Pleasant Lake to Crown King solo-(dialup warning)

[FirstToy]

This is what I love to do- Kung-fu wander the earth action. My first real offroad trip in Arizona-Crown King! Big thank you to RHINO for the great instructions. I spent about 7 hours up there to run 43 miles!

I didn't take pictures of that one non-bypass climb. I was kind of worried about it after reading others had trouble with it only a month earlier so no pics. Also 2 seperate trucks went back, saying it was too tough for them and a ATV rider said "watch out you got a brick wall ahead of you".
2 ATV riders waited at the top as they saw me coming. I walked it and one guy said "you think you can make it? we'll move out of the way if you do." I said "oh, it doesn't look too bad..." Actually it wasn't at all. I just zipped right up. The climb up and out of the valley was far more challanging in my opinion- rock garden after rock garden.

The beginning is all graded fireroad type stuff but great views. As a visitor to Az, I appreciate all the geological formations and vegitation.

The depressing thing I saw was alot of housing going up- this was a particularly vulgar display in harsh contrast to the beautiful desert landscape

there were cows man!

Didn't spot the rusted FJ but saw this flipped Wagoneer

this chevy was up on rocks- don't know if the owner did it to prevent theft or if they were stolen!

Cooked some steak & stuff, had some coffee for lunch- thanks Norcal 80's!

trail got more interesting in places- this is typical

a nice descent- stuff like this everywhere made it fun

some good rock gardens to run thru

can anyone tell me what this rock wall was for?

squeezing between 2 rocks

The narrow, rocky climb to out and over to Crown King- this was actually the most difficult part for me. I was fighting against the falling sunlight and the challenges were more continual- good if I had time to relish them but I didn't want to wheel in the dark. My only disappointment the whole trip, I couldn't take pics and enjoy this part as I wanted.

I rolled into Crown King as night fell. It's a neat little town with friendly people. Saw this nice Pig for sale! Sign was too faded to see the number at night sorry guys!

 

[woody]

damn....very nice!!! Looks like you had a great trip!!

 

[hj60]

Man.
Looks like the reports of the recent rains having washed out alot of the "improvements" to
the trail are true, although I expected to see worse washouts.
I'm almost scared to see what the current storm is doing to it.

It's a fun trail. I will do it in my 60 soon. The Heep couldn't handle it before the rain.

 

[RHINO]

pics look great! i knew you would enjoy the trail. i went slow and tried to wait for ya.
you can rest your concerns about housing being built, i dont think anything has been built for at least 10 yrs up there. that pic with the private property signs is actuall castle hot springs, a popular "get away" for the rich and famouns during the 30's. it has been under new ownership and renewed private use in more recent years. and the other homes in the area have been there for a while.
i can tell you what every rock and wall in the area was built/used for if you can elaborate a bit on which wall it is. i also would have liked to give you the stop spots for "kentucks place" and "fort misery" but i knew you would be presed for time as it were.

 

[FirstToy]

Rhino,
Glad to hear about the lack of housing development. Castle Hot Springs... it looked so vulgar there, like no respect for the land you are on- anyway, it takes all kinds. The flipside is you can see it like an oaisis I guess. I think AZ is so amazing, why would you want a giant lawn instead??

Yes the rock wall- someone mentioned it was the Oro Belle Mine? Where was the rusty FJ? I totally missed it. Which one was the stone fireplace- that was cool too.

If I were to do it again, probably zip through the fireroads and early part and just start taking my time at the "non-maintained" true start of the Crown King trail and give me more time for the last section.. and a second rig to take pics of me on all the challenges ;P

but I thoroughly loved it. Exploring, wheeling, hanging out, eating, rinse, repeat.

Thanks for all the help RHINO, I just set that odo and your calculations were spot on!

 

[RHINO]

great !
the stone fireplace is nothing that i know of, i speculate it is a more recent edition as it looks pretty new and i found no evidence of any kind of foundation or surrounding structure.
the other FJ55 was where the last set of houses where before the "real" trail down off the rd to the right. you would really only see it if your looking.

there are several rock walls along the trail. was the one in the pic right next to the rd?
if so it is all part of the oro belle mine as mentioned, the big wall was where the mill stood, actually went up the hillside quite a ways in several levels, you should have also seen the remains of the assay office where the safe remained until the late 70's. the SALOON in CK at the end of the rd, white two story building was originally at the oro belle and moved up to CK in the 20's by Al Francis (fort misery), blah blah blah

 

[FirstToy]

Yeah this was the rock wall

and this was right next to it

Looks like someone needed help?

How hard is this trail suppossed to be? A 3+ right? Some other people were saying the sliced up tires, broke stuff and needed to be pulled...

