thearborbarber
1/2 ton status
What a great trip!!
CK5
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Desert Trip 2017: Trip Report.
- Thread starter ZooMad75
- Start date
Thursday broke to a clear morning. We break camp and take off before the heat of the day was overpowering.
Climbing in elevation on Beef Basin, we start seeing more vegetation.
Looking back into Canyonlands.
Seeing the greenery after all the rock was refreshing.
Morning rush hour on Beef Basin.
Soon enough we had traveled to the far south end of the trail and saw a new valley to descend into.
After another session of airing up, we pound pavment to Hall's Crossing for fuel.
There was a sign for Open Range we passed earlier. We found many a walking hamburger on the highway.
Still tracking to our target is to get to the fuel at the gas station at Hall’s crossing on Lake Powell. Little word to the wise on the racket going on here. You can see the fuel station from the entry gate for the park. You can’t go in unless you pay the entry fee. $40 to get it to buy fuel at a higher than average price. Ian is a Navy Vet and the gatekeeper couldn’t give a rat’s ass over it and said no discounts. Needless to say we were both pretty pissed over it. But they had us over a barrel and had no choice. We fuel up. Ian and I buy enough Ice to choke a horse and eat a couple of ice cream sandwiches for lunch to cool off. Gassed up and fleeced well, we took back off for the hole in the rock trail.
This end of the Hole in the Rock trail is not complete. It’s blocked shortly after the spot we ended up camping at. Much like crawling on the face of the sun, hot don’t come close to what it felt like. We stopped at an old Indian ruin to check it out part way in and then made our way down into a little creek.
Back in the slickrock again..
A green oasis, the climb out of the creek was a little challenge but fun.
Further down we get back to slick rock and find our campsite. It was early to camp but knowing the trail ends not far from here we chose to park and take it easy.
Ian and I take shade in Bill’s ez-up awning and hydrate. Everybody just chills.
Climbing in elevation on Beef Basin, we start seeing more vegetation.
Looking back into Canyonlands.
Seeing the greenery after all the rock was refreshing.
Morning rush hour on Beef Basin.
Soon enough we had traveled to the far south end of the trail and saw a new valley to descend into.
After another session of airing up, we pound pavment to Hall's Crossing for fuel.
There was a sign for Open Range we passed earlier. We found many a walking hamburger on the highway.
Still tracking to our target is to get to the fuel at the gas station at Hall’s crossing on Lake Powell. Little word to the wise on the racket going on here. You can see the fuel station from the entry gate for the park. You can’t go in unless you pay the entry fee. $40 to get it to buy fuel at a higher than average price. Ian is a Navy Vet and the gatekeeper couldn’t give a rat’s ass over it and said no discounts. Needless to say we were both pretty pissed over it. But they had us over a barrel and had no choice. We fuel up. Ian and I buy enough Ice to choke a horse and eat a couple of ice cream sandwiches for lunch to cool off. Gassed up and fleeced well, we took back off for the hole in the rock trail.
This end of the Hole in the Rock trail is not complete. It’s blocked shortly after the spot we ended up camping at. Much like crawling on the face of the sun, hot don’t come close to what it felt like. We stopped at an old Indian ruin to check it out part way in and then made our way down into a little creek.
Back in the slickrock again..
A green oasis, the climb out of the creek was a little challenge but fun.
Further down we get back to slick rock and find our campsite. It was early to camp but knowing the trail ends not far from here we chose to park and take it easy.
Ian and I take shade in Bill’s ez-up awning and hydrate. Everybody just chills.
Later on some venture out on foot to get a better view of the area. Larry takes a trip up the rock directly to the east and I catch him with my zoom as he's shooting back at us.
Here's his shot:
We much on chips and salsa washed down with beer. (can you tell we like salsa?)
It’s too hot to cook so Ian and I make a sandwich instead. Our last night on the trail we just relished in the calm and quiet.
Staying up late watching for satellites and the space station flying well overhead.
Continued for the push home.
Here's his shot:
We much on chips and salsa washed down with beer. (can you tell we like salsa?)
It’s too hot to cook so Ian and I make a sandwich instead. Our last night on the trail we just relished in the calm and quiet.
Staying up late watching for satellites and the space station flying well overhead.
Continued for the push home.
