Trails:: Coyote Canyon (4), The Guardian (4+++), Wolf Run (4+++)
Club:: Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association (SWFWDA) Winter Meeting
Dates: February 22,23,24,25, 1996
Author: Wayne L. Bennett, aka The Flatlander

SUMMARY

This article contains trail reports and 14 pictures of some of the most extreme 4WD trails in the United States. These trails were offered by the SWFWDA at their winter meeting in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

COYOTE CANYON (4 rated)

This trail is about 20 miles north of Alamogordo, NM. It can be as easy or hard as you like. A 2WD road runs parallel to it for those that break or want to bypass an obstacle. The worst obstacles require lockers in both ends.

This newly painted Bronco did very well and completed all the obstacles on this trail. It did leave a little rocker panel paint behind though.

This well prepared CJ with ARBs front and rear broke the bead on its left rear tire on this obstacle.

"Now turn left, HARD left!"

This is the Waterfall obstacle in Coyote Canyon. Every trail in this area seems to have a Waterfall obstacle and each seems to be the toughest obstacle on that trail. This was the only Waterfall obstacle that actually had water running down it. Only about half of our group tried it. Appearances here are deceiving. Actually it's this next step up that's most difficult. Only a couple of our group made it up the second step without a winch or tow strap.

THE GUARDIAN (4+++ rated)

This trail is in a deep canyon in the Robledo Mountains just northwest of Las Cruces. I can't provide any better trail description than that provided in the Schedule & Trip Guide.

THE HUNGRY JAWS OF THE GUARDIAN by Fred Huff

"It has waited....since that long forgotten flood altered the canyon bottom enough to stop the small flat fender Jeeps of yesterday. It has waited...longing for the taste of metal against its rocky jaws and the smell of burning rubber as these vehicles struggle to escape its bite. It has hungered for the sound of metal and fiberglass crushing like paper in its teeth. Over the past few decades more and more of these mechanical morsels have approached its hungering jaws only to retreat in fear. It's wait is over! Although most of the small flatfenders are gone now, they have been replaced by fatter tastier 4x4's with names like Rock 'n horse, Candy Cane, Wobbley, Ol' Red, etc. This new generation of 4x4's does not retreat in fear. They challenge the hungry jaws head on, because they are attracted to it, like a moth to flames!

The Guardian gets its name from the fact that it stands like a silent sentinel guarding the upper Robledo canyon, protecting it from those who would take the privilege of driving this trail too lightly. Like any good guard, it only lets those pass with the right credentials, such as lockers front and rear, 33" tires, suspension lift, nerf bars, and nerves of steel. No stock or near stock vehicles. Once past the Guardian, it is no cake walk. This is a trail that does not let up for one instant as rock after rock, ledge after ledge, and climb after climb tries to rip the undercarriage right out of the vehicle. Like an appetizer is the prelude to the meal, the Wolf run was the prelude to the Guardian. Since most obstacles are as yet unnamed, the best we can do is show you pictures of those who have successfully and not so successfully challenged this trail."

Dropping down to the Guardian in the Robledo Mountains.

Welcome to the Guardian! This Scout was nearly bullet proof. It had Dana 60s front and rear, two transfer cases, and a wrap around nerf bar / tube bumper. But the Guardian reached out and slashed open it's oil pan.

This is the entrance to the Guardian. Those that can't make it through on their own are taken back out to do the Guardian "Overflow" Run. No one in our group backed out but two broke at the entrance.

Guardian entrance. "I got HOW much room on my right?

This Scrambler dropped its rear drive shaft on this obstacle. He cannibalized the front drive shaft to fix the rear and then broke it again further down the trail. The Scrambler spent the night on the Guardian. The next day both drive shafts were repaired but it still managed to break a hub on the way out.

"Are you SURE this is the right line?" Yes, this little Louisiana CJ walked right up very cleanly. Many others needed help from the winch equipped 4WD stationed here for those that couldn't make it on their own. I made it on my own on the first try but crunched my right rocker panel so badly that it deformed my right door too. This is the Waterfall obstacle on the Guardian.

WOLF RUN (4+++ rated)

Both Wolf Run and the Guardian are in the same part of the Roblebo Mountains.

"Come on, you got at least an inch on this side!" The entrances to these 4+++ trails provide plenty of opportunity to take back some "souvenirs" in your sheet metal. I did.

The Wolf tries to eat our trail leader! He bit on the right front corner. Broke the bead on the tire, knocked the ball joint loose and broke the axle. It took two winches, two high lift jacks and a host of 4-wheelers three hours to make repairs and extract him from the Wolf's jaws. This is the Wolf Run Waterfall Obstacle.

Glenn Wakefield tries a "shortcut" up the Wolf Run Waterfall. How you ganna know whether or not you can make it if you don't give it a try?

Here I am on my first try at the Wolf Run Waterfall. The Wolf got my left rear tire on this attempt. On my next attempt, with lots of spotting help, I made it. No one else wanted to try this obstacle after witnessing the damage to the first few of us that tried it.

Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association

For more information on the SWFWDA contact Leslie Ramirez at 409-724- 7414 or E-mail Mark Werkmeister at Mark_R_Werkmeister@ccm.rr.intel.co . Membership is only $25 a year. Its worth it just to be on the mailing list so you can pre-register early enough to get a spot on the Wolf Run and Guardian trails.

Scans by Cruiser.

                   ____The Flatlander____



Wayne L. Bennett      88 Bronco II          Fractured Axle Club, USA

aka The Flatlander    Dana 35 & Currie 8.8  Red Rock 4-Wheelers, UT

FCXT62A@Prodigy.com   ARBs & 5.13 gears     Black Hills 4-Wheelers, SD

Grand Island, NE      33" BFG Moab MTs      UFWDA, Tread Lightly

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