 

[alia176]

I bet that Blazer had multiple flat tires and went back out to get spares. This happen to a friend of mine who accompanied me two years ago on that trail. The trail has lots of sharp rocks tha play hell on street/mile AT tires. No worries for the MT/Rs though.

Great pics and a good story. Love the drawer thing!

Ali

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I bet that Blazer had multiple flat tires and went back out to get spares. This happen to a friend of mine who accompanied me two years ago on that trail. The trail has lots of sharp rocks tha play hell on street/mile AT tires. No worries for the MT/Rs though.

Great pics and a good story. Love the drawer thing!

Ali

Yes, the drawers look awesome! Hey, did you try the crazy RIGHT pth up the steep hill? It's about 2/3 of the way to CKing. You first climb that steep larger rocky ledge area then the road swings left and you have 3 options. The far right is the toughest (see pic). Didjatry?

 

[FirstToy]

Ali, thanks for the comments. Yes I was patting myself on the back for getting MTR's as the tires were squeaking and rubbing all the sharp rocks! I enjoyed seeing the side lugs go to work stupid things make me smile.

Shotts- I can't be sure. That picture does look typical of the stuff I did- but pics are hard to gauge. Is this after the non-bypass climb and after the Belle Oro Mine?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Ali, thanks for the comments. Yes I was patting myself on the back for getting MTR's as the tires were squeaking and rubbing all the sharp rocks! I enjoyed seeing the side lugs go to work stupid things make me smile.

Shotts- I can't be sure. That picture does look typical of the stuff I did- but pics are hard to gauge. Is this after the non-bypass climb and after the Belle Oro Mine?

Not sure. It was right after this no-bypass rocky ledge:

 

[FirstToy]

Ok, the non-bypass (someone said it was called "the stairsteps"), I zipped right up that. I took a similar line to the 40, over on the right side.

Immediatly after that, the trail turns left to--->two climbs, not three (left is tougher, right is bypass)

--> I did the left climb but it wasn't super tough. I could see the bypass and it was just pretty level and flat to the top were they both meet back up at the summit and you can see Pleasant Lake. That is where I had lunch.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Ok, the non-bypass (someone said it was called "the stairsteps"), I zipped right up that. I took a similar line to the 40, over on the right side.

Immediatly after that, the trail turns left to--->two climbs, not three (left is tougher, right is bypass)

--> I did the left climb but it wasn't super tough. I could see the bypass and it was just pretty level and flat to the top were they both meet back up at the summit and you can see Pleasant Lake. That is where I had lunch.

Ya, that sounds like a different spot. This far right climb I mention is the toughest on the whole trail. It climbs a long grade then at the end it turns sharply left where it meets up with the easier left path. Oh well.

 

[FirstToy]

Yeah sorry I'm just not sure- I would need more specific landmarks.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I looked at my maps. I think it's the climb right after Sand Creek.

 

[FirstToy]

FWIW, I felt the most challenging part was toward the end in all the rock garden stuff. Giant boulders everywhere.
That was my first time so... Sand Creek...was it the climb right after this? I give up! There was alot of good stuff out there Is there a detailed map you can link?

 

[DSRTRDR]

We went to Crown King from Bumble Bee; the asking price for the FJ55 is $3200 (the card is really faded).

 

[expeditionswest]

Looks like a great trip. That trail is one of the more enjoyable "long" trails in AZ, and is not too difficult to do alone, or in a stock vehicle.

If you are looking for really remote, kung Fu stuff, try El Camino del Diablo. 150 miles of dirt track along the Mexico border. It is the longest continuous trek (without crossing a paved road) I am aware of in AZ, and probably the country (excluding AK):

I have run the road twice
http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2002/ECDD_2002/index.html
http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2003/ECDD_2003/index.html

Another very cool area is the Chiricahuas along the New Mexico border. I can send you the GPS track to this very remote and rugged trail (but does not require a heavily modified vehicle)

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/chiricahuas_04/index.html

An probably the most remote, rugged area I have traveled in is the Sand Tank mountains, contained in the BMG Range. Complete with 100+ mile views, indian ruins and tinijas.
http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/Sand_tanks_2004/index.html

 

[Hltoppr]

LOL, last time I did that road was on a mountain bike during the Balance Bar 24 hr adventure race....haven't really wanted to get back on it since..... Talk about opening up the pain locker....

-H-

 

[expeditionswest]

Hltoppr,

So you drive a TLC... (I have owned two, and currently own 3 4wds)
Frequent Baja and Mexico... (I spend lots of time there, including 2-3 trips planned for the spring)
Ride Mountain bikes... (2004 Epic FSR here)
Do adventure races... (DesertRage adventure race 2004 here)
Live in N. AZ... (I have property in Prescott)

We need to get together for some adventure!