Thanks! The symptom is that the darn engine stalls. Not much warning, just a quick stumble and then it's off. It's a complete debacle with my exhaust guy just sucking in the right side pipe within the frame rail less than 2 inches to the fuel feed and return lines. We thought the guard worked as we didn't have an issue for the first 2 days on the trail. Ambient temp plays a factor and the north end of the swell was downright chilly compared to almost 3 hours south near Canyonlands and Lake Powell. Stay tuned as the condition got worse the final two days on the return home.
It certainly sounds like you are on the right track. Get that Chalet mounted and you'll have a comfy place to rest after a long day on the trail with us!
Morning has us breaking camp again before the heat of the day. While the campers were still closing up Bill and Jenn, Ian and I decided to go down and check out where the end of the trail is.
It looked do-able but we respected the fact it was closed and turned around. Meeting back up with the others we start heading out. Coming out a different way than we came we discovered a couple of cool relics, an International truck and a neat half-track left to waste away in the heat. It’s too dry to rust out here, so it will probably be here for decades to come.
Just needs fuel and battery.
They don't make diamond plate like this anymore. Really cool.
Crazy thing was those rear idler wheels still spin like they are new. Ian spun one and it went for minutes without stopping.
Pressing on, we made it back to the road and aired up for the last time.
The group would stay together to the bottom of the Moki dugway and split up from there. Not too much later of pavement pounding we hit the spot for the Moki Dugway. They had traffic stopped to run a pilot car with the group one direction at a time. Naturally due to the heat and waiting, the Blazer cooked the fuel system again and it stalled in line. Just before we get the go signal. Getting good at the process we get the truck running before we miss our chance to drive down. It’s long way down on a serpentine dirt road leading into a wide flat valley near the Valley of the Gods.
That's me way down there..
Our decent completed we stopped at the bottom for a final lunch. We all gave good wishes for safe travels as Ty and Jodi headed with Don to his place in Flagstaff. Bill and Jenn headed for Durango while Larry, Lynn, Ian and I headed for Hovenweep near the Colorado border. The road was hot, for us without a/c at least. We stopped in Bluff to stock up on ice, water and Gatorade. We ended back on Utah 191 and the fuel gremlins struck hard. We end up waiting to let it cool.
Make it to our turn when it shut down again, wait some more and finally mentally broken we just want to make some progress we take to the tow strap and ride behind Larry for a ways to let it cool.
Me riding behind Larry's towing service. You call, he hauls.
We stop and fire it up and drive until it stalls and repeat the process again. We make it to Hovenweep and it drives in under it’s own power.
We pack into one campsite.
This picture was shot shortly before the damn left tailgate cable snapped with me on the gate. While I'm a big guy, the cable was compromised being crusty and having a few broken threads already. Larry and Ian laughed like 10 year old boys for about 20 minutes though. My size didn't help, but I swear it wasn't me!
Lynn makes us a great dinner after we all use the shower again. Lynn ends up meeting another lady walking her dog and talking with her for a while as Larry, Ian and I BS to each other.
The setting sun really highlights my beard don't it.
Sun Setting on another day.
It looked do-able but we respected the fact it was closed and turned around. Meeting back up with the others we start heading out. Coming out a different way than we came we discovered a couple of cool relics, an International truck and a neat half-track left to waste away in the heat. It’s too dry to rust out here, so it will probably be here for decades to come.
Just needs fuel and battery.
They don't make diamond plate like this anymore. Really cool.
Crazy thing was those rear idler wheels still spin like they are new. Ian spun one and it went for minutes without stopping.
Pressing on, we made it back to the road and aired up for the last time.
The group would stay together to the bottom of the Moki dugway and split up from there. Not too much later of pavement pounding we hit the spot for the Moki Dugway. They had traffic stopped to run a pilot car with the group one direction at a time. Naturally due to the heat and waiting, the Blazer cooked the fuel system again and it stalled in line. Just before we get the go signal. Getting good at the process we get the truck running before we miss our chance to drive down. It’s long way down on a serpentine dirt road leading into a wide flat valley near the Valley of the Gods.
That's me way down there..
Our decent completed we stopped at the bottom for a final lunch. We all gave good wishes for safe travels as Ty and Jodi headed with Don to his place in Flagstaff. Bill and Jenn headed for Durango while Larry, Lynn, Ian and I headed for Hovenweep near the Colorado border. The road was hot, for us without a/c at least. We stopped in Bluff to stock up on ice, water and Gatorade. We ended back on Utah 191 and the fuel gremlins struck hard. We end up waiting to let it cool.
