Nyroc 4 Highway to Hell 02-20-09
Friday afternoon (02-20-09) 5 of us decided to tackle one of the hardest trails in the area. There was Zane (Kawasaki 700 Prarie) Toad (Yamaha 700 Grizzly) Justin (Kawasaki 750 Brute Force) Don (Kawasaki 750 Brute Force 750I) and Derick in a Yamaha 700 Rhino.
The trail is called Highway to Hell. It is less than a mile long and as we found out it took us over 4 hours to run. I had been up about half of this trail with Jim quite awhile ago. We weren’t sure how long it was and we were running out of daylight so we turned around.
We found out why the trail was named Highway to Hell as when you are well into it, it feels like Hell getting over all the obstacles.
The first nasty spot you have to climb up a wedge and over a small waterfall. We all thought ok, that was easy. Next there were several more big rocks to climb over. Everyone was doing great. There were a couple of spots where the Rhino got high centered but nothing major.
Then around the corner is a large double waterfall you have to climb. We assessed the situation and decided to put a rope on the front of the ATV and ride it straight up the waterfalls. I was 1st in line so it was time to give it a go. I put the Brute Force 750I in low range 4 wheel drive, grabbed the full locker lever and launched straight up the waterfall without any problems. The same with the 2nd waterfall. Next came Justin follower by Toad and then Zane. It is amazing how that the quads will go straight up as long as you can hold the front wheels down to the rock. I’m not saying the guys pulling on the rope didn’t work hard but without the quad having all 4 tires digging it would not happen. Now it was time to get Derrick’s Rhino over the 2 waterfalls. He lined up on the first one with the rope attached and climbed to the top. The 2nd waterfall is much higher so Zane suggested hooking the rope to his quad to help pull. That worked great as Derrick did a great job of keeping on the throttle. What a blast…
After a short break for some much needed water we headed on up the wash. We thought the worst was over but it was far from over. Each time we came around another corner there were bigger and tougher obstacles. We would say to each other we must be close to the end and then there was more. There was a big wedge you had to negotiate just right to make it. Justin fell in the hole so Zane got some extra riding time by hanging off the left site to try to keep the Brute Force off the boulders on its side. It was starting to get late and we started to wonder if we were going to make it out before dark.
Then we come around a corner and there is another large rock we would have to rope over. The ATV made it up fairly easy but it had such a sharp angle weren’t sure about the Rhino. It looked like it would get high centered. Once again Zane hooked up the rope to his quad to pull the Rhino over the top. I got on the side of his quad for extra traction and Derrick hit it. He was just past halfway up the boulder when my ½ inch thick rope broke. You can see in the photos the rope it tight and when it breaks the front of his Rhino came up. Thank goodness it stayed on the rock just teetering. At this point we got out Derricks tow strap, hooked it up but between Zane pulling and Derrick nailing the throttle there just wasn’t enough traction to make it up. Time for plan B. Three of us got behind the Rhino and lifted as they tried it again. Yea, it worked.
One more corner and Wow there is the end, but look at the last obstacle. A big waterfall. Oh boy, here we go again. As we get closer there is somewhat of a go around to the right of the waterfall. Good thing because this one is about 10 feet tall straight up. Toad was 1st as he roared up the off camber side and stopped at the top. We were all there to grab his Grizzly but it was not easy standing on the side of a steep hill. One more push to the left over some rocks and whew, he is out. The rest of us went to school on Toads line and kept the throttle on a bit more to roll through the off camber spot. It was not easy because if you were to use to much throttle it could throw you off to the left with the quad rolling over you and down the water fall. It was quite intiminidating to say the least. Now one last vehicle, the Rhino. Derrick lined up and we took our positions. Nobody wanted to be on the downhill side just in case. Derrick hit it and flew up the side hill, as he was at the top I started yelling go, go, go, go. Wow we made it, had a blast and nobody got hurt.
