was so concerned about getting the vehicles down we neglected to take any. Once we were down into the wash it wasn’t long before we came upon an enticing sand hill where we stopped for a while to play. Megan is eight years old and does not like to four wheel. She is stuck in the back seat with little to keep her occupied. Even she knows this will change when she reaches driving age. I remember her telling Trent Riddle, the editor of Four Wheel Drive and Sport Utility Magazine, just after getting up the Rock Pile, " I’m sure glad my daddy didn’t wreck the Jeep because I get to drive it in a few years." She looked up at the sand hill and said " I don’t want to do that, it looks too scary". After we had gone up several times and the group was lining up to head out due to impending darkness, Megan asked if we could stay and do it some more.

We got back to Ferron well after dark and aired back up at the City Park. After some discussion, we headed into Price with Kim, David and Judy for dinner. Daynene, just so you know, the prime rib was excellent and only $7.95. We pulled into the garage just before midnight, tired and ready for bed. Linda and I both agreed that the very long day and almost 400 miles were well worth it.

The 4 wheel drive clubs that were mentioned can be contacted as follows:

Utah Four Wheel Drive Association
c/o Bret Davis
11929 Ibis Way
Draper, Utah 84020

Castle Rock Four Wheelers
Price, Utah
c/o Leo Hardy 435-865-7135
Lhardy@Pol.net

Red Rock 4-Wheelers
P.O. Box 1471
Moab, Utah 84532-1471
435-259-ROCK

Rock Hoppers 4X4 Club
10848 So. 1700 E.
Sandy, Utah 84092
801-895-2831