Cruz the Desert

[cybler]

I personally would like to see longer distance exploration-style event that varies in location and trails every year, like a 3 day trip. However this interests very few people as so many people enjoy rock crawling and harder trails instead.

Could we do this as a seperate event? Short trails at different levels for some people, and a long trail for others. The long run could start a couple days before the main event and be scheduled to arrive at the event Saturday afternoon.

David

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Tuff trails attract wheelers from out of state. Where are the tuff trails in Jerome & Sedona?

Organized events require permits and insurance State trust land seems like an EZ way to go.

At FJ every event runs mostly the same trails...we could expand the norm and throw in Power line and Montana Mountain that are both very scenic long runs.

At one time a club member offered CSC help when and if we want to go NP.

 

[BMAN]

That offer was still on the table the last time we spoke but there are still fees other than the lawyers fees. I'll have to go back and DIG them up.

David makes a good suggestion to the point that Scotty was making about involving an expedition type run into the event.

Fortunately for Arizona but unfortunately for CSC Scott Brady seems to cover this type of event multiple times throughout the year.

Are there any "tough" trails up north in the Sedona area?

 

[xrock]

Tough for a hard core wheeler? No- Challenging for an average non crawler rig vehicle? Sure.

Some events are based on tough trails- Some are based on the quality of scenery, some fun trails, availability of services and the people.

Thousands of wheelers go to Ouray/ The San Juan mountains to wheel every year. Is there anything more challenging than Sedona? No. It's the scenery, the cool little town- getting out and away with some buds.

Think about that beach event that everyone goes to.

Scenery and good times man- just like the hokey pokey, that's what it's all about!

 

[brittan]

I am in favor of having an event anywhere but FJ. I always choke on the dust at AZ Rocks and there are more beautiful parts of the sate.
Tame trails are fine. I wheel with this group because everyone has gotten past the wheel it, break it, fix it...wheel it, break it, fix it...mentality of the TTORA group. Am I getting old?
I am with Desert Dude...Lets find a place where we can get to know each other, eat each others food and see something cool. For me its all about therapy...getting away from my cell, TV, the city, and being with folks I find interesting.
I suggest we do it in the fall. November may be to late because its the start of the holiday's but October works for me.
Regardless I will support the group and look forward to seeing everyone. As usual I will be good for dutch oven cobbler over the coals.

 

[Pskhaat]

Thousands of wheelers go to Ouray/ The San Juan mountains to wheel every year. Is there anything more challenging than Sedona? No. It's the scenery, the cool little town- getting out and away with some buds.

xrock, you make an excellent point and I could not agree more. I still do though fear what Phil stated in that the attraction is for hard trails: about 60% of the folks I hang out with are for friends, brews, trips & scenery, the other 40% are about scaring themselves on the trail.

But as xrock said, all sorts show up at Pismo (which also has me thinking that is in November) from international rigs to hardcore, to stockers, which is personally the kind of event I like the most...

 

[Tools R Us]

Like the Crown King idea, good old school western town, tons of trails, old mines and towns to explore. Cabins in town for rent or good camping at the lake, food at the Mill or saloon, a new saloon opening this year. I will bet if we talked to Ben the general store owner and a cruiser wheeler, he could get the town to support the idea.

 

[-Spike-]

I do lub me sum o' dem CK runs. I've been on moderate trails in there, but hear there's some fairly serious stuff too.

-Spike

 

[desertdude]

What a hot topic Throwing out more random thoughts

Are there any "tough" trails up north in the Sedona area?

nope - but we have a few nice short ones - some expensive resorts with over priced dinners

In Sedona there are some great views at the top of the rim up Schnebly road ( rough FS road) which could be included in one leg of a long expedition. Along with some fine Petroglyph sites most folks don't get to see.

I personally would like to see longer distance exploration-style event that varies in location and trails every year, like a 3 day trip. However this interests very few people as so many people enjoy rock crawling and harder trails instead.

I echo this statement above. With a qualifier I do see the shift from rock crawling to expedition type adventures - providing the landscape is interesting - you can see a bit of history - and the spots to camp are spectacular.

