Click on Santana, Top Gun, Bob Marley, Rocky, AC/DC, Mission Impossible,
Beach Boys, Axle's Theme, James Bond, Van Halen, or the Eagles while you browse the Hell's Revenge Report...
Trip Leader--Hobo Willy-- recommends alittle AC/DC...
On Friday May 23rd, we set out from camp towards Moab and City Market. For Memorial Day Weekend, it wasn't as crowded as I expected, in fact ALL day we never saw another 4x4 on Hell's. The temps were pleasant (though toasty low 90's mid-day), as we headed off to the trailhead. We aired down and disconnected for the weekend near Lion's Back. If there is one trail you ever do in Moab it has to be Hell's Revenge. It's what 'Slickrock Jeepin' in Moab' is all about. You climb on slickrock for most of the trail, and the scenery along the ridgeline is spectacular! After the Easter Jeep Safari's, and with Well's book, it's pretty hard to get lost on this trail these days. Also, with more tires on the trail these days, the slickrock is becoming more and more blacktop. Please try to eliminate excessive tire chirp around corners to help keep the slickrock cleaner.
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Cool Air Photo of Hell's Revenge Trail (Zoom in or out, use Topo to see the trail) |
Trail map of Hell's RevengeTrail
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I (with my jeepin-sidekick Molly) lead the way as Jed 'Clampett' McClelland (CJ7), Jim McCleland (TJ), Marc 'Nugget' & Kristen Gilbertson (CJ7) followed. We paid our fee at the gate ($5), and started the morning off on the mini lion's back fin, and back to the Dump Bump at the entrance to Hell's Revenge. If you ever get to Moab with your Jeep, don't leave until you do Hell's Revenge Trail! This is what Moab is all about 'Slickrock'!!
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The 1st mini fin, 'Dump Bump' is center right (2000)... Note: due to the lack of photos, I have inserted previous trip photos in parenthesis, other undated photos are from this year's run. |
Jed and Jim took a shot at the Dump Bump, both never made it up though. Jed's misfortune started on the 1st obstacle of the 1st trip, of the whole weekend. He had his rear tires up and was bouncing up Dump Bump when a clicking noise came from his Jeep. Come to find out, the right hub somehow blew out, and he was in 3 wheel drive on Hell's. Thru semi-dry Lake Michigan and past the gate ledges, we made our way to the small tubs, then the steep fun slickrock climbs of Hell's Revenge.
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Jed's try at 'Dump Bump', ends in 'click'... |
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In 1999, Lake Michigan was full... |
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On to some small tubs below (2002)... |
The sensation of climbing slickrock is great! Your experience tells you 'that's too steep!', but traction says otherwise. I always wonder how my carb will do, but it never let me down. This is some of the best of Moab!
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The steep slickrock climbs of Hell's Revenge (2000)... |
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Slickrock everywhere! Here is one of the 1st steep climbs (from 2002)... |
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Scenery and slickrock... |
I headed NE along the sandy and easy stretch, working our way towards the Colorado overlook and lunch. A great view at the overlook for lunch with temps in the low 90's, and puffy clouds canvassed the red rock scenery----ahhhhh Moab!! Some 'yahoo' had driven his rig right to the edge, one wrong move and it's goodbye. Why do people insist going off established trails??
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The Colorado River Overlook (2002)... |
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Molly stays 'cool' under the Bikini at the overlook, after a quick (on the leash) 'lizard hunt'... |
Ater a nice lunch, we took a look at Hell's Gate. Marc and Jim headed down the north gate. Marc came back up all smiles, and Jim came up the south gate nice and easy. Marc busted his passenger u-joint, and unlocked. He was now rear wheel drive (locker in rear-same as last year), as we moved on to the loop west towards and around the Black Hole (which is a small crescent-shaped cliff) and up to the higher ridgeline of slickrock. One turn above it is pretty intimidating, with a 200+ drop off. If your steering wheel devilishly turns left on you when you want to turn right, you'll be sucked down the 'Black Hole'. The climb was fun, as some steep slickrock climbs and turns kept you on your toes.