Make it to our turn when it shut down again, wait some more and finally mentally broken we just want to make some progress we take to the tow strap and ride behind Larry for a ways to let it cool.
Me riding behind Larry's towing service. You call, he hauls.
We stop and fire it up and drive until it stalls and repeat the process again. We make it to Hovenweep and it drives in under it’s own power.
We pack into one campsite.
This picture was shot shortly before the damn left tailgate cable snapped with me on the gate. While I'm a big guy, the cable was compromised being crusty and having a few broken threads already. Larry and Ian laughed like 10 year old boys for about 20 minutes though. My size didn't help, but I swear it wasn't me!
Lynn makes us a great dinner after we all use the shower again. Lynn ends up meeting another lady walking her dog and talking with her for a while as Larry, Ian and I BS to each other.
The setting sun really highlights my beard don't it.
Sun Setting on another day.
Our final morning we pack up in short order and Lynn is gone. She had promised to go walk in the morning with the lady from last night so we got to hunt her down before we hit the road. We blitz the back roads over the border to Cortez and gas up. Running through Durango and heading up to Wolf Creek pass. Another steep climb, but with the elevation gain much cooler than Utah. Still didn’t matter. A couple miles up the grade the Blazer cuts out again.
First stoppage on Wolf Creek Pass. Not a bad view for a stopping point. At least there is a wide shoulder.
We go through the process and take a shot for the summit to only make it another couple of miles. Wait some more time and make a shot for the final miles to the summit without another issue. Coasting down the other side we think we have it made. The San Luis Valley is wide and flat. No problem. Wrong. 90% of the way across the valley it quits near the turn for the Great Sand Dunes.
Wait some more and make it past Ft.Gardner to have it happen again. We brainstorm and decide to turn back to get fuel in Ft. Gardner before going after La Veta Pass. A fresh tank of cool fuel and we make the pass summit with no issues. Drive to Walsenburg and catch I-25 for the final push home to Pueblo.
Trip notes. Total Mileage right at 1,335 miles. Larry's K10 averaged 10.5mpg for the trip. My K5.3 averaged 12.67 for the whole trip. Not bad for being loaded to the gills. 3 coolers, camping gear and two good sized dudes.
Breakage report:
Me, one D44 stub axle, one tailgate cable and one plastic stepstool that succombed to me stomping on it all week.
Bill, One slashed Goodyear duratrac tire.
Don, One slashed Goodyear duratrac tire.
Larry, one smooshed leaf spring bushing.
Ty, no damage I can recall.
Overall for my first desert trip it was amazing. Most fun I've had on 4 wheels. Despite the heat and dust from day 3 on, Ian and I had a ball. Truly a mind over matter kind of thing. We had lots of cold water and gatorade for the driving time and took other efforts to keep cool. The heat won't keep me away, although A/C is on the wish list for later. The FWC camper probably killed having a/c in the short term, but knowing what we went through I know how to deal with it again.
I'm truly honored to have spent a week out in this majestic area with such a great group. We all got along like family, everybody pitched in to help everybody else when needed. Ian is a terrific spotter and was an excellent co-pilot to have riding with me. Great conversations during our hours upon hours of windshield time and excellent instructions when the trail got rough. His spotting made me look like a better driver. The K5.3 is a different animal to drive compared to my old one for sure. I used to play rock bouncer and hammer over or through stuff. This one allows me to drive with control and finesse. I love this truck.
I'm itching to go back for sure. Next June can't come soon enough. But while we wait I got a camper to finish. This way I'm not sleeping Fred Flinstone style.
@Larry should be chiming in with his perspective soon enough. We've got a ton of video to get posted up too. Also, it should be noted, the photos throughout the trip report we shot by all of us. Me, Larry, Ian and Jody all had great shots. If and when the actual photographer of the group (Don) gets up to sharing his photos we'll have more to share.
Happy to share the trip with all of you. Hope it inspires any of you all out there to get out and use your trucks for an adventure. Living a week out of the back of a K5 is something I'll never forget.
First stoppage on Wolf Creek Pass. Not a bad view for a stopping point. At least there is a wide shoulder.
