MrS
10-09-2003, 03:12PM
<A name=s1content></A>This trip was 9-27 to 10-04-03 with Al and Dave. This was to be a trip to Dark Canyon in Utah with Marcelo, Jack, Baja, Al, Dave, and us. That seem a little overkill for a lightweight like me, so Dave came up with doing the Devil's highway, which had been on the to-do-list for years. Before the trip I got a "State Trust Lands Permit" $20. This trip was mainly to check out southwestern Arizona and do the El Camino Del Diablo (Highway of the Devil). This is just an overview, if you would like details about an area feel free to ask or email me.
Day 1: Al, Anita and I headed from Blythe to visit the Kofa Wildlife Refuge. I only had one day to spend here, so we started in the North East corner and drove south to the Wilbanks Cabin, over Engessor Pass, then southeast. Al lead us into theYuma Proving Grounds military base while following me, who had the map with the plan to head toward the Oatman site, but was unable to and had to be escorted off the base at highway 95. This added 100 miles to our travel. , I do not recommend driving thru the base, plus they are not happy to see people wandering thru. This seems to make a good camp fire story, but has to many details to type up on the net.
The Kofa Area is great and I plan to make more trips into the area. The roads I traveled are easy for a our trucks, and the map shows 2 to 3 days worth of roads. There are lots of hiking opportunities. The roads we traveled were in some real pristine areas and looked to be little traveled.
Day 2: We met up with an AZ native, Wolfsoul, and was guided around the Southern Superstition Mtns. The roads in this area are much harder, but doable in a truck based 4X4 with slight modifications. The area has some great geology, structures, history, hikes, views and canyons, plus with Wolf's new spare tire we had plenty to laugh and talk about. Since everyone was running a 2 metter radio, it was great. As we where heading back from on top of the Mtn. we heard Dave voice on the 2 meter, he was maybe 30 miles away. We set-up a meeting spot and met Dave who DID NOT bring Julie http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/confused.gif We had planned to camp at a spot Brian had told us about, once it got dark we gave up and headed to town for a good rib dinner and a motel. Our motel room came with a pet spider (big hairy one) but Anita didn't want that, so we kicked it out.
Day 3: We had planned a day doing non-back country things, like museums, etc., but found them closed on Mondays, bad planning on my part. Since we had spent the night at a motel in Catalina (where the wife found a big hairy spider in our room, we kicked him out) we decided to drive over Mt. Lemon. We took the road from the north near Oracle and headed south to Tucson. Nice area but looked to be heavily used during summers and weekends. As most have heard about the fires the area was burned bad and I think some of the campgrounds will be closed for a few years. They are doing some major road work which caused travel delays up to 1 hour. We dropped into Saguaro National park & San Xavier Mission. The mission is a must see.
Day 4: We headed south to Lake Pena Blanca, which is northwest of Nogales. Traveling on 289 we hooked up with WB7OTU on the 2 meter and he told us about roads and history of the area, Ruby & California Gulch in particular. Took Winterhaven Ranch Rd., which took us thru a part of the Buena Vista National wildlife Refuge. We ended up spending the whole day getting to Ajo.
Day 5,6 & 7: Stopped in at the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge visitors center to secure the necessary permits for the NWR & the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range which the El Camino Del Diaqblo passes thru. Headed to Organ Pipe Cactus NP. Man I needed more time. We then headed toward the El Camino Del Diablo (ECDD), we made it as far as the Randell Ranch (Bandejo well) then headed North and out to Charlie Bell overlook. Back to the ECDD where we saw 4 Sonoran Pronghorn, a road bound desert tortoise and made it as far as Papago Well and camped. Not able to have a campfire, but our lantern was a beacon to others, finally the Border Patrol showed up in the blue light special. Was not a good nights sleep, just too restless. Got up the next morning and drove over Christmas Pass then down ECDD to Cipriano Pass. Got a great air show, then followed Tinajas Altas Rd to Tule Well. We then drove the ECDD back up to Cipriano Pass and camped, much better nights sleep. We then drove over to the Fortuna mining area, then on to Yuma and did Yuma Crossing and Yuma Territorial Prison tours.
