The landscape in Moab, Utah U.S.A. looks like what you might imagine the surface of Mars looks like, featuring red-rock cliffs, arches and jutting formations that have been impossibly carved out by water over time. Despite the label "slick rock", the sandstone rock surface that lies under foot and tire provides a remarkably good grip, allowing hikers, mountain bikes and 4x4's to scale the steepest slopes imaginable, climb in and out of deep holes, and dance along the rim of sheer cliffs that overlook the roads below from dizzying heights. The air is hot and dry, and anywhere the tiniest collection of rainwater remains, stubborn scraggly old trees tougher than any person grow proudly. The long wheelbase, width and stability of HUMMER vehicles make them the perfect vehicle for seeing this open and spectacular natural playground - so HUMMER drivers love Moab.
The HUMMER Club, Inc (THCI) holds an event in Moab every year, sending out a call to Hummer owners from around the U.S. to congregate and traverse the slick rock. The majority of attendees drove H1 at the event this year, while a handful of H2 and H3 vehicles interjected themselves into the convoys. Some chose to stick to easier trails and enjoy the view from a safe distance, while others chose to push their trucks to the limit - or even slightly beyond. One driver rolled his H1 on to its roof early in the week. After getting the truck right side up and waiting an hour for the oil to drain back down, the truck was restarted, and that vehicle wheeled for the remainder of the week (albeit with a cracked windshield and some body damage) - a testament to the tough build of the HUMMER nonetheless.
One of the more famous trails in all of Moab is called Golden Spike, and famous Moab trail-guide Dan Mick knows the trail better than anyone else on the planet. As luck would have it, this year Mick's birthday fell on a day when THCI was going out on Golden Spike, so the club had the privilege of going out on the trail with him during the day, and taking him out to celebrate his birthday by night. Mick is half trail-guide, half tour-guide. His voice casually rolls along over the CB broadcast as the trucks progress through the trail, providing technical information about approaching obstacles, local history (one gets the sense that the stories he tells lie somewhere between reality and folklore), and a joke for every occasion. He is so good at his job that visiting Moab without experiencing Golden Spike led by Mick would be a shame.
THCI provides technical support at their events, something those who break on the trail appreciate immensely. Usually the crew can get a vehicle back up and running in time to ride on the trails the next day without missing a beat. If you are a HUMMER owner interested in joining the club at Moab next year, or on one of their other events elsewhere in North America, you can visit The HUMMER Club, Inc website at http://www.thehummerclubinc.com for information about joining. Or, if you wheel in a different kind of rig, but want to explore Moab, look up Dan Mick's services at http://www.danmick.com.
Words and Pictures by
Manny MacMillan
4x4OffRoads.com
