If you're into photography, you REALLY need to get the Photographing the Southwest Utah book. Seriously. It's as much of a hiking guidebook to both on- and off-the beaten-path places as it is a photography guide. It's a bit dated, and Laurent has no plans of updating it, but it's still good. (I'm an amateur landscape photographer, and Laurent has been a godsend to my travels in the desert southwest!)

You're right, off-roading is a bit of a "just one more piece of gear" activity. In fact, "Jeep" stand for "Just Empty Every Pocket". I'm sure that "Bronco" has a similar meaning. But then, you are already into shooting and photography, so you should be used to that.

Don't let the Schaeffer Road scare you. Just put the Bronco in 4WD Lo and 1st or 2nd gear and let it creep itself down. Once you get down to the river, hike to Corona Arch too:

Nice pic! I didn't see that....

I'll add some commentary about Schaeffer Road. While it made me pucker, I was still not used to trucks and still acclimating to their behavior and feel (higher center of gravity, etc). Also, the road would not have made me pucker in my 30's; that puckering is a recent feeling as I've aged. And as I was going down, guys on ATVs were passing me at what seemed to be at least 30mph+.

It made me pucker at my age in an unfamiliar vehicle and type (my first ever truck and relatively new to me at the time). But I'm glad I went; not sure I'd do it again but I'd do it at least once.

That being said: there is one point where the 'right' path seems to veer right so that you continue down to the floor. Veering left seems to go back uphill. You want to stay on the path to the left - it goes up but then goes back down to the floor. The right veer is not good - I'm lucky I got out on my own; it could have ended badly.

OK, its interesting. Ferd Motor is trying to match jeep by putting on their own event. I bet there's a bunch of towing.

I led Hells Revenge for 20 or so years. Early goer's had the trails mostly to themselves. Be careful, Moab is addictive.

If you've got time to yourself, I'd suggest you take a day and run Elephant Hill (down south). It'll put both you and the vehicle to the test. Another test will be up to the North East. Just roads... There is a geyser up to the north west. I think its Crystal Geyser. On the banks of he river. Pretty impressive.

Its fun to hear the comments of first timers after they get back.

We did the Shafer Trail several years ago, from the bottom. Problem was it was in a downpour, my wife and best friend were in the back seat, his wife up front with me. She was filming, I was concentrating. Konata88 knows all these folks, we're no youngsters, it was exciting.

quote:

Originally posted by UTsig:
We did the Shafer Trail several years ago, from the bottom. Problem was it was in a downpour, my wife and best friend were in the back seat, his wife up front with me. She was filming, I was concentrating. Konata88 knows all these folks, we're no youngsters, it was exciting.

Hi UTsig: good times. Would love to visit your neighborhood again someday. I enjoyed playing in the sand and the canyons. Would like to visit some of those places I see in recovery videos.

I can't imagine going up or down that trail in a downpour. Poor visibility. Slippery rock. Bumpy trail. Flowing water and poor drainage. Loose dirt / gravel on hardpack. Mud. Tight squeezes. No guard rails at the cliff.

If not for your capable vehicle, I'm sure it would be a white knuckle experience.

I think I posted this one before. The infamous Black Bear Pass in Colorado. You can see where I am at there's a water seep across the trail. I think what happened is earlier in the day the "not mine" Jeep either hit it too fast, or maybe it was frozen, and off they went.

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
I think I posted this one before. The infamous Black Bear Pass in Colorado. You can see where I am at there's a water seep across the trail. I think what happened is earlier in the day the "not mine" Jeep either hit it too fast, or maybe it was frozen, and off they went.

Great pic. I still haven't mounted my badge yet. BBP is quite the experience.

quote:

I think I posted this one before. The infamous Black Bear Pass in Colorado. You can see where I am at there's a water seep across the trail. I think what happened is earlier in the day the "not mine" Jeep either hit it too fast, or maybe it was frozen, and off they went.

How did they recover that? Or did they?