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Hell's Gate near the overlook (from 2000)... |
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Looking West, the Black Hole and the ridgeline ahead (2001)... |
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Looking North up above the Black Hole which is below, as we climb up to the ridgeline (2001)... |
Once on the ridgeline there are a few depressions (tubs). We took on the easiest, and the other two (one called Mickey's Hot Tub) has a steep exit. All went in and out. One by one we entered and exited the tub, the slickrock traction makes the climbs effortless. There was about 6 inches of water in the bottom from all the recent rains. Cacti and other desert plant had nice flowers blooming.
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My 82CJ7 is 1st in the tub... |
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Jed drives his CJ7 in and out (2002)... |
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Mickey's Hot Tub nearby, and the Meeker Man (2001)... |
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He never got out on his own, he needed winched out (2001)... |
Once you arrive on the top of the 'Giant SlickRock Dome', welcome again to Moab, and slickrock country!! Vast mounds of rock lie before you for the rest of the day. Steep hill climbs and descents are the order of the day! The trail is well marked with flames on the trail, though there are many spurs, stay on the flames, and get the full enjoyment of the loop.
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| Hell's Revenge...a 'must do' on your trail list (photo from Sept 1999)... |
We made it off the steep dome descent back into the small valley of sand, and on over to 'Tip Over' obstacle. Jim took a shot at it, and did great! With a series of ledges, and an off camber ledge near the top, tire placement is key. Jed wanted to try, but without a front locker played it safe.
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| I did mention the beautiful slickrock didn't I??? (1999)... |
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| The steep drop off the ridgeline down to the sandy valley (2001)... |
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This year, Jim makes a nice left then right to stay perpendicular to 'Tip Over'... |
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| In 2000, Hobo 'WeiszGuy' got quite 'Tippy'... |
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| Jed in 2002, makes a nice right and left at 'Tip Over'... |
Still early, around 2pm, we headed back out the tight leaning gulch and thru some wicked articulation spots on the sandy stretch to the highway. We headed up the hard rocky left to the ridgeline and off to descend to the backside of Lion's Back. Everyone negotiated the tippy lean spot and we stopped for some great articulation photos off the last obstacle. Through the sand and back on pavement…. Hell's Revenge is all that!!
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| Part of the exit thru this tight lean (2001)... |
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| On one of the obstacles coming out, one can get 'flexy'... |
Jed and Marc needed to hit the auto parts store on Friday for parts. They wanted to get fixed for our 'Nite Run' over Sevenmile Rim. We all headed back into Moab for provisions and back to camp. They set up the 'Hobo Garage' next to each other under our camp shade tree. Jed got some overpriced Superwinch Hubs, and replaced them, and Marc tore down his right axle with hand tools. Both finished by 5pm and were ready to run!
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| Jed replaces his hubs at the 'Hobo Garage'... |
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| ...while Marc replaces his front U-Joint with hand tools. |
Storyline, web design, and captions by:
Bill Hallinan HoboJeepers
Here are some other Hell's Revenge Trip reports:
2002
HoboJeepers Hell's Revenge Trail
2001
HoboJeepers Hell's Revenge Trail
2000
HoboJeepers Fin's and Things/Hell's Revenge Trail
2000
HoboJeepers Hell's Revenge Trail 110%
1999
HoboJeepers Hell's Revenge Trail
Hell's Revenge Trail by 4x4Trails.net:
http://www.4x4trails.net/db_view_trail.asp?trailNum=210
Hell's Revenge Trail by Mike Millen:
http://www.moab-offroad.com/EJS98/98Trails/HellsRevenge/
33rd Annual Easter Jeep Safari Hells Revenge by Flatlander:
http://www.4x4now.com/33jshr.htm
30th Annual Easter Jeep Safari Hells Revenge by Flatlander:
31st Annual Easter Jeep Safari Hells Revenge by Flatlander:
http://www.4x4now.com/31jshr.htm
Rockcrawler’s 1998 Hells Revenge Trail Report:
http://www.rockcrawler.com/trailreports/moab98/friday/friday.htm
Hell's Revenge SevenMile Rim 'Nite Run' Pritchett Canyon
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