Alright, here it is. I've heard a lot of good things about this trail, but have not done it yet myself. I am trying to get a hold of TrailBus1 (Jake) who has run it in his FJ with the hopes that he will come out with us... that is still pending!

This is supposed to be a very tough trail. For that reason, I am making the start time a little early (for the Phx folks) because I don't want it to take all day and get dark!

Meet: 9:30AM Saturday Jan 12, 2008
Where: Gas station on AZ77 & Golder Ranch Road (Google Maps)
Trail Comm: CB ch. 16

Attending:
tibaal89
crazycarwes and Angie
TrAiLbUs1

Bring all possible recovery gear as usual. Lunch will be on the trail, bring it or get it at the gas station. Dinner in the area afterwards for anyone who is interested...

From what I've heard this should be a very difficult run. I do not mean to exclude anyone, but every once in awhile we've gotta have a crazy run. Be ready for a challenge and be ready to face it with a good attitude!

Who knows, it could all be a hype... but until I've done it myself I'm going to treat this trail with the highest respect and assume it is very challenging.

EDIT: look further into this thread for TrailBus1's teaser pics!

I'm in.

Disclaimer....Those pics make it look doable in an FJ. Of course those are the most dramatic spots/poses....that's how photos work

I'm in cause I can't see mike doing this alone!....If I have to park and then walk and spot the trail for him I will!

See you at the 9:30.
Is the Trail an out and back or a loop?

Haha, that's what I'm talkin about. Yea, I picked the stupidest looking pics on top of what you said... just making sure that we respect the trail and come out there ready to go!

Trail is an out and back, should be all day. Dinner in Tucson, of course, for anyone who is interested.

Sealclubber and Traildog will be attending.

Angie and I will be there and will always be attending dinner.

Wes

Looks like fun I think I am in. It is going to be tough off roading tonight and then waking up really early.

Where and what time is the caravan from PHX going over there?

what part of town are you in speedy? I'm on 91 ave and Mcdowell...0800 sounds like a good time to leave.

Maybe we can meet with Jonnie and Wes, once we get to the east side.

I'm in if you guys want to cruise down together once you get to the eastside...let me know. I'm at the end of the 101 pretty much.

We can meet at the chevron on Queen Creek and Price and gas up and get water there then just hop on I10 to Tucson.

I am up by I-17 and the 101. I noticed that the time is at 9:30AM and we still have to cut across east bound from the I-10 exit to our meeting point once in Tucson. We might want to factor a little time for that.

With no traffic it takes me exactly 2 hours to get from the south end of Tucson to the north end of Phoenix. In order to leave time for gassing up, talking, explaining the trail route and possibly airing down then I would think we would need to depart Phoenix around 7 am at the latest. That will give us 2 hours for travel and 30 minutes for coordination, gas, food, and for the famous meet and greet.

I think I-10 and Chandler exit will be ideal as a meeting point since we can get right back on the freeway and continue south.

Just an FYI, Mike correct me if I am wrong, Tucson has some major construction going on and if you miss the north exist and get into the city then there is no turn off from the freeway until you get to I-19. This might be a major pain and time loss.

Cheers,

Speedy wrote:

Just an FYI, Mike correct me if I am wrong, Tucson has some major construction going on and if you miss the north exist and get into the city then there is no turn off from the freeway until you get to I-19. This might be a major pain and time loss.

That's right, but shouldn't be a problem. If you guys are taking I-10, you'll have to get off at Tangerine, go east all the way to AZ77, and then head back up north to Golder Ranch.

Otherwise, you could take AZ79 out of Florence and just drive straight there to Golder Ranch. Personally I would do this because it's a bit more easy going and probably shorter distance-wise... but thats just me!

Mike,

Do I need to carry my extra spare tank of gas or can I leave it at home?

Speedy wrote:

Mike, Do I need to carry my extra spare tank of gas or can I leave it at home?

Nope, no worries about gas here. I don't think the trail is even 10 miles.

Speedy, the 101 North stops at Chandler blvd pretty much so no use in stopping there to hop back on the freeway because there is no freeway or gas right there and that is the exit for Chandler mall crowded...probably not at that time on Sat though. If you get off the 101 N at price and continue heading N on price until you reach Queen Creek rd turn right (West) and you will see the Chevron on the left about half mile west of price on queen creek. From there we can just continue west on queen creek for about two miles and then hop right on I10. We should be good if we leave there by 8 or so.

Let me know what you guys think...

And Mike that way is like 15 miles shorter by google maps but will take 15 minutes longer according to them also...Time counts in the am...

Wes

I'm out! Sorry guys...We are prescribed burning in Payson tomorrow!