This state is BIG - we have the Grand Canyon - Ancient ruins - nice lakes - old mining towns - A route could be chosen to see various parts of the state each year to keep it fresh - CSC's " Dust till Dawn" Arizona Expedition

 

[Cantinero]

This state is BIG - we have the Grand Canyon - Ancient ruins - nice lakes - old mining towns - A route could be chosen to see various parts of the state each year to keep it fresh - CSC's " Dust till Dawn" Arizona Expedition

I agree we have a lot to offer and we should take advantage of this with a rotating event. We get a ton of tourists each year; People enjoy this state, its old west history, scenery, and our weather that's a fact. Let’s show them the whole state and not just one specific area over and over again. Also it would be a great opportunity for us locals as well to see different parts of it, instead of our normal weekend wheeling spots. We just need to pick areas that offer all ranges of wheeling to all walks of people. Also I feel the event should be held in the March or April's time frame when the weather is more stable and before it gets too hot!

That being said from a native zonies point of view, let's take advantage of what we have to offer. A kicka$$ event, set in some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery that few states could offer.

D

 

[-Spike-]

Not sure exactly what an 'event' would entail. The Nissan4Wheelers.com group has an Az Run every year. One week of camping and trail running. Sometimes with a central camp location that the group returns to every night, some years the camp site moves each night so everything has to be packed. 20 vehicles is considered a big turnout. 20 vehicles makes a fairly moderate trail (i.e: Sunflower Mine) take all day. I'm not sure what was envisioned for a CSC event, but it's sounding like something bigger than 20 trucks. Multiple trails could be run, on a rotating schedule, but it will take some administration- not to mention an abundance of trails close together.

-Spike

 

[Tools R Us]

For a big event the base camp, multiple daily runs format works well. More than about 10 trucks on one trail makes for a long day, made worse if you have nissans that need to stop often and add more bailin wire to hold the exhaust on!:hillbilly

 

[Cantinero]

You know Tools, bailin' wire might be a little too high tech for those nissan boys. I could see them using zip ties instead. Less tools and thought involved in zip ties, unlike wire where there is twisting and cutting involved.

Besides it gives them a chance to stop more often once the ties melt through!

 

[Pskhaat]

Now I must admit embarrassingly that I have yet to go to Crown King so I can't really comment on the area, BUT from what I'm hearing maybe this doesn't sound so bad?

Two competing thoughts:

* Like CM, I believe there should be a ``base camp'' where people are encouraged to stay

* Unlike CM, I don't know if I like the name Cruz the Desert as it's too close the Cruise Moab. Another name?

I also will admin I'm starting to agree that changing base locations year-after-year may be a good idea. Gives a lot of anticipation each year. February/March would also be an EXCELLENT time in terms of weather.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I also will admin I'm starting to agree that changing base locations year-after-year may be a good idea. Gives a lot of anticipation each year. February/March would also be an EXCELLENT time in terms of weather.

I like the idea of early spring also. I finish up inventory at work in January, football season is over. A good time for an event to wind down.

 

[Pskhaat]

I started thinking about the TLCA event calendar, and that time appears to be quite open. The only thing to compete with is the River Shiver up North. Thinkin Feb is perfect.

http://tlca.org/events/

 

[xrock]

Feb would be cold nights with a chance of rain.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Feb would be cold nights with a chance of rain.

Not scared!! Thats my favorite weather for camping out.

 

[Pskhaat]

Otherwise, the open months are July & August which I'm guessing we couldn't interest many people out-of-state to do unless it was in N.AZ. October/December are the only other open months.

 

[BMAN]

Not scared!! Thats my favorite weather for camping out.

But I bet your wife ain't into it, and neither is mine. There's no way in hell I'm getting her out to an event in the middle of nowhere with a chance of rain. Rain makes for miserable camping conditions. The wheeling doesn't really suffer but camping in the rain just sucks.

From what I'm reading so far I think we should look at a couple different events throughout the year.

An expedition type event that changes locations each year highlighting different regions of our fine state. This event would best be suited for 20 or so participants, and could be a traveling event with different campgrounds for each night.

A campout event where participants pretty much just hang and enjoy the weekend. Wheeling optional daily, with a base camp for a couple of nights.

A basecamp rock crawling/daytrip/mild to wild event with maybe 1 or 2 rotating locations from year to year.