2013 T.A.C.O. Moab Gathering OFFICIAL photo thread.

Not sure I agree with you here. So because I did not run Rock Knocker or Widowmaker I did not run Metal Masher? Or if I did not do Escalator I have not run Hell's? Most would say those are optional, but what is really the difference between optional and a bypass? You have an option either way, and are not mandatory to get from one end of the trail to the other.

edit: I do see your point though about about taking every bypass/option just say you have run a trail though.

 

Well that would mean you ran the trails but didn't Conquer them. I ran metal masher but we skipped Rock Chucker and WidowMaker. However I did all obstacles on Hells, SteelBender, and Poison Spider. I am under the impression that to get a full clear all obstacle must be done on your own power (no getting pulled or pushed by someone else). Just my 2cents

 

I'm not saying that you should never take a bypass. Being smart on the trail is what it's about. Last year during our Trifecta run nobody chose to the the DoubleWhammy. Even though I've done it in the past, it was the smart thing to bypass it that day because we were already late in the day and the risk on that obstacle is high. Had someone in the group broke or rolled on that obstacle it would have put the entire group getting back MUCH later than we already were.

All I'm saying is to be realistic about your capabilities and the capabilities of your truck. If you know that you will need to winch every tough obstacle or take the bypass to get through a trail, then you're probably in over your head. Obviously I can't stop anyone from running any trail they want, and I'm all for trying to push your limits. If I only ran trails I knew I could walk through without any challenge than I wouldn't have ever run most of the trails I've been on. But at the same time there's a reason I'm not running Pritchett in my Tacoma. Could I do it. I'm sure I could. But I should really have a better setup to do it the right way. Until I have a front locker in my Tacoma, Pritchett just isn't going to be a trail I run.

 

I think we are all on the same page here in regards to realistic expectations of your rig, it's capabilities, and what trails are within them, but for the sake of argument, did you do all of the hot tubs on Hell's as well? If not (and I am going to guess that you did not) does that mean you still haven't "conquered" Hells? I would certainly not say so. There are optional obstacle on most all of the trails in Moab that a large portion of drivers can't and won't attempt, but to say they have not done the trail doesn't seem right to me.

 

Optional obstacles are just that. Optional. Pritchett is the trail that started this discussion and it's different from most trails in Moab in that nearly all of it's obstacles are part of the trail, not optional. The bypasses that do exist are relatively new and exist because people that shouldn't have been on the trail in the first place are trying to run them and can't run the trail as it was intended. Escalator or the difficult hottubs on Hells are side obstacles that add to the difficulty of the trail and it's cool that those obstacles are there for people but they are not on the main trail. Rockchucker and Widow Maker are in the same category.

 

Agreed.

 

Yep that is true I still have two hot tubs that I need to do. Thanks for catching that for me lol I only did Mickey hot tub. Might try devils next year though. So I regress I only did everything in poison spider and SteelBender lol I am looking forward to this next year though as I am a lot more comfortable with my rig now

 

Just watch out for that off camber stuff haha

 

Haha, not trying to get into a pissing match, just making a point. They were all slap full of water this weekend, and even fully locked rigs weren't even getting close to getting up them.

 

All I want to know is can I still put the sticker on my truck if I do a bypass on any trail? I really want the extra power of the sticker, but don't want to risk a scratch on the mall crawler.

Okay now for some actual questions. I am a definitely one of the new guys to wheeling so I am just trying to clarify.

Would the following be accurate?
Seeing/experiencing the trail vs conquering it are two different beasts.

-If you end up bypassing something too technical for your rig yeah you still ran (saw and experienced) the trail.

-From a competition, conquer, technical perspective one would need to complete all obstacles under your own power.

Are there other rules? For example is rock stacking allowed?

 

if you bypass or stack rocks or pull line...just gives you an excuse to come back to the trail at a later date with a different setup and conquer it without aid

 

Prettttyyyyy much my way of thinking haha

 

Yup, I have been thinking about Rock Chucker ever since I had to pass it by, next time (and a much lighter wallet).

 

Shit I just need to re conquer the area BFE road....lol

 

Agreed! We drive Tacomas that are basically DD's not dedicated rock buggies. That puts like half of the obstacles in Moab forever out of our reach anyway. No point in arguing that you completed trails. Just go see what you can do and have fun doing it!

 

Well I definitely had fun. ... Still working on the douchebag part.

 

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But seriously..I still need to conquer area BFE entrance road..hardest trail I've ever done

 

^

http://youtu.be/9Ee3xemyQjI

 

I don't think I would say hardest... but definitely the most destructive. haha