Tackling the Challenging Path in a Regular Jeep Wrangler

author: FutureCar Staff    

I find myself on the edge, both mentally and literally, peering over the brow of the obstacle that has given this trail its infamous reputation. The trail consists of giant ledges surrounded by rocks that appear unstable, with nothing but several thousand miles of open air below. While climbing, there are techniques to be used, such as left foot braking and smooth throttle control, to maintain forward momentum. However, on the descent, the only option is to go full speed ahead and hope for the best. I cautiously drop the nose of the vehicle over the edge, followed by the rear, causing a clattering sound as the overhang hits the ground and reshapes the tailpipes. I repeat this process multiple times, each time clenching my buttocks and teeth tighter, until the trail levels out and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It then dawns on me that there is only one way to exit this death road – the way we came in.

The name of the trail, Cliffhanger, is quite fitting. However, during our pregame meetings with guides and experts, no one mentioned that we would be skiing a diamond black run with sticks of celery attached to our feet. Our guide, Jim, did mention that the drops were long enough to read a book on the way down, but that was to be expected. What surprised me was maneuvering our box fresh and stock Wrangler between boulders the size of lorries, climbing up rock walls that would normally be considered dead ends, and carefully navigating narrow paths carved into sheer cliff faces. I thought we were here to enjoy the scenery, not become a smudge on it.

If you've ever been to the Nürburgring, you know that the experience starts before you even crash your Golf R into the Armco at turn two. You begin to notice the tuning shops scattered around as you drive into town, the increasing number of interesting cars, and the track that surrounds you, lined with iconic places to eat and stay. Moab is America's version of the Nürburgring, with less speed but more off-roading. There are 4x4 workshops everywhere to help you fix your vehicle and get back on the trail, places to rent off-road vehicles if you don't have one, and establishments like Milt's, Moab Diner, and Lin Ottinger's rock shop, where you can find dinosaur bones and fossils that Lin has been excavating since the Thirties. They even have the actual anvil used to make shoes for Butch Cassidy's horse. I have no reason to doubt this claim.

Ironically, this was not supposed to be a thrilling story about danger and survival. It was meant to be a story about a small town in Utah called Moab. Moab is the epitome of big sky, Thelma and Louise, red rock, and canyons country – the epitome of America. Off-road enthusiasts from all over the world come here in the hundreds of thousands every year to challenge themselves and risk their insurance claims. But there is more to Moab than just daring adventures. The town itself exudes a lively and welcoming atmosphere. It was founded by missionaries and miners and was once the uranium capital of the world. The trails that we now explore were originally plotted out in search of precious minerals, using vehicles that were far less capable than our Wrangler. But now, with tracks like Hell's Revenge and Metal Masher, the town has evolved to cater to four-wheeled tourism, offering bars, restaurants, hotels, and numerous novelty T-shirt shops to keep the thrill seekers clothed, hydrated, and coming back for more.

Our vehicle of choice for this adventure is a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary 4XE. Jeeps are more than just a car manufacturer in this area; they are a cult. We could have chosen a Land Rover, Toyota, or even a Rivian, but there was a good chance we would have been pushed off the edge by a friendly local. So, we opted for the Wrangler, a plug-in hybrid with a four-cylinder petrol engine and twin electric motors, providing a total of 375bhp and 470lb ft of torque – more than enough for our needs. It also offers about 25 miles of electric-only range for stealthy ascents. This anniversary model has a half-inch lift compared to the standard Rubicon, which I reassure myself is sufficient, unaware of the severity of the terrain that awaits us just a mile or two down the road.

We remove the doors and rear quarter windows to reduce weight and create a sense of openness, although it also serves as a constant reminder of the danger that surrounds us. We also peel back the roof to enjoy the open air. In the UK, driving a Wrangler may be seen as a midlife crisis, but here, with our spirits high and novelty headwear in place, it feels perfect. The sage green paint gleams, and the Wrangler is built solidly, even more so than the Ford Bronco we drove from LA. We follow Jim, a Moab resident and senior trail guide for Jeep Jamboree, a company hired to ensure our survival. He leads us a few miles out of town, where a rusty metal sign marks the beginning of our challenging journey.

Our first obstacle is a set of steps that I wouldn't have the nerve to tackle without Jim's guidance. We don't need to engage the differential locks on the downward slopes, but we shift the gearbox into low ratio and carefully navigate the Jeep down the steps. It occasionally scrapes the bottom, but for the most part, it remains unscathed. With our confidence boosted, we continue on, encountering water splashes, sandy tracks, and treacherous rock formations. We face more ledges that seem to have emerged from the depths of hell. Despite the clanking and scraping sounds and the growing number of battle scars on the Jeep's exterior, we have no flat tires or mechanical failures. It's remarkable how well the Jeep is holding up, considering the punishment it's enduring. In London, a slight scrape on a curb would haunt me for weeks, but here, I've become desensitized to the sound of metal meeting rock, accepting that this is what the Jeep was made for – conquering challenging off-road terrain.

Our persistence is rewarded with each obstacle we overcome, as the view gradually unfolds before us. We are greeted by towering red cliffs, layers of geological history, and snow-capped peaks in the distance, despite the scorching temperatures where we currently are. Finally, we reach the pinnacle of our journey, perched above a valley carved into the landscape by some unseen force. It's truly astonishing, but there is no room for error in this territory. While I don't have a fear of heights, the lack of safety measures here is unnerving. One wrong move could send us plummeting down the cliff. The fact that we have no doors serves as a constant reminder of the potential danger that awaits us.

But fear not, dear reader, we survive. We conquer Cliffhanger and take a moment to appreciate the breathtaking view before turning around and retracing our steps. We stop to have a sandwich at the top of the world, savoring the sense of accomplishment and the adventure we have experienced. The view is awe-inspiring, although the sandwich itself is a bit dry. The scale of the landscape and the challenges we have overcome to reach this point are truly remarkable. Despite being slightly underprepared, Jim and his team have guided us through, and our Jeep – a vehicle that can be purchased off the showroom floor – has endured. Isn't that astonishing? Almost as astonishing as the little town in Utah called Moab.

FutureCar Staff