TRAIL RUN--SAT JAN 10TH--Sutherland Trail

[ShottsUZJ100]

Are you ready AzLCA? In my 7-years with the Club I don't ever recall us running the Sutherland Trail. It seems like everytime we all head towards Tucson that we either run Chiva Falls or Charouleau Gap. Why, when such a killer trail like the Sutherland exists?

The Sutherland Trail begins in the town of Catalina, heads down to the border of Catalina State Park (no admission fee for this trail) then follows the old phone line up the Catalina Mountains where the line connects at Mt. Lemmon and Summerhaven. The road used to go to the top following the line. Years ago the top section was closed as it enters wilderness area. We will travel to about the 5500' level which is within a half mile from the trail's end. The last 1/2 mile is almost not passable. (Almost)

Scenery on this trail is pretty impressive as you climb. Better on the return even!

There are some pretty difficult spots on this trail. A few of the harder spots can be bypassed. On some others it's Driver's Choice. Make it easier or make it harder. This trail is not for most stock vehicles, even stock Land Cruisers. Equipped properly however and you will enjoy every minute of the day. This also includes the 100 and 200-Series trucks. Rod Seagle did just fine in his '99 though it was tight in a few places. In fact, Rod put on quite a show making the obstacles look easier than they were. To make sure we all have a good and safe time I think I need to set some minimum vehicle requirements for this trip. They are:

*One traction device required (locking diff and/or traction control)
*55-200 Series Cruisers should have at least a 2" lift
*FJ Cruisers should have at least a 2" lift and/or bigger tires (a stock FJC w'rear locker MIGHT be OK)
*Tacoma 4x4 TRD w'rear locker...fine in stock form

****Recommended: larger tires and rock sliders for all vehicles

DATE: 1/10
MEETING TIME: 8:30 AM...FIRM pull out time is 9:00 AM
MEETING PLACE: McDonalds in the town of Catalina on AZ77 (Oracle Road)
EXPECTED TRAVEL TIME ON TRAIL IS ABOUT 5-HOURS (including lunch)
CB CH 4
My cell phone...520-975-1723

Directions:

Phoenix:
I-10 to Tangerine Road (about 20 miles NW of downtown Tucson)
Exit and go left (east) until the road ends at Oracle Road
Turn left and go north for about 5 miles to the McDonalds

Far east Phoenix:
US60 to Florence Jct
Exit onto AZ79 into and through Florence and onto Oracle Jct
Turn right (south) at Oracle Jct onto AZ77
McDonalds is about 4 miles down the road

COME ON OUT! Here's some previews of the trail:

Optional spot:


100-series:


80-series...wrong line:


View:

[ShottsUZJ100]

Trip is back on! Rescheduled! Come and sign up!

[ShottsUZJ100]

SIGN-UP LIST:

John Shotts...LX450...Becky will be out of state.
Walt Phllips...FZJ80
Joe Chott...FZJ80
Craig Telez...Jeep

[puulboy]

We want in 2 FJC's
puulboy and bellydoc
thanks

[ShottsUZJ100]

Excellent! 2 more in and 2 more to go! Our club rarely sees FJC's on our trips. I'm sure some of the folks will really enjoy watching.

[puulboy]

Great run guys
Sutherland is a pretty tough trail A couple of recovery situations and minor carnage I have no pics cuz I had no co pilot but I believe there should be some pretty good ones from others

Thanks for the great time and of course the teamwork with spotting and recovery.
thanks
Don

[ShottsUZJ100]

Lord...what a day this was on the trail for me. Actually for all the attendees. Read on and you'll know why.

Awesome day and group......

Me...80-Series
Walt and Tammi...80-Series
Joe Chott...80-Series
Randall Mills and buddy Mike...40-Series
Don (from the CopperState LC Club)...FJ Cruiser

The trip from the trailhead is rocky and gut-popping until you hit the first obstacle, the Squeeze. One-by-one we all got through. Spotting, wheel lifting, backing up....fun, and nobody took the bypass. And this trip...no damage! Awesome!




For the next hour the trail winds up the Catalina Mountains. Along this section are several tough lines and hair-raising very steep obstacles. Everybody did well along here as well though some spotting and diff hanging were the typical challenges.



Then we arrived at the big hill. Many groups stop here and turn around. Some climb and go to the trail's end (about a half a mile further). Some play here and then return. Today, my gut told me "naw" even though I've climbed the hill two times before and easily. Joe said he'd do it as well if I did it first. I went for it.

Pic of the hill from our last trip:


Well...today I botched it. Instead of crawling I climbed it at a quick pace. DUMB! When I hit the huge holes at the top, my hood hit the sky. I felt like I was going over and the folks at the bottom thought the same. I was going TOO fast. I HIT the brakes fearing sliding down the hill backwards. I did stop though I slid to the right into the main hole and then the Lexus tipped....until I heard a SLAM from the PS and was immediately stopped on my side. I thought the rear door was mangled.




I freaked and froze with both my feet on the brake. The folks came up to check on me. Walt told me I lucked out and fell onto my PS rear wheel/tire and NOT my body. Woo hoo...no body damage.



The plan was to strap my front and help pull me more level. Before using human power, Joe walked the hill to see if he had a way to get up to the top in his 80. He found one! Long story short....Joe strapped me up. Phew! I was safe! No damage. Ahhhhhhh......thanks guys! Man were my ankles weak from pounding on the brake for the 10-minutes (felt like 30) while I was stuck.



This one show just really what an extreme angle I was at:


Of course the jokes about my climb after from the folks were hilarious. We were all laughing then. I tell you this...these are folks you want along when something goes wrong. THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR HELP!

Any how...Joe decided to pass on his climb. Good decision.

More spotting and scraping occurred on the return. This is a fun trail for sure. Joe shared his opinion as well..."nice run"! We did have another stuck on the this return. Don got his front-end high-centered on his FJC. Randall's immediate idea turned out to be the one that freed Don. Randall Hi-Lifted the front end then had Don drive forward until the jack fell over. Wa-La...Don was free! GREAT IDEA!

After we all bypassed the Squeeze on the return (good thing!).



Then, I began to hear knocking noises from my suspension. Then, the steering was getting squirrly. I knew something was wrong and we stopped to check. YEP! A weld gave way at my front panhard rod adjuster! Err! Walt explained I needed to CRAWL out of the trail and suggested we find a shop in town that can weld it back. Steering was spooking. I felt like I was doing the slalom just to go straight.

I made it out to the main road, and all the other folks were on a mission to find an open shop in Catalina. After some time, all the news was "nobody has a welder". Then, while we (3 trucks) were pulled over by a Sheriff for going 20 in a 45 with flashers on....Don discovered the marine shop was open and they could fix me up. Thank goodness the Sheriff allowed me to drive over there via the back roads. She was VERY cool. So Don went to work. He snagged the tools and removed the rod. The shop welded it. Don slapped it on. I WAS ON THE ROAD! THANKS DON! And thanks also to Walt and Joe who stayed around ready to help me out with a ride home if I needed it. These folks are the best you'll run into.

Thanks everybody for sticking with me. And sorry for the lack of pictures and for being in the spot light much of the day.