Trip report:
We had four vehicles for camping Friday night (@brices123, @Highway Romping, @Cactuscrzr, @GeoRoss & Lisa too). There were a lot of people in camp and we did not get very much sleep.
On Saturday morning we headed out of camp about 7:15 and headed to Sedona. On our way out of camp, I noticed a Dodge Charger and really questioned how they got to the camp site!
We met the rest of the group at Safeway about 8:45. We headed for the trail about 9:10.
In addition to the four above, we had:
@ftbshop (with Remy), @NeVrDun, @jkl72-40.
Vehicles:
1 - 40
2 - 80s
1 - Taco
1 - LX 470
1 - 200
1 - Dodge PowerWagon
The switchbacks were pretty rocky as the recent rains have washed away most of the dirt. We all made it without any incidents. Only a couple of multipoint turns in the entire group. We stopped at the saddle where the two wilderness areas and took a bunch of photos. The last challenge we had was the hill climb. Again no problems for anyone.
The only hiccup we had was the road was blocked by a very large crane truck. It turns out a contractor for APS was working on replacing poles. There was no one at the truck, they were working about a mile away on another part of the road. Ryan (@NeVrDun) sprang into action and starting calling all his APS contacts. We eventually were able to get the crew's attention by yelling. They drove over and moved the truck. They questioned why we were on the road and we told them we had a permit. They were receptive and very nice. The alternative would have been to turn around and drive down the switchbacks, which I have about ZERO desire to do. Ryan then met with the APS supervisor on the job and explained the situation. All was good.
We got back to camp about 1:15pm, to a group of 30 side-by-sides. I think we all made a collective sigh thinking there would not be any peace and quiet again Saturday night. Turns out, they were just there for lunch.
Pete (@verruckt1) was at camp when we arrived and had his rig all set up.
@jkl72-40 stayed for lunch then headed out.
@ftbshop stayed until about 3:30.
The rest of us spent the next several hours watching people attempt to get out to the "Edge of the World" rock formation. Some people used the "Stick" which we all felt was not a good idea. (it was basically a tree branch wedged into a crack on one side of the 6 foot crevasse and the other side resting on the lower rock. There was also "Tent Boy". He decided to pitch his tent on the very edge of the one of the rock outcroppings. We all wished for a large gust of wind to take his airborne, but it never happened. He survived the night.
There got a little rain and then had an epic rainbow. I am sure the entire group has over 100 photos of the rainbow. It was incredible.
We all made our own dinners and sat around Pete's propane campfire and learned about the different types of power poles and under grounding electric lines (@NeVrDun works for APS), and other very adult conversations.
The camp was not terrible loud on Saturday night, thankfully. I think most of us slept well.
The group dispersed at various times during the morning. @Cactuscrzr was the last to leave.
Thank you to everyone for going to the run and camping. I hope you all had a great time.