We go through the process and take a shot for the summit to only make it another couple of miles. Wait some more time and make a shot for the final miles to the summit without another issue. Coasting down the other side we think we have it made. The San Luis Valley is wide and flat. No problem. Wrong. 90% of the way across the valley it quits near the turn for the Great Sand Dunes.
Wait some more and make it past Ft.Gardner to have it happen again. We brainstorm and decide to turn back to get fuel in Ft. Gardner before going after La Veta Pass. A fresh tank of cool fuel and we make the pass summit with no issues. Drive to Walsenburg and catch I-25 for the final push home to Pueblo.
Trip notes. Total Mileage right at 1,335 miles. Larry's K10 averaged 10.5mpg for the trip. My K5.3 averaged 12.67 for the whole trip. Not bad for being loaded to the gills. 3 coolers, camping gear and two good sized dudes.
Breakage report:
Me, one D44 stub axle, one tailgate cable and one plastic stepstool that succombed to me stomping on it all week.
Bill, One slashed Goodyear duratrac tire.
Don, One slashed Goodyear duratrac tire.
Larry, one smooshed leaf spring bushing.
Ty, no damage I can recall.
Overall for my first desert trip it was amazing. Most fun I've had on 4 wheels. Despite the heat and dust from day 3 on, Ian and I had a ball. Truly a mind over matter kind of thing. We had lots of cold water and gatorade for the driving time and took other efforts to keep cool. The heat won't keep me away, although A/C is on the wish list for later. The FWC camper probably killed having a/c in the short term, but knowing what we went through I know how to deal with it again.
I'm truly honored to have spent a week out in this majestic area with such a great group. We all got along like family, everybody pitched in to help everybody else when needed. Ian is a terrific spotter and was an excellent co-pilot to have riding with me. Great conversations during our hours upon hours of windshield time and excellent instructions when the trail got rough. His spotting made me look like a better driver. The K5.3 is a different animal to drive compared to my old one for sure. I used to play rock bouncer and hammer over or through stuff. This one allows me to drive with control and finesse. I love this truck.
I'm itching to go back for sure. Next June can't come soon enough. But while we wait I got a camper to finish. This way I'm not sleeping Fred Flinstone style.
@Larry should be chiming in with his perspective soon enough. We've got a ton of video to get posted up too. Also, it should be noted, the photos throughout the trip report we shot by all of us. Me, Larry, Ian and Jody all had great shots. If and when the actual photographer of the group (Don) gets up to sharing his photos we'll have more to share.
Happy to share the trip with all of you. Hope it inspires any of you all out there to get out and use your trucks for an adventure. Living a week out of the back of a K5 is something I'll never forget.
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This stuff is awesome! I love reading these trip reports and putting new places on my lists of things to go see "next time". Thank you for sharing.
Happy to share. If it gets you out to explore it's all good. I'm hooked for sure.
I too absolutely loved the trip report! It'll likely take me a good many years to be able to do a similar desert themed trip it surely is on the list some day. Seeing some of the territory in Arizona is also on that list.
We'll all be looking forward to the next one!
We'll all be looking forward to the next one!
Lots of videos coming.
Larry taking the first climb.
Larry going through the spot that tilted all of us.
Larry taking the first climb.
My run up the ledges. First person view from on top of my winch.
From Larry's point of view:
Bill's turn.
Larry got stuck quick.
Getting unstuck:
Bill's turn.
Larry got stuck quick.
Getting unstuck:
Ty's turn:
Don's turn:
Cruising down the riverbed on day 2.
Larry making the initial climb out of the canyon.
Ty scaring the shit out of us for a second:
Don's turn:
Cruising down the riverbed on day 2.
Larry making the initial climb out of the canyon.
Ty scaring the shit out of us for a second:
Don coming up behind Ty:
Final video for the night. Sunset on Day 3.
Final video for the night. Sunset on Day 3.
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Great writeup Rob! I feel like I was there! 
I’m so glad you did it as this may have been the first year I may not have had time to belch out a report. I tried to chime in this past week from the hotel but for some odd reason the Sheraton in Lisle, IL doesn’t like CK5 as it would not let me reach their domain. Very odd.
About the only thing I could add was it was indeed a great trip and great you could finally join us instead of staring at SPOT all day while we are out in the bush. You got your cherry popped hard with the axle stub breakage too
One piece on the Hole in the Rock is were not actually on the main trail. We veered off very early and camped on an off-shoot of the Hole in the Rock trail. It was the off-shoot that was blocked off. Had we made a right turn at the Half Track and carried on for few hours we might have reached the end.
