Evren":18afhwx0 said:
So... would you guys suggest a vantage point I can easily hike to, that would give me maximum opportunity to see & photograph some of this action up close?
Hiking is a little rough since a lot of the classic obstacles are several miles in - having (renting perhaps?) a mountain bike would make it a whole lot more enjoyable. Hells Revenge is the easiest, esp. since it's intimate with the slick rock bike trail (which isn't easy, btw). Near by is Potato Salad Hill, also infamous for roll-overs. Pritchett Canyon is another one, since you can walk it faster than a Jeep can drive it and it has several notorious obstacles, but again, several miles in from the trailhead. The opening part of Clilffhanger (aka Amasa Back) is another possibility. Moab Rim off of the road to Kane Creek (the street with McDonald's on the corner) maybe as well.
There are a lot of difficult obstacles on Golden Spike, but it's a long trip to get to them (not hikeable).
The real trick is to be there when someone is actually running the trail. Pritchett and Moab Rim don't get done as often due to their difficulty (there's about a 10% wounded vehicle rate for those trails). For that reason, the HR area is probably your best bet since Dan Mick regularly runs trips there. At worst you'd have a good day of mountain biking.
Evren":18afhwx0 said:
Is it worthwhile, if you don't have any skin in the game?
Hard to answer. Yeah, it's cool to watch if you're into it - others may find it boring after watching one vehicle. Remember that a lot of the videos are shot during Easter Jeep Safari, hence the throngs watching and the party atmosphere.
Another option would be a Dan Mick tour, but it is pricey: $300 for a half day for 3 people, $350 for 4; $600 for a full day. Find a group you can hook up with? Call them and see if they can include you with other solos or small family?
Option 2 would be to rent your own jeep - about $100/day - and do one or some of the easier trails:
Chicken Corners
up Long Canyon down Shafer and out Potash (or reverse)
Gemini Bridges
Tusher Canyon/Merrimac & Monitor Buttes
Onion Creek
The 4x4 trail in Arches - inquire at the visitor center about conditions (some sections of deep-ish sand)
Colorado River Overlook - starts at the visitor center in the Needes district of Canyonlands NP, an hour south of Moab. Again inquire about conditions before heading down - it's frequently closed after rains.
