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Dave Beedon | all galleries >> Places >> Utah >> Moab (environs) >> Shafer Trail >> Shafer Trail: First Visit >> Remainder > The road ahead
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9 Jul 2004 Dave Beedon

The road ahead

Shafer Trail, Utah

Looking west up Shafer Canyon. I was still optimistic, but wondering if I would taste the thrill of victory of
conquering the Shafer Canyon switchbacks. Out of view ahead are some "fun" curves in the road: bumpy as hell,
lots of rocks of various sizes (many loose), and little room to turn around. It was there that my trusty
steed, BLU WGN, seemed to achieve its level of incompetence, barely maintaining forward progress even in
four-wheel drive. That a person in a more capable vehicle urged me to not go further---because of even worse
conditions---helped soothe the agony of defeat. Turning around was a chore, as I had to get out of 4WD to do it.


other sizes: small medium large auto
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Dave Beedon09-Jul-2006 08:21
Thanks for the update, Don. I still have not been on the Shafer switchbacks. But sections of the White Rim Trail (http://www.pbase.com/listorama/2006ut_wrt ) gave me the shakes. I promise not to tell your wife.
Don Casey 07-Jul-2006 00:26
OK; so what you missed up ahead was a white-knuckle climb up a near vertical cliff with some serious dropoffs and minimal room for two cars to pass. Had to put my Expedition in 4X4 low range to make it (road got considerably rougher), and had to peel my wife off the grab bar at the end of the drive and promise never again.

Oh yeah; I had to stop shooting pics (Nikon D70) at about this point as wife insisted I pay attention to driving. Missed lots of fine views.

P.S. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Don't tell my wife.
kimberly borchardt06-Dec-2005 05:41
.....one of these days you'll have to invest in a "real" SUV...!
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