2nd Annual Montrose, Colorado Memorial Day Madness

By: Jody Campbell

This event, hosted by the Western Slope 4-wheelers is soon to be legendary. The Western Slope 4-wheelers left little doubt as to the severity of their trials. The invitations went out to 50 hard-core rock crawlers; the guest list read like a "whose who" in the 4 wheel drive world. It was obvious from the gathering of 4-wheelers; this was not for the faint of heart. The town of Montrose played a gracious host for this event, providing everything from great hotel and camping accommodations, to discounts and specials from area merchants. It seemed the town wanted us to enjoy their beautiful corner of the world as much as we did. Although I noticed the local four wheeler's in town had a strange, cynical smile on their faces as if to say "you have no idea what you are in for!" Well, what was in store for this special group was a little more than some had bargained for, it seemed that no matter how strong you built it, these trails could break it.

Montrose, Colorado is tucked neatly between the San Juan and Elk Mountains, offering a spectacular view in every direction. These mountains only served as a backdrop for the trails that lay ahead. The trails used for the event are tucked deep in the canyons west of town. The four trails all originate in the same area, but lead into different canyons. Each of these trails held it's own surprise for this group of veteran rock hounds.

Cactus Ridge

This was the first trail I saw in Montrose, it was just the way I like them, steep, narrow, and filled with boulders. The group of 20 or so vehicles who challenged this trail seemed to be up to the challenge, as only a few vehicles had any real breakage. A rear axle, a front U-joint and a few punctured tires made up the list. I don't consider body damage to be breakage, it just adds character to the rig! Cactus Ridge is definitely a challenge, it is a series of waterfall ledges all meandering up the canyon. While the trail is full of challenges, the real clincher is the last obstacle! A dry waterfall with a vertical rock filled approach, and a five-foot tall double ledge! This obstacle seemed to favor the short wheelbase of the CJ-5's that seemed to scoot right up, while longer rigs had to resort to the strap or winch cable. After a tough day on Cactus Ridge, the rumors in camp all surrounded the horrors of a new trail, Die Trying. It wasn't until after 10:00pm when the final vehicles came limping into camp from the maiden voyage on Die Trying. While many had made it all the way through Die Trying, None returned without severe battle scars!

The World's Toughest Trail?

Die Trying, a trail with a name like this can't be easy, but is it the toughest trail ever? Imagine all of the trails in Las Cruces, N.M., Phoenix, AZ, and Johnson Valley, CA, crammed into one trail that is 1.5 miles long and tilted at a 30-degree angle. The best photography in the world doesn't do this trail justice, Just walking the trail is a daunting task. Saturday's trail assignments where made by the host club with the remaining Sunday and Monday runs to be chosen by the participants. Saturday's run was filled with Veteran rock lovers, all hungry for a true challenge. Well, they got it! Not a single vehicle left this brutal canyon without some sort of body damage or mechanical breakage. I have seen many forms of breakage on the trail, but I never thought I would see things like this. Pat Gremilion broke a rear Dana 60 axle under his Bronco and Morris Hansen broke the steering knuckle on his Dana 44 front end, all in the fist 200 yards of the trail! This was heroic breakage! Die Trying starts out with a relatively flat section filled with massive boulders then starts heading uphill for each additional challenge. The remaining trail is a series of dry waterfalls The waterfalls are so close together that drivers rarely get to stop until they have conquered three or four in a row, just to allow room for the next vehicle to attempt them! The most daunting of all the obstacles on the trail is near the very end, A nearly vertical waterfall must be climbed on just the right line then, right at the top you must make a sharp right turn and pivot on your rocker panel on a huge fallen tree. If I hadn't seen 30 vehicles do this with varying degrees of success, I would have said it was impossible! Many made it unassisted, while others took the winch cable. If this climb wasn't enough to ruin the seats in your vehicle, there is another dry waterfall filled with two foot ledges and assorted moving boulders looming dead ahead. The final climb out of "The Canyon from Hell" is a dirt and rock covered hill that requires just enough momentum to crest the top, but not too much that you loose control. Is this the toughest trail ever? Well it is the toughest I have ever seen, and everyone I asked said the same thing. Die trying has just raised the bar for all other extreme trails in the world!

A big thanks goes out to the Western Slope 4 wheelers who put on a first class event. I can't wait until next year! Rumor has it that these insane trial builders have an even tougher challenge in store for next years Memorial Day Event. Remember the Western Slope 4-wheelers motto: If you don't come to crawl don't come at all!