You may follow along in our journey by visiting Julie's Journal page. It will include photographs, suggestions, mishap adventures and our experiences on the road and back-country trails.

If you would like to know more about the history of our adventure click here for the history page. How we planned, saved money, chose our equipment and prepared for ten months on the road.

These are some other web sites we found useful and/or have recpical links with.

White Rim 4x4 Trail
Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Written by Dave Fink and Julie Hackler

The White Rim Trail follows the entire Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands. Some hundred miles of 4x4 road that suggest at least two days to travel. We decided to take White Rim Trail to the Lathrop Canyon Trail, which would bring us down to the Colorado River. We estimated about 28 miles round trip.

We set out on our day 4x4 adventure early in the day. The first part of the road was a quarter mile of flat level dirt road where we took the opportunity to switch the truck into 4x4 high in preparation of the switchbacks that lie ahead. The switchbacks were narrow and steep, about a 15% grade, with rocky terrain and on a two-way road. The main concern was the on coming traffic and having to share the small space with another vehicle. Since it was early in the morning we were fortunate not to have to deal with the traffic coming up the mountain. The switchbacks offered a good place to stop and take pictures of the road ahead, the road already traveled and the scenic canyon below. Once we were through the dozen or so switchbacks about a two-mile stretch of straight road lay ahead. At this point there were several vans from mountain bike outfitters awaiting the return of customers who chose to bike the canyon wall we just descended from.

The road then turned into steep hills and sharp turns where our 4x4 skills were tested. For the next half-hour it was bumpy and slow going. There were a few spots where they had pulloffs to take a break and view some of the scenery. We quickly got into the habit of Julie getting out of the truck to see what lie ahead at the next turn or over the hill to see if it was OK to proceed. After successful getting through some of the most technical parts so far and congratulating ourselves we quickly saw how the pros did it. In our rearview mirror two white Suburbans breezed through what we did in a ¼ of the time and with ½ the concentration. As they past us in a cloud of dust we noticed they worked for the local river rafting outfitters and were heading to the Lathrop Canyon Trail to pick up customers. We also noticed the lack of care to the vehicles due to the daily runs to the canyon. They were obviously going for the best time and not what was best for the vehicle.

After they put a few miles between us a ranger in a 4x4 truck pulled up and struck up a friendly conversation with us. We told him where we were headed and what we wanted to accomplish and he didn't give us any reason for concern. He told us we would have no problem and to enjoy our ride. He too was in an "uncared" for government owned vehicle. In retrospect we should of noticed these clues as we continued down the trail.

From that point we used caution as we went on. We reached one point where all we could do was keep our fingers crossed that nothing was coming the other way. We entered a type of "gully" if you will where the side of the road turned to walls and we inched our way up about a 15% grade with no room for error. Julie couldn't get out to see if anything was coming so we just had to go slow and keep our fingers crossed. We got through it with only a little fear coming from the passenger seat.

Not long after that we came upon our biggest obstacle yet. Only about a ¼ mile from the junction with the Lathrop Canyon we approached a boulder in the road. A boulder that brought us approximately 4 feet higher that the rest of the road. It wasn't a vertical drop so Julie had to get out and see how we were going to tame this one. It didn't look too bad so she navigated me verbally while I leaned out the driver's side window to eye it up. We took it slowly and made it without too much trouble.

For the next ¼ mile it was pretty smooth, so smooth in fact, I turned the 4x4 off something that proved to be a mistake later. Once we saw the sign for Lathrop Canyon we both looked at each and said "it looks like it goes straight down!" And then I commented that we had to get closer to the Colorado River somehow. We made a left turn and down we went. Down indeed, steeper than anything we had been on so far. We made another left turn that brought us down another set of switchbacks, and suddenly we saw it! Before Julie could say anything I hit the brake. "That looks pretty bad" she finally said. We decided we better get out and look at it. If the steepness of the new trail didn't signal me yet the noise of the transmission when I put it into park finally did. When I took my foot off the brake to get out and inspect the obstacle the truck began to slide forward. So I immediately applied the brake again. Julie's look of concern matched my feelings. She offered to sit in the driver's seat and keep the brake pushed while I got out and looked at what ultimately ended our 4x4 ride down to the river. The size of the "cliff" that was in the road could have been handled by a small wheelbase such as a Jeep or that of a truck or Suburban in which the drivers didn't care too much what happened to the vehicle. I saw some attempt to make a stone bridge to guide the tires down but it was an ill attempt and I knew it would be a disaster. Even if we did attempt to go down I wondered how we would ever get back up. We both decided there was no way we could go past point.

We found a spot back at the last switchback which gave us enough room to back into and turn around. Our problem now was backing up to that spot. I got back behind the wheel and Julie got out to help guide me. I warned her that once I got started that I was not going to stop. My worst fear was being forced to go forward due to the 20+% grade which felt like it was almost in a vertical position. When I put it in reverse and took my foot off the brake and gave it the gas the truck's rear wheel began to slide. We didn't make any progress but it had enough traction to point the rear of the truck toward the side of the road which was a long drop off. Obviously the Goodyear Wranglers were trying to do their part, but I wasn't doing mine. I finally remembered to put the truck BACK in 4x4 and immediately was able to back into the area to get us turned around. Julie got back in the truck without saying a word. We had to increase speed so we could climb back up the steep switchbacks we had come down. It was only about 300 feet from the top but it sure seemed like forever. When we finally reached level ground I found a spot to pull over, put it in park and jumped out of the truck. I began to laugh hysterically as Julie began to cry. Our nerves were shot. Our limits were pushed and we had to surrender to the Lathrop Canyon Trail. Once we both calmed down a little we decided to eat our picnic lunch that was planned for the banks of the Colorado River and reflect on what just happened. All Julie kept saying was that she was thankful we got out of it unharmed as well as her dad's truck.

After lunch we decided to take a walk down to the scene of our defeat. It was unbelievable to us that anyone got past it. We snapped a few pictures of the trail and decided it was time to head back. All that worried us now was getting past the obstacles we thought small in comparison. Only 4 miles from our goal and we had to turn around. But by this time we didn't care about seeing the river.

The ride back up wasn't to bad. We back tracked the same route we came down and when we reached the end of our 4x4 journey on the White Rim Trail we realized we were only novices on an intermediate trail.