Moab Rim Trail is a subtle challenge. It immediately begins rising steeply from the river valley and at first appears to be nothing too difficult. Don't be fooled, lest you be upside down, as two Zukers found out Tuesday. This trail is usually run as an out-and-back, although I'm told there are alternatives. We did it as an out-and-back on a run led by Gary Munck of Petroworks Off-Road Products on Wednesday of this year's Zukfari. That means we got to do the cliff section both up and down.

The entire section of the trail running up the face of the cliff from the valley is off-camber just enough -- when combined with the various obstacles you'll have to maneuver over -- that you can find yourself in trouble in a hurry. The key to completing this trip, right side up and without too much seat material embedded in your nether regions, is in driving skill and concentration. Gary was a great trail leader as he's been off-roading for many years in both Jeeps and Samurais, not to mention having run this trail numerous times. I took the opportunity as a co-pilot/naviguesser to both learn and shoot pictures for this article.

This trail is best handled in small groups, especially during the Easter Zukfari when you'll be encountering all sorts of other people wheeling. While none of the obstacles are especially hairy in and of themselves for a short-wheelbase vehicle like a Samurai or Vitara, there's always that off-camber gremlin lurking, and there are places where you'll prefer to take your time. A small group will allow you that time to think things through.

The views are pretty spectacular, there are some nice spots to take a break for a snack or lunch and there are a couple of side-trips you can take as well. One of the side trips has some great petroglyphs only a short hike away from the end of the trail. There's even a section of deep, incredibly soft, fine sand for some hill-climb fun.

My two biggest lessons about this trail? Do pay attention to the terrain. The lack of proper horizons and the general slope away from the cliff-face towards (an increasing amount of) nothing but air above the river make things just a little "off" and potentially confusing.

Don't try and power through the obstacles. Getting some bounce going will cause you to lose traction all of a sudden, and when that happens you're just as likely as not to be shiny-side down, depending on which obstacle gets you.

We completed the trail without serious incident, having only to strap one truck twice (too much power both times) and having only one vehicle get anywhere near rollover (wrong line). I even got a new girl friend, a real cutie, even if she is only two. (Guys take note: At that age, M&Ms work wonders for winning over the girls.) The only draw-back to the day was that it was chilly and windy, upwards of 50 knots at times.