Day 8: We headed up around Mtn Picacho, and down to the river, then back out to Ogilby road. This route took us thru the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge.
There was lots more stuff, but I think you got the basic overview.
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Post Edited By Moderator (JackSilb) : 11/17/2003 6:29:16 AM GMT
Day 1: Al, Anita and I headed from Blythe to visit the Kofa Wildlife Refuge. I only had one day to spend here, so we started in the North East corner and drove south to the Wilbanks Cabin, over Engessor Pass, then southeast. Al lead us into theYuma Proving Grounds military base while following me, who had the map with the plan to head toward the Oatman site, but was unable to and had to be escorted off the base at highway 95. This added 100 miles to our travel. , I do not recommend driving thru the base, plus they are not happy to see people wandering thru. This seems to make a good camp fire story, but has to many details to type up on the net.
The Kofa Area is great and I plan to make more trips into the area. The roads I traveled are easy for a our trucks, and the map shows 2 to 3 days worth of roads. There are lots of hiking opportunities. The roads we traveled were in some real pristine areas and looked to be little traveled.
Day 2: We met up with an AZ native, Wolfsoul, and was guided around the Southern Superstition Mtns. The roads in this area are much harder, but doable in a truck based 4X4 with slight modifications. The area has some great geology, structures, history, hikes, views and canyons, plus with Wolf's new spare tire we had plenty to laugh and talk about. Since everyone was running a 2 metter radio, it was great. As we where heading back from on top of the Mtn. we heard Dave voice on the 2 meter, he was maybe 30 miles away. We set-up a meeting spot and met Dave who DID NOT bring Julie http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/confused.gif We had planned to camp at a spot Brian had told us about, once it got dark we gave up and headed to town for a good rib dinner and a motel. Our motel room came with a pet spider (big hairy one) but Anita didn't want that, so we kicked it out.
Day 3: We had planned a day doing non-back country things, like museums, etc., but found them closed on Mondays, bad planning on my part. Since we had spent the night at a motel in Catalina (where the wife found a big hairy spider in our room, we kicked him out) we decided to drive over Mt. Lemon. We took the road from the north near Oracle and headed south to Tucson. Nice area but looked to be heavily used during summers and weekends. As most have heard about the fires the area was burned bad and I think some of the campgrounds will be closed for a few years. They are doing some major road work which caused travel delays up to 1 hour. We dropped into Saguaro National park & San Xavier Mission. The mission is a must see.
Day 4: We headed south to Lake Pena Blanca, which is northwest of Nogales. Traveling on 289 we hooked up with WB7OTU on the 2 meter and he told us about roads and history of the area, Ruby & California Gulch in particular. Took Winterhaven Ranch Rd., which took us thru a part of the Buena Vista National wildlife Refuge. We ended up spending the whole day getting to Ajo.
Day 5,6 & 7: Stopped in at the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge visitors center to secure the necessary permits for the NWR & the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range which the El Camino Del Diaqblo passes thru. Headed to Organ Pipe Cactus NP. Man I needed more time. We then headed toward the El Camino Del Diablo (ECDD), we made it as far as the Randell Ranch (Bandejo well) then headed North and out to Charlie Bell overlook. Back to the ECDD where we saw 4 Sonoran Pronghorn, a road bound desert tortoise and made it as far as Papago Well and camped. Not able to have a campfire, but our lantern was a beacon to others, finally the Border Patrol showed up in the blue light special. Was not a good nights sleep, just too restless. Got up the next morning and drove over Christmas Pass then down ECDD to Cipriano Pass. Got a great air show, then followed Tinajas Altas Rd to Tule Well. We then drove the ECDD back up to Cipriano Pass and camped, much better nights sleep. We then drove over to the Fortuna mining area, then on to Yuma and did Yuma Crossing and Yuma Territorial Prison tours.
Day 8: We headed up around Mtn Picacho, and down to the river, then back out to Ogilby road. This route took us thru the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge.
There was lots more stuff, but I think you got the basic overview.
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Post Edited By Moderator (JackSilb) : 11/17/2003 6:29:16 AM GMT