This trip report  includes excerpts from authors Phil Smith, Johnathan Kazmierczak, and Vincent Nguyen.

All photos and excerpts compliments of "JeepGeek"

The new Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails describes Pritchett Canyon: "Considered by many to be the toughest four miles in all of Moab.  It's rare not to have at least one or two vehicles with major breakdowns." Well, our group was true to the prediction with three major breakdowns, resulting in leaving one vehicle in the canyon overnight. Hans

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The beginning of Pritchett Canyon

The Trail:

    The Pritchett Canyon Trail (4+rated) awaits the players.  On Saturday morning April Fool's (premonition?)Day 2000, we carefully enter the canyon just off the Colorado River SW of Moab.  Up the canyon trail at 1.7 miles there's a steep descent which is followed by a major ascending rock obstacle. The descent was uneventful except for some undercarriage banging. The Scrambler, with it's loud V8, seemed to have a problem with the ascent. Most everyone else cleared, even if it required two attempts for locked vehicles, but "JeepGeek" needed strapping because of his open diffs.

Making it look easy...	Wade powering through the obstacle...

    Toward "Rocker Knocker", the green frog decided to do an optional [only for him] riverbed that had boulders larger than his 40" boggers.  Although it took some time, it gave us a photo op, including Dooley standing up underneath the monster Bronco.

    At the "BathTub", three locked vehicles were successful without stopping, but it was not the case for some others, including Dooley in his custom Scrambler.  Of course the obvious path was not challenging enough. He had to attempt the extreme line, something more in line with the vehicle's potential.  That option resulted in a cracked Dana 44 front axle U-joint and it simultaneously broke at the splines, (had to watch out for the shrapnel on that one).  He attached to my rear frame and winched himself out. The repair took more than an hour.

Jon lookin good out of the "Tub"

"Redneck" welder using a bailing wire,  jumper cables, and a battery.

    While Dean and Dooley were busy with the axle, others were attempting "Rocker Knocker" just up the hill from the "BathTub". To look at it, it seems that you should be able to crawl right up with lockers and Phil did just that.  My failed attempts lead me to the go-around where I tried to break an axle but failed at both.  So I was strapped up the go-around…yes the bypass.  Did I tell you it was a tough trail?  The only other vehicle to successfully climb both levels was the Scrambler, after the repair was completed.  The second level caused a problem for "JeepGeek",  because of his open diffs, but became nauseating to Jon when he broke the rear driveshaft U-joint, sprung the driveshaft yoke and pulled the control arm apart. From then on Jon had front wheel drive only, and had to be strapped up the subsequent obstacles.

    From the small shelf on Pritchett, it's a pretty view up the narrow canyon. At this point dirt bikers told us that a vehicle rolled it at the "BathTub". Subsequent obstacles up the canyon made it difficult for non-locked vehicles. Lots of scrapping and strapping. The 6 foot "Rock Pile" was too difficult for anyone except Jon.  Someone had removed the "Rocks" from the "Pile", and it was a wall. He was strapped up, and therefore the only one to make it.  The bypass was a difficult one again…to the extent of causing our third major damage, the right rear axle of Wade's TJ.  Although he had a replacement, the ARB locker could not be disengaged to release the broken piece in the housing.

Hans easily makes it up "Rock Pile"

    So Wade's TJ spent the night in Pritchett Canyon. We did winch him up the obstacle unto the plateau so that subsequent trail riders wouldn't push him into the gully in anger because that was the only way up.

    Sunday morning April 2nd, Wade found the special tool, and with the help of Vinnie [JeepGeek], Phil, and Dave, they were able to repair the Jeep and do the Behind the Rocks trail, which is why Phil came to Moab originally.  He is going to lead Behind the Rocks for the Jamboree later this month, and only used Pritchett on Saturday to get there. Johnathan and I helped Jon repair his drive shaft at camp, and by the time we finished, it was time to break camp and head home, which was another adventure with the snow and ice on I70.

The Trail Quote:

As Phil said it best: Pritchett Canyon,"…more or less kicked our collective butts."

More Photos of the April Fool's 2000 trip: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=145180&a=1061832

Here are some other Pritchett Canyon Trip reports:

Pritchett Canyon EJS 99': http://www.4x4now.com/33jspc.htm

Pritchett Canyon EJS 98': http://www.moab-offroad.com/EJS98/98Trails/Pritchett/

Pritchett Canyon EJS 97': http://www.4x4now.com/31jspc.htm

Pritchett Canyon EJS 96': http://www.4x4now.com/pc.htm

Pritchett Canyon Jeep Trail: http://www.moab4x4.com/pc.htm

Pritchett Canyon by Midwest JeepThing: http://www.jeepthing.com/032399/index2.htm

Extreme or "Idiotic" Shot of "Rocker Knocker": http://www.geocities.com/Baja/2725/extreme2.html

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