Another classic, this trail is also just
outside and above of town, but is shorter,
leaving plenty of time to fit another in.
Along the east side of the Colorado lies
three main trails: Moab Rim, Pritchett
Canyon, and Kane Creek. Bob did 5.0 rated
Pritchett last year with the High Country
Renegades and it can be a full day trail
so we chose Kane for our second run. Cliff
Hanger is a little further down too, but
the Rim gave them their vertigo fix for
the day.
The main interest/difficulty in
running the Rim is that all the obstacles
tend to tilt you away from it, more
towards the river and highway below side.
Given that you continue to drive alongside
the two, it can make things a little
hairy.
At many points, the reflective
river below, gives the bearing searching
brain, the illusion that it has become
sky. Your Jeep windows do point towards
the waters, thus lending to that reality.
Even the cameras were confused by the
horizon and levels. Once you've gotten used
to the Rim's cants, it actually made
things more tippy (especially for the
larger vehicles) since you believed the
ground you were currently on to be level.
A few times a second approach was needed
to keep the Jeeps from teetering off the
added approaches of the obstacles.
We stayed in the shadows on the way up and
were treated to a great view of the town
when we came around the corner. Pics were
taken and even Arches National Park was in
view.
Returning the way we came added a little
extra downward momentum factor, but the
boys were figuring out the planes were not
always what they seemed. A few spots,
directions, and trust here
in there helped the progress. We met a
large group coming up so we pulled off and
let them pass.
Once we met back down at the trailhead, we
continued on down the river to
Kane Creek
with the knowledge we'd be coming out SE
of town on the 191.
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