And here is that poor little cow Lynn wanted to take home so badly. Months later she still talks about him wondering if he made it or not. Seems we saw fresh cow pies not far from him so I am sure his mommy found him.
SPOT Adventure Summary LINK HERE to actual live map
@bigblock72 You basically take Exit 131 West out of Green River then head South under I-70 to Temple Mountain Road. You’ll follow Temple Mountain Road for a while then catch a trail that parallels I-70 until it passes through a tunnel under the interstate back to the North side of I-70. Once you cross back to the North side of I-70 things escalate pretty quickly. When you look at the Devil’s Race Track and Eva Conover trail loop on the SPOT Adventure Summary live map it looks like we did a very small loop but it was every bit of two full days in 4LO creeping along. We didn’t see a sole and it didn’t look like anybody had been out there in a while. We didn't even see I-70 on the way out until our front tires damn near hit pavement. That trail is hidden in plane sight pretty well. Check it out!
.....But it was very funny when Don ordered burros instead of burritos
I’m so glad you did it as this may have been the first year I may not have had time to belch out a report. I tried to chime in this past week from the hotel but for some odd reason the Sheraton in Lisle, IL doesn’t like CK5 as it would not let me reach their domain. Very odd.
About the only thing I could add was it was indeed a great trip and great you could finally join us instead of staring at SPOT all day while we are out in the bush. You got your cherry popped hard with the axle stub breakage too
One piece on the Hole in the Rock is were not actually on the main trail. We veered off very early and camped on an off-shoot of the Hole in the Rock trail. It was the off-shoot that was blocked off. Had we made a right turn at the Half Track and carried on for few hours we might have reached the end.
And here is that poor little cow Lynn wanted to take home so badly. Months later she still talks about him wondering if he made it or not. Seems we saw fresh cow pies not far from him so I am sure his mommy found him.
SPOT Adventure Summary LINK HERE to actual live map
@bigblock72 You basically take Exit 131 West out of Green River then head South under I-70 to Temple Mountain Road. You’ll follow Temple Mountain Road for a while then catch a trail that parallels I-70 until it passes through a tunnel under the interstate back to the North side of I-70. Once you cross back to the North side of I-70 things escalate pretty quickly. When you look at the Devil’s Race Track and Eva Conover trail loop on the SPOT Adventure Summary live map it looks like we did a very small loop but it was every bit of two full days in 4LO creeping along. We didn’t see a sole and it didn’t look like anybody had been out there in a while. We didn't even see I-70 on the way out until our front tires damn near hit pavement. That trail is hidden in plane sight pretty well. Check it out!
Oh, and since I was in Corporate Training all this past week that included a small plug in on Sensitivity Training, I’ll do my best to explain Jenn’s joke while trying not to offend anybody with my new training…. Okay, so we are at the Mexican food place in Moab the first night and Jenn addresses the entire group and request we take a moment for prayer. Well, I was the first one to say…. SURE! Only because I find myself in that awkward position often with work travel where someone I do not really know wants to do that and who am I to rain on someone’s parade so I just go along with it. Well, what made it so funny is not one of us in the entire group is in the least bit religious. Well, actually……Not just a little bit not religious, but more like practically an entire group of atheists and we knew she was the same way but I didn’t catch on at first that she was only joking. Hell, this was like the second day I met her. Well, we thought it was funny. So much for my sensitivity training but I guess what I learned is if I offended anybody, I'm sorrySo...not wanting to share the humor with the group?
.....But it was very funny when Don ordered burros instead of burritos
Tell the ladies they need not worry about that calf, he looks plenty healthy
Great writeup Rob! I feel like I was there!
I’m so glad you did it as this may have been the first year I may not have had time to belch out a report. I tried to chime in this past week from the hotel but for some odd reason the Sheraton in Lisle, IL doesn’t like CK5 as it would not let me reach their domain. Very odd.
About the only thing I could add was it was indeed a great trip and great you could finally join us instead of staring at SPOT all day while we are out in the bush. You got your cherry popped hard with the axle stub breakage too
One piece on the Hole in the Rock is were not actually on the main trail. We veered off very early and camped on an off-shoot of the Hole in the Rock trail. It was the off-shoot that was blocked off. Had we made a right turn at the Half Track and carried on for few hours we might have reached the end.
