Run of The Month - August (1 Viewer)

[Chuy]

I volunteered for the August run of the month so I have chosen a day run at Chiva Falls in Tucson. The route I plan to take is the easy stocker friendly route that goes around the three feathers obstacle. That makes this a more stocker friendly run. More input from anyone who has done it stock would be welcome.

We can also split up into two groups and meet back up in the middle of the trail at the river bed if members want to do the Three feathers obstacle. It would be a good idea to bring a lunch or a snack.

The highlight of the trip is a waterfall in the middle of the desert which should be flowing because of the monsoon rain.


Details of event:


Date: August 24th - Saturday (The weekend after the monthly meet)

Meet Time: 9:00am

Trail time: 4-6hours

Trail distance: ~8miles

Meeting Place: Circle K on the left side off East Tanque Verde Rd. before you get to Redington Pass Rd.

Circle K
11271 E Tanque Verde Rd
Tucson, AZ 85749

Click Here For a Map

What to expect:

Weather: http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/US/AZ/Tucson.html
Trail info: http://www.experience-az.com/adventures/4wd/Chivafalls/chivafalls.html

After the run the plan is to eat at Nimbus American Bistro Brew Pub. If you plan to join post up so I can reserve enough seats.

http://nimbusamericanbistro.com/tucson/

The run is open to anyone who wants to come member or non-member.

Hope to see everyone there and meet up with the Tucson CSC folks!

~Chuy

 

[Coolstream]

Rita and I are in.

Chuy, thanks for picking a run in our neck of the woods!

If you plan to eat at Nimbus, this will be of interest:

http://local.amazon.com/tucson

 

[Chuy]

Rita and I are in.

Chuy, thanks for picking a run in our neck of the woods!

If you plan to eat at Nimbus, this will be of interest:

http://local.amazon.com/tucson

That is a great deal thanks!

 

[Funner]

I am likely in as well, looks like a good time. Thanks for hosting the run this month.

 

[Rudster]

I plan on being there. Have done that trail a few times but that was years ago. Will be heading down the night before and staying at my parents place. Look forward to hitting Nimbus afterwards.

 

[mtkreitz]

I'm in...

 

[Stepmurr]

I would like to go with y'all.

 

[RockJock82]

Might be in too need to check the work schedule..

 

[murf]

I was really looking forward to wheeling with the Southern contingent but I'm taking the family out of town that weekend.

Have fun

 

[Rocky_LC]

Count me (and probably at least one passenger) in....

Looks like a fun ride - thanks for the setting this up!


Chuck

PS. Three Feathers is usually a lot of fun (even if you are stock, you can watch the other trucks taking harder lines). We should have lots of spotters, and there is a bypass around the harder stuff... You might consider everyone going DOWN it....

 

[Chuy]

Count me (and probably at least one passenger) in....

Looks like a fun ride - thanks for the setting this up!


Chuck

PS. Three Feathers is usually a lot of fun (even if you are stock, you can watch the other trucks taking harder lines). We should have lots of spotters, and there is a bypass around the harder stuff... You might consider everyone going DOWN it....

Im leaning towards that option if everyone is up for it but I want to have the option open for the fully stock guys too. I did see a fully stock Ford Explorer Sport Trac on street tires make it down the easy side and only slightly scuff his plastic sliders and a stock Bronco on 33's go down the middle with no problems besides stalling out. Im just not 100% sure on how a stock 80 with step sides and rear tow hitch will do but it seems like it would be fine with good spotters who know the good lines?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Chuy I would like to camp after the run, but I have never been to Chiva. Is there a place at Chiva or would I want to get to higher (cooler) ground?

Anyone else spending the night?

 

[a.mus.ed]

Chuy I would like to camp after the run, but I have never been to Chiva. Is there a place at Chiva or would I want to get to higher (cooler) ground?

Anyone else spending the night?

