Took the family out this Saturday with a group of 6 other vehicles up to Smiley Rock. What a perfect day for wheeling. We started at about 10am right near the Jerome ghost town entrance where we all aired down. The views on the backside of Jerome heading out towards Perkinsville did not disappoint. Breathtaking. Most of the ride was quick with a few rocky areas until we came to the wash. It was so much fun watching the other trucks then driving the 80 through all the rocks. I'm still completely impressed what I've been able to throw at my truck even being unlocked. I made it through nearly unscathed. In a moment of forgetting my surroundings after getting back in the truck after watching the last truck come through the wash, I forgot about the large rock on the passenger side I parked next to. So as a reminder for me to get some sliders (I guess), I went ahead and turned too soon and put the rock into my door.
After we came out of the wash and found some wide open area we stopped for lunch. The kids found a timber rattler at the base of an alligator pine while exploring. Our first rattlesnake encounter. It was a very docile snake, must have just woken from a nap or something. Did not rattle with all the commotion, he just slowly turned and went under the tree root.
After we finished the Smiley Rock trail, we cut across 89A and proceeded to head back to Cottonwood via the Mingus Mountain loop trail (FR413). Beautiful ride. A bit narrow for the 80 with the brush, trees, and shelf, but a really fun and fast ride. There's only one rocky decent, the rest is a decent (mostly shelf) road down the mountain. All in all we had a great time out with some fellow wheelers.
Taking a break
Oh, man!
Me and my family
So what do we have here?
After we came out of the wash and found some wide open area we stopped for lunch. The kids found a timber rattler at the base of an alligator pine while exploring. Our first rattlesnake encounter. It was a very docile snake, must have just woken from a nap or something. Did not rattle with all the commotion, he just slowly turned and went under the tree root.
After we finished the Smiley Rock trail, we cut across 89A and proceeded to head back to Cottonwood via the Mingus Mountain loop trail (FR413). Beautiful ride. A bit narrow for the 80 with the brush, trees, and shelf, but a really fun and fast ride. There's only one rocky decent, the rest is a decent (mostly shelf) road down the mountain. All in all we had a great time out with some fellow wheelers.
Taking a break
Oh, man!
Me and my family
So what do we have here?
area. It looks to be "greening up" the last time I was up there everything was brown/dead.
