possible day run March 13th

[Tools R Us]

Tools, are there still some of the side challenges available in the trail?

Have you been on it since the grading? Too bad theyre taking out the last obstacle

I haven't run it, this is from reports from the forest service and others. My understanding is; all of the work has been north of Fort Misery, the wash/creek area through Oro Belle. My guess; the side obstacles in the lower part are unaffected. With all of the main trail a dirt road, it likely will be a traffic jam?

 

[fumann]

I haven't run it, this is from reports from the forest service and others. My understanding is; all of the work has been north of Fort Misery, the wash/creek area through Oro Belle. My guess; the side obstacles in the lower part are unaffected. With all of the main trail a dirt road, it likely will be a traffic jam?

I ran that trail about a week ago. It's a highway from south of Oro Belle on up to CK. The "hairpin" turn going in to Oro Belle doesn't require a 3 point turn anymore. Climbing out of Oro Belle was a breeze all the rocks are gone. Hell, the tractor was still there Heyduke!!!

Oro Belle is near the end of the trail. Up to that point there are still plenty of places to pick your poison. It sure is a treat to take a first timer up there. There was no traffic on Superbowl Sunday, though I've seen it get crowded at times.

I'm sure Mark just wants to see some pretty country and do a little wheelin without breaking s*** on his 45 and interrupting his journey to Texas. Sure there are tougher trails you could take, but this is a long scenic trail with something for everyone and there is a bar at the end of ride.

 

[Tools R Us]

... Hell, the tractor was still there Heyduke!!! ...

My understanding is that it is still there because the work is on going. The plan for this season is to grade to Kentucky Camp, they did from there south last season. The plan is to maintain it to allow for ambulance/emergency equipment ground access.

On the grader update. FR11 by 4Peaks and FR10 in Bulldog have been flattened in to smooth dirt roads. I haven't been on ether but according one forest service employee, he asked that some issues were repaired and the engineers turned them into highways. According to one hummer tour driver; you explain to your guests that they are riding in the best 4x4 ever made and this is a hard trail, then are passed by a Prius, doesn't look so good. This actually happened!

Some of the forest service employees have mentioned that they were not pleased with the results, so maybe calling the appropriate agency and complaining, may have future result?

 

[fumann]

you explain to your guests that they are riding in the best 4x4 ever made and this is a hard trail, then are passed by a Prius, doesn't look so good. This actually happened!

ROTFLMAO

 

[BrotherRob]

At least it wasn't a Lexus.:whoops:

 

[ChaseTruck]

Mark, comment from the cheap seats, since neither myself nor Claudia won't be in AZ that weekend:

Elvis (the trail with the rockcrawling pix posted earlier) has a pretty good mix of rockcrawling in a relatively typical Florence Junction desert wash (although it's not the most difficult, or the most popular by far, it's somewhat representative; and it has line choices and bypasses at the obstacles), mixed with some truly fabulous desert and mountain vistas once you're up on the ridge and out of the wash, and scenic Box Canyon on the way out. Drawback is the 8 or so miles of silted dirt road (i.e. zero-visibility-unless-you're-driving-up-front...) to get back to pavement.

Crown King is a neat trail, but to me it's not really scenic - you pretty much 'got' the scenery after about half the trail. Yes, the view changes a bit as you climb the mountain, but you're just overlooking the desert that you drove through for the last 4(?) hours. Elvis is different in that it suddenly presents with views one didn't necessarily expect. Crown King beats Elvis in three respects: a nice restaurant (the Mill) at the end of the trail; fudge at the store; and about 25 miles of silted-zero-visibility-unless-you're-driving-up-front dirt road to get back to pavement.

 

[Blues Dawg]

I really think that either Florence area or Sunflower offer some of the most diverse and scenic stuff we have close. Box Canyon and up to Martinez Cabins is great this time of year with nice and diverse scenery. Alternatively, the overall scenery (including the Mecury still) of Sunflower are impressive, in spite of the lack of our native saguro cactus.