I don't know about camping at Chiva - unless you go in further after the usual turn-around point. There is chimney rock just a few miles down the road which is a nice place to camp. It doesn't solve the altitude issue, though. There is another, bigger area at the end of Italian trap, even closer to Chiva, if there were lots of vehicles camping. Italian trap is the trail that has the connector to Chiva, bypassing three feathers, so it's very quick to get there from Chiva. If you want altitude, the only real way to get it is head up Mt. Lemmon, which you're plenty familiar with. The Rincons, to the south of the area, are all off limits to vehicles.

As far as I'm able to confirm, I'm in and will join for camping wherever we decide.

 

[Rocky_LC]

There's a couple of places that you can camp in the riverbottom, at least one up the river towards the Italian Trap, and there is the one with the big sycamores where you cross the river to get to the bottom of the falls. This place gets a lot of traffic, though, as it's pretty much on the main route to Chivo Falls.

You could also go up and around the falls, by the top of the falls there's a couple of spots that have some scrub oaks, and are pretty close to the stream on top of the falls. The easiest route is on the East side up, and on the west side down.

I agree with Cayce, though - pickings are kind of slim by Chivo. There's also some nice spots on the Chimney Rock trail - that would be another fun wheeling trip in itself!

Chuck

 

[kdxman]

As long as a stock Cruiser can make the trail I'm in and one or two others to help push if I get stuck

 

[neatus]

At the request of Chuy I pre ran the Chiva/Chivo Falls loop from the far eastern end of Forest Road 4417 (the side that doesn't go through Three Feathers). We ran it to where it it meets up with the west end of 4417 and turns south onto FR 4426.
By the time we made it to 4426 it was dark so my buddies and I just ate our dinners and headed back to town.
(The map below shows our route in bright green)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatus/9474933511/
Chiva Map Stock Trail by Neatus, on Flickr

I have run it to the end from the Three feathers side multiple times but never from the other side.

I did this today in my stock 96 FZJ80 with street tires and it was no problem at all for the Cruiser. I touched the tow hitch very lightly a few times.

There are quite a few spots with standing water and the cow ponds are full. The falls I assume should be running well as this area has been getting quite a bit of rain this Summer.

The vegetation out there is very green and there are tons of insects(bring insect repellant), mice, bats, owls and other birds. We also saw two deer and plenty of cattle.

This will be a great run and should be cooler than in town or up in Phoenix as the elevation in most areas is above 3000ft.

Either side is doable in a stock Cruiser but I am with Chuy when he says you may really drag the heck out of your hitch and or your bumper end caps. I think last time we went, Chuy also gave his exhaust tip a new bend.

Okay so, this should be a really nice run and has something for everyone. Also, if you want to try out your snorkel I am pretty sure there is a decent water crossing spot coming from the Three Feathers side.

Here are a few pics from this evening.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/9477758776_f11e30907c.jpg
Sunset Reddington Pass by Neatus, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatus/9477758882/
Hairy Legs by Neatus, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatus/9474972979/
Hairy Legs 2 by Neatus, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatus/9477759180/
Cruiser n Jeeps by Neatus, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatus/9474973339/
Moo Cow by Neatus, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatus/9474973567/
Tucson From Reddington Rd by Neatus, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatus/9477758776/

 

[nicholas]

I'm down for the run pending no unforseen weekend work. I also might be able to camp but Im not sure if I'll Mount the RTT.

 

[nicholas]

It's looking good so far. As of now I'm on a 30 hr call Thursday and post call Friday the 23rd. So I should be able to make it to this run and ill have the whole weekend off so I plan on camping overnight and coming home Sunday if there are some other folks that are planning on spending the night. I know there was some mention about possibly limited camping options, but if we're camping out of our rigs/RTT's then I'd imagine we could camp just about anywhere.

See you guys/gals at the run.

 

[neatus]

I will be there. Will bring some buddies as long as ya'll don't mind a couple Jeeps coming along.

 

[splitshot]

Out, checking the kid into NAU on the 24th.