Moab had huge floods this past weekend. Not sure how the retail and restaurants faired. I know at least one restaurant was flooded. I’ve heard all trails are open however I haven’t heard of any changed in ratings or possible issues. Something to keep in mind. Also if you can bring along some spare tie rods. I heard of several broncos breaking their tie rods over EJS.

If your into old westerns and movie history head over to red cliffs lodge one evening and eat there and tour their free western museum that showcases the films shot in the Moab area.

Two weeks away, getting plans finalized. First travel day is a banzai interstate run 865 miles to Salt Lake City. That long first day will give us time to swing through Bryce Canyon, up to Rainbow Point and the head into Moab via Escalante on Hwy 12.

Rodeo is the day after we arrive in Moab and it will be a full day (8 am-6 pm). The following day we will spend in Arches with an early arrival before the timed entry stuff starts.

Final full day will be spent in Canyon Lands, hoping for Dead Horse Point, Schafer Trail, Mesa Arch, and whatever else we can cram in.

On the day we leave, will have a few hours we can spend in the area before heading north. Haven’t decided what will fill that time yet.

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
If you're into photography…

We both are. I’ll be bringing my drone as well. Hoping to get some aerial “glamour shots” of DaBronco.

quote:

You're right, off-roading is a bit of a "just one more piece of gear" activity. In fact, "Jeep" stand for "Just Empty Every Pocket". I'm sure that "Bronco" has a similar meaning. But then, you are already into shooting and photography, so you should be used to that.

I really don’t need another expensive interest. Not planning on going lift, tires, wheels on it. I expect of the 80,000 or so miles I end up putting on it, fewer than 10% will be off road and most of those will just be forest service stuff.

quote:

Don't let the Schaeffer Road scare you. Just put the Bronco in 4WD Lo and 1st or 2nd gear and let it creep itself down. Once you get down to the river, hike to Corona Arch too:

Everything I have come across says Schafer Road is pretty easy, the switchbacks just look crazy. Definitely will be hitting it and getting lots of pics.

quote:

Originally posted by roadkill:
Moab had huge floods this past weekend… Also if you can bring along some spare tie rods. I heard of several broncos breaking their tie rods over EJS.

If your into old westerns and movie history head over to red cliffs lodge one evening and eat there and tour their free western museum that showcases the films shot in the Moab area.

Thanks for the flood info. Will keep an eye on conditions and ask the pros at the rodeo for updates.

Everyone in the Bronco forums say tie-rod issue only comes up with the added stress of lifts, 35” and larger tires, and doing the more complicated rock-crawl stuff.

I am on 32” tires and toughest trails I expect to face (at least for now) is “moderate” with none of that rock-crawl stuff. Stock front/rear bumpers and not wanting to damage the rig far from home will also limit potential TR issues by restricting how hard I am pushing anything.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
…I bet there's a bunch of towing.

Been watching a lot of YouTube vids where Broncos are recovering stuck Jeeps. Since it will be all Broncos at the rodeo, shouldn’t have to worry about it too much

quote:

… Be careful, Moab is addictive.

If you've got time to yourself, I'd suggest you take a day and run Elephant Hill (down south). It'll put both you and the vehicle to the test. Another test will be up to the North East. Just roads... Smile There is a geyser up to the north west. I think its Crystal Geyser. On the banks of he river. Pretty impressive.

Elephant Hill and Crystal Geyser are a “no” at this point. Rated “difficult”, skid plates suggested, and not for “stock” rigs.

I have the “comfort” edition Bronco (Outer Banks trim). It has a plastic skid plate up front that is probably more aesthetic than functional. The rest of the belly is unprotected at this point.

Who knows, if I get addicted it seems the sky and your bank account are the only limit on what can be done to meet the more challenging trails.

Tie Rod reinforcement - $400
Lift/wheels/tires - $3500
Off-road bumpers - $3000
Full skid system -$2700
Rock Sliders - $1500

For only $11K+ I could really turn it into a beast! Hmm, that is actually considerably less than what I have in camera gear…


Looking like it will be about a 2800 mile week, good shake down trip. I just realized yesterday I have had it over a month now, 1000 miles and have yet to drive it in the dark

Keep the recommendations coming, I appreciate all info!

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