The Scorpion

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Kokopelli Trail - Part One
The East Coast Trail Team & a few additional rigs embarked on a 4 day expedition from Grand Junction, CO to Moab, UT. Relying only on FJ Cruisers and the gear we can carried, we traversed the 142 mile Kokopelli trail stem to stern from November 6th – 10th. The trip involved basic and advanced water crossings, some challenging rocking and crawling and a lot of magnificient scenery. We drove through the lush Colorado River Valley, breached high cliffs, crawled along rimrock and transited the beautiful La Sal Mountains.

ABOUT KOKOPELLI (background): Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player (often with a huge phallus and antenna-like protrusions on his head), who has been venerated by many Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States.


TCAO and I left SoCal for the trip to Grand Junction, Colorado and crossed through some spectacular scenery on the way.


SCORPION overlooks Snow Canyon near St. George, UT


TCAO poses for a photo in the early morning sun with red rock in the background.



Yes, as we reported to SHADOW WARRIOR, we did meet Lovely Lisa Wood in the ARB FJ Cruiser (on her way back from the SEMA Show) in Barstow, CA and had the chance to check out the new ARB snorkel first-hand.

After arriving at the Double Tree Hotel in Grand Junction we had a group feast, crashed for the night and awoke the next morning for the traditional 8:45 am departure.




GUSTAF - Silver "Trail Team" FJ Cruiser with FJCRUZR (flew in from Atlanta)
WOODY - Black "Trail Team" FJ Cruiser with STEAL63 (flew in from New York)
TROY, GARRETT & JAMES - Yellow "Trail Team" FJ Cruiser
TCAO - Titanium FJ Cruiser (SoCal)
UPHILL - Titanium SCORPION FJ Cruiser (SoCal)
HANK & 9ERSGIRL - FZJ90 (Wisconsin)
STAGECOACHCO - VooDoo Blue FJ Cruiser (Colorado)
CRAZYHERMIT & NETTI - VooDoo Blue FJ Cruiser (New Mexico)
PRESSUREPOINT & DAVEC - VooDoo Blue FJ Cruiser (Colorado)
WAGGONER5 & TREEROOTCO - FJ55
FREDB - Land Rover LR3
ADAMR - Land Rover 110
MADDBAGGINS & PHIL - FZJ80 w/Trailer
DEVO - FJ60

FUEL PUMP BOB & THIRDMEMBER also joined us for the expedition. More on those two characters later.


When FUEL PUMP BOB (third from left - looks like a Mountain Rat) told us where he proposed to go, I nearly swallowed my tongue (yes, I'm the one at the left trying to swallow my tongue).


Briefing. Gustaf is telling everyone not to be stupid.


Our first stop was Rabbit Valley/Canyon.



I got a zoom photo of a rare and often dangerous jackalope that was preening itself.


The obligatory group photo.


TCAO discovers the Rio Colorado!


We camped at Fish Ford. There was no water, there were no fish beyond the can of Starkist Tuna I opened for a snack and only Toyotas and Land Rovers were present - no Fords. So I wasn't impressed by the guy who named the campground at all. The Trail Team cooked Chili. Thank heavens.

It was cold that first night at Fish Ford and got down to 17 degrees (F). Note below that WOODY is wearing shorts in 17 degree weather.



I think that WOODY is from Wisconsin where 17F is the temp where it's politically correct to wear shorts or long pants.



Note that TCAO (Arctic Explorer, master of Prudhoe Bay) is bundled up like Nanook-of-the-North, is seated in his FJ with the heater on.



GUSTAF toasts us with iced tea because he doesn't think that 17 is cold either.

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

Kokopelli Trail - Part Two



We left the camp at Fish Ford and headed out across the plains. There, minding their own business roadside were a herd of pronghorn antelope {not to be confused with the savory but dangerous jackalope that hang out in Rabbit Valley/Canyon (above)}


Ducks in a row.



Picture of the back of CRAZYHERMIT'S rig heading down toward Dewey Bridge. If you're not the lead dog, the view remains the same...





Scorpion fords the Dolores River. A snorkel would have been overkill in this situation.



We forded the river again -- and again.



And ended up at our second night's camp.

Though I have no photos to show of the Iron Chef competition, I was distinguished and set apart from the other aspiring chefs by coming in last in a field of six contestants.



Demonstrating superior survival skills, I fed the judges rat burger. We're not talking about a filthy wharf rat. These are range fed Colorado mountain rats and I snared and slaughtered the little beasts earlier in the day. Even so, I came in a distant "last place". Where is the logic in that decision?

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

KOKOPELLI TRAIL - PART 3


Pay no attention to WOODY, off to the right, standing by himself...


Our belly's full of UPHILL's Rat-Burger and a good night's sleep behind us, we headed for the Top of the World.


There is a lot of climbing to do in order to get to the top.


TCAO


Robert earns the name THIRDMEMBER when his rear differential blows on the way to to the top of the world. For any other expedition, it would be problematic.


For this crew, it's a quick trail repair (spare rear diff carried by the Trail Team) and everybody is back in business.


Scorpion at the Top of the World.





The view from the top is such that words are insufficient to share how it feels to be there.

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

KOKOPELLI TRAIL - PART FOUR

The Rose Garden:







The Rose Garden had some rough spots. No significant carnage beyoned scraped sliders and skids. FUELPUMPBOB gave us a scare when he went off camber --- bad -- and though he said it was no big deal, those of us watching expected him to go over.

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

KOKOPELLI TRAIL - PART FIVE


As the trip drew to a close most of the rigs were running on fumes/fuel lights on. MAN-A-FRE, where is my extended range/aux. fuel tank?


Looking back at other rigs following Scorpion "uphill".


Headed over the La Sal mountains to Gateway, CO.

Trail Damage and aftermath:



The marker antenna I use was sheared off on the way up to the top of the world. The fiberglass shattered just above the aluminium mount. You'll also note that the Aeroflow headlight covers gave up the ghost. They had trail damage and the velcro was no longer strong enough to hold them on. I will replace them with a new pair since I like them very much. In another situation I might just replace the velcro but these have a few hits/headlight saves and they're getting beat.



I lost (another) primary antenna in the area east of Mt. Pleasant, Utah the day after the Kokopelli expedition ended in some cedars. It was a VERY rough trail, very steep and I couldn't stop or I might not have made it to the top. I need to come up with an antenna that won't rip off. (suggestions?) I lost the last one up on the east side of Big Bear Lake, CA.

SO - I thought that since I was in Mormon country, I'd take the Scorpion to the local church in the hope that the LDS people could miracle the antennas back and fix the aeroflow headlight covers to their new and pristine condition.



I was told that the Scorpion (and its driver) may be well beyond redemption. Not that it's news to anyone.

Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

A few photos of Scorpion in Snow Canyon near St George UT