Desert to Tall Pines in the Tonto

[Stepmurr]

I made a three day outing to the Tontos this weekend. Did some desert wheelin', tall pine wheelin', and a little mud boggin'.

Friday nightcamped outside of Jake's Corner on FR184D, Saturday did FRs 184D, 184, 3414, 3419, 3417. 1434A, 378A, 117, and 1319. I camped on 1319 Saturday and then hit FRs 512, 291A and camped Sunday night off of 291A. Monday I drove FR 33 & 34, and then continued on down 512 through Young and out to Globe.

Saturday pics:

Friday's campsite

FR184D

Destination: Tonto Creek

First road down to the creek looked a little too steep

 

[Funner]

3 days camping and wheeling with only 5 pictures? I know you're holding out. Can't claim you ran out of film, so let's see them.

 

[Stepmurr]

3 days camping and wheeling with only 5 pictures? I know you're holding out. Can't claim you ran out of film, so let's see them.

I have 55 shrunk down & ready for uploading - unfortunately i had to go to work

Mo pics to follow . . .

 

[Rudster]

Who's to say these are the pictures of this trip? Once again Steve thanks for the pictures and look foward to more pictures.

 

[tlin]

Any wildlife sightings? How were the evening/overnight temps out there?

Good stuff, thx for sharing!

 

[Stepmurr]

Any wildlife sightings? How were the evening/overnight temps out there?

Good stuff, thx for sharing!

Wildlife was abundant - even with all the gunplay from the hunters.
Saw lots of elk (one dead on the highway) and one deer, but they were all moving too fast to photograph.

Lots of gray squirrels in the piney woods and lots of birdies.

Friday night near Jakes Corner was in the high 70s, Sat & Sun in the upper elevations were mid 50s.

 

[murf]

trip reports are great for us desk jockeys to live vicariously through your adventure.
Mo' pics please!

 

[splitshot]

This ^^^^, I only blast through there schlepping my kid back and forth from NAU. One day I'd like to drop a line in all those lakes.

 

[Living in the Past]

The last two pictures in the first post have my back hurting. Driven too many trails that look like that in my 68 FJ40. Usually wasn't too long after being on one I found myself trying figure if it would be quicker to get off it by turning around or continuing on. My FJ40 never suffered any damage only my body. It was this toughest that created my passion for LCs. Today I try to avoid trails like this if I can if not I'll use my 99 4Runner. While not a tough I've gotten smarter in my old age and realize it easier to deal with damage to the vehicle.

This ^^^^, I only blast through there schlepping my kid back and forth from NAU. One day I'd like to drop a line in all those lakes.

Hopefully in the not too near future I'll be up there most the year. Would be happy to join you when your ready to explore the area. Would like to start camping again in a area a camp is needed at night.

 

[Stepmurr]

The last two pictures in the first post have my back hurting. Driven too many trails that look like that in my 68 FJ40. Usually wasn't too long after being on one I found myself trying figure if it would be quicker to get off it by turning around or continuing on. My FJ40 never suffered any damage only my body. It was this toughest that created my passion for LCs. Today I try to avoid trails like this if I can if not I'll use my 99 4Runner. While not a tough I've gotten smarter in my old age and realize it easier to deal with damage to the vehicle.



Hopefully in the not too near future I'll be up there most the year. Would be happy to join you when your ready to explore the area. Would like to start camping again in a area a camp is needed at night.

Other than the far north Tonto near the towns and the areas burned out in the Rodeo-Chediski fire the whole forest I drove through this weekend is open to dispersed camping.

I haven't stayed in an organized campground in 30 years

 

[Living in the Past]

Hopefully in the not too near future I'll be up there most the year. Would be happy to join you when your ready to explore the area. Would like to start camping again in a area a camp is needed at night.

Other than tbe far north Tonto near the towns and the areas burned out in the Rodeo-Chedeski fire the whole forest I drove through this weekend is open to dispersed camping.

I haven't stayed in an organized campground in 30 years

Couldn't figure why you brought up campground. Now I see, I meant to say campfire not just camp and definitely not campground. Did camp in a campground over thirty years ago a few times with my ex when my first two kids were small. But even then I had been open camping in the national forest since the early seventies. My folks weren't the camping type even in a camp ground. They did rent a small cabin a few times when we still lived in Wisconsin. My second wife tried camping a few times, just not here thing. Always open camping but don't think even a campground would help. Solved that issue years ago. But I do miss camping in the pines. For reason I won't go in to my chances to get up north are very limited. Hopefully next year that will change and have plenty of free time to explore the rim country.

 

[Stepmurr]

Mo Pics!

Fresh markers courtesy of our pals @ TRAL - Thanks

184D dead ends at a cliff overlook - mighty ambitious fence builders to run it all the way down to the crick

3414 off in the distance goes all the way to the crick

Massive bunny ears with lots of fruit

 

[Stepmurr]

FR3414 has some interesting washouts

The last section by Tonto Creek is really steep

Tonto Creek is well worth the risk of not getting back up the trail

More fresh markers!

 

[Stepmurr]

My vague, poorly researched plan was to drive from Jake's Corner to Young via Coffee Pot Road.

That didn't happen . . .

Next try was FR 1434 - much more fun

 

[Stepmurr]

The road down to Indian Farm Well was pretty tight

End of the road about a hundred feet from Tonto Creek

The next leg was pretty scary - it started out really steep on loose rock

and once up the steep part I wound up on a ridge road - basically a double shelf road with steep drop-offs on both sides

 

[Stepmurr]

I think the ridge road is FR1434A. The scary ridge part ends at the edge of the bald eagle nesting area

Overlooking Gisela

On to the Piney Woods

FR117

Saturday night campsite opposite the gate to FR1319

FR1319 is very short but has a great view at the end

 

[Stepmurr]

Nice trees

The official start of the Heber-Young road AKA "Desert to Tall Pines" AKA FR512

Side trip to Colcord lookout tower

I was amused and amazed at this guy - he had turned around just past this corner and was headed back to the main road

I wasn't too amused a half mile later when I slid ~ 20 feet with zero traction and no hope of braking to a stop in this sticky, slimy, & very slick clay - this is where I turned around and headed back to the main road!

 

[Stepmurr]

Some road off FR291A - too many trees to winch out this trip!

Sunday night campsite

Storm a comin'

Got the tarp up just before the rain hit

 

[Stepmurr]

This is what I need to keep my road plowed!

Lots of closed roads off FR 34 & 33 due to the Rodeo-Chediski fire damage

Fences to keep cars away from Canyon Creek

Bees at work

Canyon Creek was underwhelming

 

[Stepmurr]

If you are in the area the fish hatchery is a great place to visit

A fish pump next to a hatchery raceway

Good eats!

FR 512 has some patches of asphalt but is mostly dirt road. Paved entering Young.

Overlooking Pleasant Valley & Young