Toad said we must all be sick bastards to think all that pushing and pulling was a ball. Yes Toad we are……
The trail from here was smooth as glass compared to what we had been on. It was time to get back to camp. It was a beautiful ride back from here as the sun was starting to set.
Read MoreThe trail is called Highway to Hell. It is less than a mile long and as we found out it took us over 4 hours to run. I had been up about half of this trail with Jim quite awhile ago. We weren’t sure how long it was and we were running out of daylight so we turned around.
We found out why the trail was named Highway to Hell as when you are well into it, it feels like Hell getting over all the obstacles.
The first nasty spot you have to climb up a wedge and over a small waterfall. We all thought ok, that was easy. Next there were several more big rocks to climb over. Everyone was doing great. There were a couple of spots where the Rhino got high centered but nothing major.
Then around the corner is a large double waterfall you have to climb. We assessed the situation and decided to put a rope on the front of the ATV and ride it straight up the waterfalls. I was 1st in line so it was time to give it a go. I put the Brute Force 750I in low range 4 wheel drive, grabbed the full locker lever and launched straight up the waterfall without any problems. The same with the 2nd waterfall. Next came Justin follower by Toad and then Zane. It is amazing how that the quads will go straight up as long as you can hold the front wheels down to the rock. I’m not saying the guys pulling on the rope didn’t work hard but without the quad having all 4 tires digging it would not happen. Now it was time to get Derrick’s Rhino over the 2 waterfalls. He lined up on the first one with the rope attached and climbed to the top. The 2nd waterfall is much higher so Zane suggested hooking the rope to his quad to help pull. That worked great as Derrick did a great job of keeping on the throttle. What a blast…
After a short break for some much needed water we headed on up the wash. We thought the worst was over but it was far from over. Each time we came around another corner there were bigger and tougher obstacles. We would say to each other we must be close to the end and then there was more. There was a big wedge you had to negotiate just right to make it. Justin fell in the hole so Zane got some extra riding time by hanging off the left site to try to keep the Brute Force off the boulders on its side. It was starting to get late and we started to wonder if we were going to make it out before dark.
Then we come around a corner and there is another large rock we would have to rope over. The ATV made it up fairly easy but it had such a sharp angle weren’t sure about the Rhino. It looked like it would get high centered. Once again Zane hooked up the rope to his quad to pull the Rhino over the top. I got on the side of his quad for extra traction and Derrick hit it. He was just past halfway up the boulder when my ½ inch thick rope broke. You can see in the photos the rope it tight and when it breaks the front of his Rhino came up. Thank goodness it stayed on the rock just teetering. At this point we got out Derricks tow strap, hooked it up but between Zane pulling and Derrick nailing the throttle there just wasn’t enough traction to make it up. Time for plan B. Three of us got behind the Rhino and lifted as they tried it again. Yea, it worked.
One more corner and Wow there is the end, but look at the last obstacle. A big waterfall. Oh boy, here we go again. As we get closer there is somewhat of a go around to the right of the waterfall. Good thing because this one is about 10 feet tall straight up. Toad was 1st as he roared up the off camber side and stopped at the top. We were all there to grab his Grizzly but it was not easy standing on the side of a steep hill. One more push to the left over some rocks and whew, he is out. The rest of us went to school on Toads line and kept the throttle on a bit more to roll through the off camber spot. It was not easy because if you were to use to much throttle it could throw you off to the left with the quad rolling over you and down the water fall. It was quite intiminidating to say the least. Now one last vehicle, the Rhino. Derrick lined up and we took our positions. Nobody wanted to be on the downhill side just in case. Derrick hit it and flew up the side hill, as he was at the top I started yelling go, go, go, go. Wow we made it, had a blast and nobody got hurt.
Toad said we must all be sick bastards to think all that pushing and pulling was a ball. Yes Toad we are……
The trail from here was smooth as glass compared to what we had been on. It was time to get back to camp. It was a beautiful ride back from here as the sun was starting to set.
