December 2001 - Lost World
Trail Rating - 4.5+
Trip Leader: Chris Villarreal
Photos submitted by Chris Villarreal
Winter weather in Phoenix is the perfect four wheeling weather. Cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon. This trip to the Lost World was a test of my new axles, ironically enough my last four wheeling trip on my stock axles was also to the Lost World.
Getting to the Lost World can be a trip unto itself. I managed to find a shortcut that runs along the ridge right next to the Lost World valley. There are two really good hill climbs along the way but I believe everyone was locked front and rear because the group made short work of the hills.
As soon as we made it to the valley floor Jim and myself pulled our doors off and we hit the rocks. The Toyota with the Exo cage is Pat's. This was the first time I witnessed super low crawl ratios on the trail, I believe his Toyota was gears at 190: 1 or lower via dual transfer cases and he just moved along like a bulldozer, never having to touch the clutch. Cool.
Brian's Zuk.
Jim Kawa down near the first waterfall.
I made it a point top try a different line at all the major obstacles this time thru. I chose the steeper line down this waterfall and decided to tie a strap to the back end just in case the back end came up. The tires gripped really well and the Zuk just eased down the wall not needing any assistance.
Jim tried the line I tried the first time thru this trail.
Luckily there's sand at the bottom of this waterfall, Pat dug his winch in a couple inches before the front end started to come back up.