Fins & Things 2001 - Moab, Utah

Fins & Things Trail - Cruise Moab 2001
Moab, Utah
3 May 2001
Pictures by Matt Farr

Fins & Things is inside the Sand Flats Recreation Area. It consists of some very steep climbs and drops that will make your palms sweat -- at least, it did mine. This is considered a difficult trail. It's also confusing; I was glad we had experienced guides to lead the way. This was our first trail on the first day of Cruise Moab 2001. It was alternately sunny and rainy. Many of the local Moab residents claimed that three straight days of rain in May was unusual. I didn't even get a sunburn.

Large \| XL Fins & Things consists almost entirely of "slick rock," which provides excellent traction despite its name.	Large \| XL Amando from L.A. demonstrated that FZJ-80 Land Cruisers are fully capable and look cool with a snorkle.	Large \| XL Canadians Derek and Sheldon drove 23 hours from Ragina, Saskatchewan so they could scrape the back bumper of Derek's 1986 HJ-60. HJ means diesel.	Large \| XL I've forgotten his name, but this guy was from Pagosa Springs, Colorado. He had HUGE tires on his FJ-80 and a V8 under the hood. Suffice it to say, he did not scrape his back bumper.

Large \| XL Steep hills? No problem.	Large \| XL Steve in his mighty fine FJ-60. "Scrape!"	Large \| XL A sweet FJ-40.	Large \| XL This thing is amazing.

Large \| XL My 81 Cruiser, rear view, with new Rancho RS9000 shocks.	Large \| XL Things are looking up.	Large \| XL A little tire spin.	Large \| XL Lunchtime.

Large \| XL What lunch break would be complete without a few repairs?	Large \| XL It was sunny and beautiful at midday.	Large \| XL Dave & Linda Spratlin, our trail leaders, drove this clean, mean FJ-40.	Large \| XL Amber Toepper in her 77 FJ-40.

Large \| XL	Large \| XL	Large \| XL Dave DeLong at the wheel.	Large \| XL

Large \| XL We kept the top on to keep the Rain Spirits happy.	Large \| XL This guy located us by CB and GPS after going to get fuel.	Large \| XL Lots of steep climbs. This is Amber again.	Large \| XL We made it!

Large \| XL I love this picture. You can't do this with a minivan.	Large \| XL A good climb was had by all.	Large \| XL	Large \| XL The Fins get bigger and funner towards the end of the run. The path is well marked by the tires of those who have gone before.

Large \| XL Towards the end of the run, the fins become a roller coaster.	Large \| XL Ken's Climb is one of steepest climbs of the run.	Large \| XL Jim Toepper didn't quite get his wife's FJ-40 to the top.	Large \| XL It took three tries...

Large \| XL ...the third time I made it all the way to the top!	Large \| XL Jim Toepper drives HIS FJ-40 all the way to the top without a hitch.	Large \| XL I've already forgotten this guy's name. He's from New Mexico.

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Fins & Things is inside the Sand Flats Recreation Area. It consists of some very steep climbs and drops that will make your palms sweat -- at least, it did mine. This is considered a difficult trail. It's also confusing; I was glad we had experienced guides to lead the way. This was our first trail on the first day of Cruise Moab 2001. It was alternately sunny and rainy. Many of the local Moab residents claimed that three straight days of rain in May was unusual. I didn't even get a sunburn.

Large \| XL Fins & Things consists almost entirely of "slick rock," which provides excellent traction despite its name.	Large \| XL Amando from L.A. demonstrated that FZJ-80 Land Cruisers are fully capable and look cool with a snorkle.	Large \| XL Canadians Derek and Sheldon drove 23 hours from Ragina, Saskatchewan so they could scrape the back bumper of Derek's 1986 HJ-60. HJ means diesel.	Large \| XL I've forgotten his name, but this guy was from Pagosa Springs, Colorado. He had HUGE tires on his FJ-80 and a V8 under the hood. Suffice it to say, he did not scrape his back bumper.

Large \| XL Steep hills? No problem.	Large \| XL Steve in his mighty fine FJ-60. "Scrape!"	Large \| XL A sweet FJ-40.	Large \| XL This thing is amazing.

Large \| XL My 81 Cruiser, rear view, with new Rancho RS9000 shocks.	Large \| XL Things are looking up.	Large \| XL A little tire spin.	Large \| XL Lunchtime.

Large \| XL What lunch break would be complete without a few repairs?	Large \| XL It was sunny and beautiful at midday.	Large \| XL Dave & Linda Spratlin, our trail leaders, drove this clean, mean FJ-40.	Large \| XL Amber Toepper in her 77 FJ-40.

Large \| XL	Large \| XL	Large \| XL Dave DeLong at the wheel.	Large \| XL

Large \| XL We kept the top on to keep the Rain Spirits happy.	Large \| XL This guy located us by CB and GPS after going to get fuel.	Large \| XL Lots of steep climbs. This is Amber again.	Large \| XL We made it!

Large \| XL I love this picture. You can't do this with a minivan.	Large \| XL A good climb was had by all.	Large \| XL	Large \| XL The Fins get bigger and funner towards the end of the run. The path is well marked by the tires of those who have gone before.

Large \| XL Towards the end of the run, the fins become a roller coaster.	Large \| XL Ken's Climb is one of steepest climbs of the run.	Large \| XL Jim Toepper didn't quite get his wife's FJ-40 to the top.	Large \| XL It took three tries...

Large \| XL ...the third time I made it all the way to the top!	Large \| XL Jim Toepper drives HIS FJ-40 all the way to the top without a hitch.	Large \| XL I've already forgotten this guy's name. He's from New Mexico.