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Show fAoab Rim is Still The Toughest of All For the courageous adventurer, ad-venturer, the Moab Rim trail offers breathtaking excitement as jeepers encounter en-counter challenging steep slopes of a nearly ver-ticle ver-ticle wall, hence its common com-mon name of 'cliffhang-er 'cliffhang-er trail." Experienced jeepherder Brig Larsen will head the Safari group, choosing choos-ing the route of this mag -nificent piece of jeep trail which begins a mile downriver down-river from the Colorado River portal. Less than a hundred yards from the BLM sign directing where to leave Cane Creek road is the trail which starts abruptly upward over the steeply sloping strata. This is the only access -; into a section of Behind-the-Rocks country that lies just beyond the high the-Rocks country that lies just beyond the high rim to the west of Moab Valley. One of the richest rewards re-wards for jeepers on this trail is the view found at the top of the rim I of Moab Valley with the panorama of red rock and I mountains lying beyond. From here the trail is I fairly easy for a short distance until it again presents' a variety of challenges as it works through the wild, rugged terrain. Descending now to fol-I fol-I low the general slope of the rocky land, the trail I soon crosses a dry stream course, and then I begins the ascension up . through brush encrusted sand dunes and steep islickrock domes leading to an ancient Indian fort. Petroglvphs may also be ! seen in a cave near an alternate route which leads from another rim viewpoint near the end of the trail. This branch trail plunges down a bluff of soft dune sand following follow-ing a dry stream bed to rejoin the main trail. The trip back down is the most challenging part of the Moab Rim Trail as only limited visibility of the trail is possible making the descent even more thrilling than the--ascent. Skillful brake work will be necessary despite low gear travel, although traction is good since the trail here is almost solid rock. |