 

[BrotherRob]

Look, it's the late Carl Miller.

 

[murf]

Look, it's the late Carl Miller.

Crawled out and saw it was spring ~

 

[Blues Dawg]

Look, it's the late Carl Miller.

simply overemployed - or perhaps understaffed...
Anyway - I figure if I remain silent, I deprive you of your fun

 

[BrotherRob]

simply overemployed - or perhaps understaffed...
Anyway - I figure if I remain silent, I deprive you of your fun

I knew it would be a short story

 

[65swb45]

If your trip is like... roll out sometime Saturday, eat, camp, drink, rest, meet up with AZ guys Sunday and wheel around in the general direction of your route, then those Florence Junction Area options presented above are convenient and good options.

Welcome, and glad you taking some time to enjoy AZ!

I'm liking the sound of this. Maybe even a Sat night get together for the guys that can't go on the Sun run.

Mike, I left you a VM.

Best

Mark A.

 

[FJ45Dude]

Please count me in for the run on the 13th.

I am new to the Copper State forum and just getting back into the Cruiser world after many, many years away. My rig is an old FJ45 with a lift and 33s, but no lockers. Lookin' forward to running new trails and meeting new friends!

Mark... you are welcome to crash at my place Saturday night and I have a spot to keep your "luggage" while we wheel on Sunday.

I am located up near the 17 and Carefree Highway. The Crown King trail would be great to run (new to me). That said.. I am happy to go anywhere.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[-Spike-]

Two 45's, can't remember that ever happening. Hell, I can't remember one.

 

[mikeob1]

I'm liking the sound of this. Maybe even a Sat night get together for the guys that can't go on the Sun run.

Mike, I left you a VM.

Best

Mark A.

Hi Mark,

I received your voice mail and will come by your shop at 5pm next Wednesday.

I would host a BBQ at my house in Phoenix Saturday 6-9 if folks are interested.

-Mike

 

[Thanatoz]

For my .02 worth, I agree that Box Canyon/Coke Ovens would be more than enough for some old 45s. Florence Junction has some beautiful desert, canyons, vistas, a water crossing (which may be undo-able in March with Spring melt in full flow). But the Coke Ovens are a interesting feature to out-of-staters.

In any event, Crown King or Florence Junction would be good runs.

 

[inkpot]

For my .02 worth, I agree that Box Canyon/Coke Ovens would be more than enough for some old 45s. Florence Junction has some beautiful desert, canyons, vistas, a water crossing (which may be undo-able in March with Spring melt in full flow). But the Coke Ovens are a interesting feature to out-of-staters.

In any event, Crown King or Florence Junction would be good runs.

I really like that area myself. Recently the private owners of the ovens have fenced it back off. No Access. It is, after all, private property. They have done this every few years, but the trespassers and vandals have gone right on through and opened it back up in short order. I'd be good to go again and just see them at a distance. John

 

[MaddBaggins]

Like I said, if it's Florence area, I will try to attend.

 

[65swb45]

Please count me in for the run on the 13th.

I am new to the Copper State forum and just getting back into the Cruiser world after many, many years away. My rig is an old FJ45 with a lift and 33s, but no lockers. Lookin' forward to running new trails and meeting new friends!

Mark... you are welcome to crash at my place Saturday night and I have a spot to keep your "luggage" while we wheel on Sunday.

I am located up near the 17 and Carefree Highway. The Crown King trail would be great to run (new to me). That said.. I am happy to go anywhere.

Cheers,
Mike

Cool Mike! Appreciate the offer. Nice avatar BTW. So it sounds like a good number of folks are 'down' for this Florence thing. That being the case, pick a time and a place to meet and Mike and I will do our best to be there Sunday morning!

 

[65swb45]

Getting close now. Getting a BUNCH of last minute repairs and adjustments made, so I haven't been back to check on this thread. Kinda surprised that nothing else happened. Everyone still interested? Got suggestions for meeting place and time?