LAST MINUTE trail run Saturday to Charouleau Gap

[ShottsUZJ100]

We gotta go. Over the past two weeks the Catalina Mountains have averaged over 1.5" of rain per day. Some days on the north side (CDO watershed) were 3+ inches. The CDO Wash (the wash in the center of the trail by the Step and at the Catalina end) has closed roads almost daily. Things are different in there and we're going to check it out. THIS TIME however we'll run the trail from Catalina to Oracle (reverse our normal way). This way we can cross the CDO early in the day and if/when it downpours we'll be exiting the safer and possible way.

MEETING DATE: SAT 8/4
MEETING PLACE: Catalina McDonalds (north of Golder Ranch Raod)
MEETING TIME: 9:30 AM....9:45 PULL-OUT SHARP...SHARP...SHARP...as we must beat monsoons

CB CHANNEL: 4
TRAIL RATING: 3.0 with 3.5 sections

VEHICLE REQUIREMENT: Larger tires, suspension lift, and, because of current weather conditions, the following will apply:

1. Sorry on this trip...no inexperienced drivers
2. Be prepared to keep a swift pace on much of the trail. Yes, we will play on the obstacles, however in between we will "move".

TRIP DURATION: This direction we should be able to beat any possible floods. Plan on 6-7 hours.

If you plan on coming please post up. If you need me you can call me at 520-975-1723.

Come on out and lets have fun! We'll be there in the LX450 to lead the way.

 

[import silvia]

Sounds like a good run, but I'll be outta town.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I can't go saturday, sunday I could.

 

[splitshot]

When you get to Oracle, you can help me load up all this firewood I'll be cutting

Forcast is for numerous showers, got your snorkle?

 

[GeoRoss]

I can't go saturday, sunday I could.

No you can't, you're moving furniture on Sunday.

 

[brittan]

Correction...

No you can't, you're moving furniture on Sunday (bitch!)

 

[MaddBaggins]

No you can't, you're moving furniture on Sunday.

I was trying to get out of that. I don't like the guy anyway...








sorry, I forgot and was just coming back here to say I couldn't sunday either.

 

[Toysx2]

When you get to Oracle, you can help me load up all this firewood I'll be cutting

Forcast is for numerous showers, got your snorkle?

Pretty decent flow in the wash this morning at 9am at the Hiway 77 bridge. Looks like the flow at the Ina Road monitoring station got up to 3000 cfs yesterday. I think that traveling up the CDO back in the 70's was the deepest water that I was ever in. The floorboards in my FJ40 were submerged for quite a while! My wife kept telling me--we can make it, we can make it--we did, but man oh man!! LOL

 

[splitshot]

Pretty decent flow in the wash this morning at 9am at the Hiway 77 bridge. Looks like the flow at the Ina Road monitoring station got up to 3000 cfs yesterday. I think that traveling up the CDO back in the 70's was the deepest water that I was ever in. The floorboards in my FJ40 were submerged for quite a while! My wife kept telling me--we can make it, we can make it--we did, but man oh man!! LOL

I know I'm dating myself here, but you said back in the 70's, I remember the old golder damn before they breached it. It seemed to help with the downstream flooding.

 

[Toysx2]

I know I'm dating myself here, but you said back in the 70's, I remember the old golder damn before they breached it. It seemed to help with the downstream flooding.

We were upstream from the old Golder Dam. I may have the name of the wash wrong, but I thought that the wash you cross, drive in, etc. along the Charoleau Gap Trail was the upper CDO wash. As I recall, there was a LONG stretch that you had to drive in the bed of the creek, because of the narrowness of the canyon. On the day we were there, it was to the depth that I described. I was pretty new at four wheeling at the time, and didn't know that you were supposed to change the fluids in your transmission etc after such an adventure! It was several years later, that I was having the transmission re-done that I was asked if I had ever had the truck in deep water--as evidenced by the rusty gears etc. I knew exactly when it had happened!!

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I thought that the wash you cross, drive in, etc. along the Charoleau Gap Trail was the upper CDO wash.

Correct. You also cross it again near the Catalina-side trailhead.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I would like to go on this run but Ill be sweating up in Ouray

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I would like to go on this run but Ill be sweating up in Ouray

Over the 4th Ouray was in the upeer 80's and lower 90's. We've never had it hotter up there. Luvved the 7-days though. Have fun.

 

[MaddBaggins]

How were the conditions John? I want to try to get out there next weekend.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

How were the conditions John? I want to try to get out there next weekend.

Ruts were deeper than ever. Brian had a minor break on his Rubi so we turned back just over the top the Gap. We never made it to the upper CDO crossing. There also was a t-storm that was sitting and dumping though on the south side of the Cat's. It's that storm that washed away those 2 poeple in Bear Canyon. Sunday the mess was on the north (Gap/CDO) side so Sunday would have been dangerous. Today also.

The trail is ready....just watch the weather.

We had a lot of fun. Great folks. Jeeps, a Rover, Runner and Cruiser. Superb day. I'll have some pics soon.

 

[Azrocks]

Anybody seen the falls recently to see the water level?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Anybody seen the falls recently to see the water level?

What falls are you referring to?

Also....the water in and around the Gap comes and goes rapidly during the summer (unlike the winter). I would guess the water by the Step in the upper CDO is at it's normal light level.

 

[Azrocks]

I'm sorry, I'm retarted! I was thinking about Chiva.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Thanks to all who came along. We had a nice variety!

Cruiser
Runner
Jeep
Disco

Also sorry it took me so long to post up. Man, work has me suicidal. (Clap clap from many members!)

 

[MaddBaggins]

Thanks for the pics John. It looks good back there.