Riffel Canyon Trail OMG!!!

[Rocksurfer]

Wow what a trail, took us 11 hours to get through this beast. I think for the Hammer's this has to be one of the longest trails out there. This one was broke by M.I.B's and is just off of Soggy Dry lake, you have to access from Bessemer Mine Rd. What makes this trail so long is not only do you have to do Riffel Canyon Trail but to get out you either have to continue up through Crowbar or you can give going down Ballerina Rock which is the gatekeeper for Crowbar. If you don't have a winch don't go you will need it, maybe several times. It doesn't seem to be very short wheelbase friendly either, we had a lot of almost over and 3 flops, of course it was one vehicle but we couldn't keep its wheels on the ground! Everytime we turned around there were very technical sections and we were still on Riffel.

I know everyone loves to go out to Means but there are now 4 tough trails at Soggy. Go give them a try and you'll see. Crowbar's Ballerina Rock is its showcase most have to winch and there are very technical sections throughout. Lower Shaft Canyon is a great section of Shaft Canyon has some very interesting climbs, Upper Shaft Canyon is the little brother to Lower Shaft Canyon but it will get your attention too, try both at once and you may spend the day there. If you want to give Riffel a try bring your lunch and maybe dinner too, it will try your patience and skill, I know a few people in our group lost their consentration and paid the price for it.


Enough bs, on with the pictures, the M.I.B.'s put a nice plaque at the trail-head so you know you are there. The gatekeeper will keep the riffraff out so don't worry you won't find any H-3's up there, -1 one tire actually it just came off the bead. The theme for the day was that strap, it came out a lot, we were all truggies or un-modified bodied vehicles so we all still "had" most of our sheet metal.

[79coyotefrg]

i hope you removed the beer can

[Rocksurfer]

i hope you removed the beer can

No, that is a toast to the M.I.B.'s and hopefully will remain there forever. It is still full and unopened.

[Rocksurfer]

The vulture is in the rocks waiting for some meat to chew on, a couple waterfalls the first one wasn't so bad but that second big one is scary.

[Rocksurfer]

I spy thebeeter, it's whats left of a K-5 Blazer...... I think, TruckTrader in his awesome Truggie and we have our 1st flop.

[Rocksurfer]

TruckTrader decided to take his drivers door off after seeing that boulder inside TurtleTrucks cab.

We have flop # 2, and just a momentary lack of concentration put another boulder inside TurtleTrucks cab and this one bit him, I don't think his door will be able to close when he puts it back on.

[Duffil]

where's the optical illusion?

[Rocksurfer]

Hiding back at camp where that sissy truck belongs.

[Rocksurfer]

We have the Triple Crown of flops poor Brian couldn't keep his sammi upright at all, hey that is thebeeter, since we were limping back we decided that once we got to Crowbar we would go down Ballerina Rock which is a feat just to get up, very few have actually driven up most have to winch and going down is just as tough. The plan was to winch each vehicle down which made me real uneasy. After watching two other rigs get winched down it was my turn, both of them looked really freaky going over the edge but they did make it down so now it was my turn I think it feels even worse in the cab it's like driving into the abyss you are starring into the sky and next thing you know you are starring straight down into the ground 15 feet up dangling by a string. The funny thing was is they said I was going sooooo slow that the winch was running faster than I was driving sure glad it didn't slip, could have snapped that line. In the last two shots you can barely see TurtleTruck driving over the edge with the thebeeter holding him with his winch in the backround.

I think in the end we all had fun or for some it may be later that they look fondly back at this run but man for full-bodied rigs and truggies it was one tough run.

[Rocksurfer]

Almost forgot, thebeater didn't winch down Ballerina he drove down, he actually got sideways coming down thought he was going over and it was going to be a long night... well longer than it already was but his rear tire stuck. Now sitting sideways on Ballerina he turned his steering wheel to the right (more sliding) then stabbed the gas, what a save!!!!

[AaronB]

some sweet trails, ill have to check it out when my beater is done

[crawler925]

OMG is right!!!!! That looks to be one sick a$$ trail. 

[toywthbdydmge]

looks like you guys had alot of fun like we did on sledge 

[Rocksurfer]

It was great, there was some very technical sections. You guys should try Riffel Canyon, I think you'll be impressed with it.

[TruckTrader]

I'll second Rocksurfer's assessment of this trail - it's tough. But most of all it's tough and it's loooooooong. It gave us about all we could handle for the day given we didn't start the trail until 10:00 or so. I had a great time but boy did I beat the crap out of my sliders and my exo. But that's what they're there for. If I do this trail again I would want to start before 8:00 in the morning.

Oh yea, one last thing. Chris coming down Ballerina was one of the most hairball things I have seen in a while. As he came down his left front tire hooked a rock on the drivers side and it pulled him sideways. He was sitting across ballerina rock just above the last big drop off by his passenger rear tire. His front driver tire was pinned on a rock in the front. If he tried to back up he would have slipped off the rock and rolled. After a quick cajones check he decided to just drive out of it. He just punched it and drove it down with a loud bang.  That took some hair my friends. If you had seen it - you would know what I'm talking about. Chris can wheel with us anytime. 

[Loosekannon]

Did that trail about a year ago, what a blast!! That is a fun trail. Did it with M.I.B. on thier first full run of it after breaking it. It is fun

[cameronsnow]

 Riffel canyon can be accessed by green rock mine road 3/4 mile west of bessiner mine road also way smother access for the tow rig

[rockhound]

Welcome to the board Cameron.

i hope you removed the beer can

I believe the beer there is actually an offering to Steve.

Riffel is definitely one of the most challenging trails in the area. The Gatekeeper, the Bear Cave and dropping out at Ballerina will get your attention.

I still have my broken ring and pinion from that trail hanging on my garage wall. Getting strapped out and bonsai-ing in two wheel is something I won't forget.

[Loosekannon]

Here is Rockhounds link of the run we did on Riffel....

http://www.runandplaymotorsports.com/Riffel%20Canyon%20Dedication%20Run.htm

[rockhound]

Thanks for the props Chase. See you at the Moonlight Brawl! 

[Tool Pimp]

i hope you removed the beer can

No THE BEER STAYS!!!

[Rocksurfer]

I took it down shook it and put it back. 

[cameronsnow]

Im sure steve is getting a kick out of this that was right down his ally