We began our 2002 Moab adventure with a little trail called Cliff Hanger.  I assure you that it owns up to it without a question.  Immediately dropping off of 12-14” rock ledges straight away.  That was followed by a nice red rock staircase, resembling a miniature Red Cone only a little off camber…  As you get to the bottom you continue through Kane Creek straight up through a rutted climb with a sharply protruding rock on the left for those looking for some free pin striping!!! 

The first major obstacle is about half way up as you climb.  It can be approached straight on making a left turn around a massive rock or circled around proceeding straight up the shelf.  I made the left turn putting some nice scratches on my wheel in the process.  It requires you to make a couple of forward/rearward adjustments.  Zach decided to take the straight up approach, which makes more sense for full sized vehicles.  It took a few tries a little work but he got up the monster rock.  He put a little crack in the corner of his transmission in the process.  Based on the amount of transmission fluid that he was losing he decided to leave it on the sidelines for the Cliff Hanger obstacle. 

Tracy and Marcy took the same route as I did scratching the wheel along the same rock.  The rock borrowed the valve stem from them releasing the air with a familiar hiss.  A stick in the hole fixed the problem long enough to get up the obstacle in order to get the spare tire put on.  Pat took the same line as we did, but being unlocked had a tougher time of it.  A quick yank of a winch made short work of the obstacle.  After following the ledge for about ¼ mile we finally got to the namesake of the trail.  Straight drop off with no room for error as there is an 1100’ drop off on the left.  Other than the extreme pucker factor no one had any major problems getting down.  We finally had lunch about 2:30, which is half way (we had to do the trail in reverse going out).  Things went smooth going out except for the Cliff Hanger rock.  After bouncing left and right I got up the obstacle.  I gave Pat a little tug up it and got him up successfully.  Tracy and Marcy drove right up it in there well equipped Bronco II.  This trail is keeler!  Can’t wait to do it again!  Cheers…  Chris…

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