And here is that poor little cow Lynn wanted to take home so badly. Months later she still talks about him wondering if he made it or not. Seems we saw fresh cow pies not far from him so I am sure his mommy found him.
SPOT Adventure Summary LINK HERE to actual live map
@bigblock72 You basically take Exit 131 West out of Green River then head South under I-70 to Temple Mountain Road. You’ll follow Temple Mountain Road for a while then catch a trail that parallels I-70 until it passes through a tunnel under the interstate back to the North side of I-70. Once you cross back to the North side of I-70 things escalate pretty quickly. When you look at the Devil’s Race Track and Eva Conover trail loop on the SPOT Adventure Summary live map it looks like we did a very small loop but it was every bit of two full days in 4LO creeping along. We didn’t see a sole and it didn’t look like anybody had been out there in a while. We didn't even see I-70 on the way out until our front tires damn near hit pavement. That trail is hidden in plane sight pretty well. Check it out!
Oh, and since I was in Corporate Training all this past week that included a small plug in on Sensitivity Training, I’ll do my best to explain Jenn’s joke while trying not to offend anybody with my new training…. Okay, so we are at the Mexican food place in Moab the first night and Jenn addresses the entire group and request we take a moment for prayer. Well, I was the first one to say…. SURE! Only because I find myself in that awkward position often with work travel where someone I do not really know wants to do that and who am I to rain on someone’s parade so I just go along with it. Well, what made it so funny is not one of us in the entire group is in the least bit religious. Well, actually……Not just a little bit not religious, but more like practically an entire group of atheists and we knew she was the same way but I didn’t catch on at first that she was only joking. Hell, this was like the second day I met her. Well, we thought it was funny. So much for my sensitivity training but I guess what I learned is if I offended anybody, I'm sorry
.....But it was very funny when Don ordered burros instead of burritos
I was hoping you'd throw the map link up. I really did get my eye's opened on this trip. I've never taken 6 hours to go no more than 6-8 miles total in a day on a trail. That kind of gives perspective on the Devil's Racetrack. That and when we came back I searched online for the better part of a week after work trying to find any other trip reports of anything going over it. What I found was Moto's and side by sides mostly. Only trucks were some Toyotas. But the side by sides would explain all the rock stacking you see at the top of the 3 ledges obstacle. I can safely say we were the only knuckleheads to take this trail will Foolsize rides in a very long time.
Thanks for taking on explaining Jenn's prank on us. I felt I might offend some of the folks if I didn't explain it right. I guess your new training paid off buddy!
Oh and Don ordering Burro's about killed me. My mind couldn't comprehend what he had just said and I had not had a beer yet. Don was keeping us in stiches all week with stuff like that. Plus anybody willing to take a damn near brand new ride out with us and put it through that is alright in my book. Fear not guys, he's got a K5 too. What was annoying is how well the Power Wagon worked. Right out of the box that thing can tackle anything you throw at it. We've spent years building ours and you can go right down to the Ram store and buy one if you got 50 large. Just needs a teeny lift to keep from dragging his belly and it would be unstoppable.
Where we going next year trail boss?
For sure, Rob. Those memories don't fade. Even when things go wrong, the adventure is still a great time.
Thanks for making the bucket list longer.
This part of Utah is a very cool place to go wheel in. The Desert trip with Larry is in the plans for sure. So is BB18. Both are very different. While BB sticks near Moab on the iconic trails, Larry's trip gets us off the beaten path for days. We would have not been back to Moab on this trip had we not had the damage we did in the swell. But it was one hell of an adventure for sure.For sure, Rob. Those memories don't fade. Even when things go wrong, the adventure is still a great time.
Thanks for making the bucket list longer.
Your K5 is capable with the detroit. Decent tires and good mechanical condition and you should be just fine. You got a year to get it all ironed out. As far as the heat goes, it's a dry heat. REALLY REALLY DRY. None of that humidity you are used to. Use of cooling towels or any evaporative type setup makes a big difference. That and an ice chest full of water and gatorade to keep hydrated with. It's amazing how much water you can guzzle down when you are sweating like a mad man.
Yes, I'm confident in its ablities (if not its tires
). Utah is only a distance issue for me. This year it just wasn't worth the long drive. Maybe next year. 
