Events/Trails Smiley Rock run Saturday March 1st

[Saddletramp]

@ftbshop and I are planning to co-lead a March first ROTM on the section of the great western trail known as Smiley Rock. The trail is rated as moderate with a section of rock in the middle half that may prove challenging for stock cruisers. I would compare this to the rock section on the Crown King Trail going past the operating mine. This is a day run, we are not planning on camping but feel free to plan what you want after the run.

Meet up is behind the fire station (see attached photo, parking is just past the solar panels). in Jerome at 830 with a full gas tank. The suggested route if I-17 to Cottonwood, gas up in town before going up to Jerome.

Radio, we will be on HAM 146-460 or on GMRS (the channel to be set at the meet up point)

What to expect:
-This is a 4-5 hour run from the starting point, time is determined by skill of drivers, trail conditions and any unforeseen mechanical issues also any other traffic can slow progress . We should be headed back home on pavement by late afternoon.
-Pack a lunch.
-The condition of the trail changes based on weather and usage but most will likely hit rocks with your undercarriage.
-We will depart the staging area at 8:45

Look forward to seeing you on the run.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

I’m in for it.

 

[Saddletramp]

Namesake

 

[ftbshop]

One other thing to note: the trail cris-crosses the creek where most of the obstacles are. So there are more fun options available or an easier route

 

[Pitch]

Smiley Rock in a greener season.

 

[Saddletramp]

Weather should be very nice, a bit cool maybe for us valley folks.

 

[Saddletramp]

@murf is in.

 

[Saddletramp]

Some closures to navigate around.

 

[murf]

Perfect day for a wheeling adventure!

 

[Saddletramp]

See everyone who is attending this run at 8:30 tomorrow.

 

[Mudy mudskipper]

I'll see everybody up there.

 

[Saddletramp]

What a great day, 8 trucks ran smiley rock. So much fun. The most challenging part of the day was heading south on I-17 and the closure. It took 2 hours and 15 minutes to go 2 miles. We left Mingus Mountain at 2:45 and got home at 7pm.

Thank you Lorin for leading this run.

 

[LongDuck]

Yesterdays I17 / 303 / 101 closures were particularly bad. Even made the local news headlines and our Tramonto Alerts group because nobody could even get out of our neighborhood. The DPS and ADOT local traffic only signs and manned closures were blown down by wind, allowing traffic on i17 south to divert into neighborhoods which caused gridlock all around.

Sorry you guys were impacted by it, though it sounds like it was a great day wheeling. If it ever happens again, you know you'd be welcomed here for a break or to wait it out in comfort...

 

[OGBeno]

Yesterdays I17 / 303 / 101 closures were particularly bad. Even made the local news headlines and our Tramonto Alerts group because nobody could even get out of our neighborhood. The DPS and ADOT local traffic only signs and manned closures were blown down by wind, allowing traffic on i17 south to divert into neighborhoods which caused gridlock all around.

Sorry you guys were impacted by it, though it sounds like it was a great day wheeling. If it ever happens again, you know you'd be welcomed here for a break or to wait it out in comfort...

Not sure why AZDOT doesn't do major road work at nights the way most other major metros do. We recently has major road work down here to accommodate the mine going in and it was a shǐtshow even for our small town with backups all day long.

 

[LongDuck]

Because ADOT has had their heads up their asses for years now, is my best guess.

This thing about not worrying until residents complain that gridlocked neighborhood streets prevents emergency vehicles from getting in or out, that it's not okay to have drivers pissing in your bushes, or that their short-sighted lack of preparation makes entire communities into shut-ins for weekends isn't new, nor is it entertaining.

Tramonto has complained over the past 2 years to Congressman Waring for our district, and he has yanked some chains which works in the short term. The same problems are happening again in 2025, and ADOT isn't responding.

The wife-unit and I have to plan our lives to not leave the community from Friday 8p to Monday 6a. Think about that for a minute and see if it wouldn't piss off any reasonable person...