Central AZ this weekend (1-17-04) - Trip Report

[JackSilb]

Lets get some nice pictures and a description of GoodTimes and Scottran.
-JACK

</div>


So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...
http://www.4wdtrips.net


Post Edited (JackSilb) : 1/20/2004 11:55:41 PM GMT

[GoodTimes]

The day started just a few minutes late since I always seem to underestimate the time it takes to get through Oro Valley. When I showed up at the meeting spot, both Scott and Brett were there waiting for "the rest of the group". Only when I showed up did they realize that they were both part of the same group. Guess I forgot to tell them.http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/notme.gif </div>



So after the obligatory introductions, loss of air pressure in the tires and disconnecting the sway bars on the jeeps, we headed up "the box". While a pretty easy trail, the box (canyon) has some damn nice scenery, and is always a nice drive. When we reached the turn off for Amy's Campout (where Mineral Mountain road meets the top of the box), we made the right and climbed up to the top of "poop chute", but since there were a couple of jeeps blocking the top while tying down their loads, we decided to bypass it and hit it on the way out.</div>



There was a pretty good amount of water running down the trail below the Martinez Cabins. There is always water there, but it seemed to be higher than normal. The cabins, unfortunately, continue to be vandalized, and I am sure it is only a matter of time before we are shut out of the area (too bad too, it is a great camping spot). Once we got past the cabins, we got to the fun stuff. The most difficult part of the trail is from the cabins up to the mill. We made it through without too much difficulty. I had a bit of trouble in one spot due to lack of ground clearance. A little rock stacking, and a bit of hi-lift action got me through. The hardest part was when I wedged a basket-ball sized rock between my gas tank, shock, and left rear tire. It tried to unseat the bead, but we managed to save it with just a little bit of air loss.</div>



Once we got through all the hard parts that didn't have any bypasses, we came to the very last optional obstical. Of course the jeeps had to try it. Scott was first. He pointed the nose of his jeep towards the sky, and started to crawl up the rock face. It didn't take too long until the front suspension loaded up, took a small hop, followed by a loud "pop", sparks went flying along with pieces of his axle u-joint! Now we were in a little predicament, since he couldn't back off the obstical, and couldn't go forward either! So we pulled my jeep around in front of him, hooked up his winch to my bumper (figured we gotta test my welds on that bumper sometime). Depending on how you look at it, things went well, or they didn't. My bumper held up, but Scott's winch didn't. There was a wiring problem in the controller and we had a pretty good cloud of smoke rolling out from under his hood! After a quick evaluation, it became apparent that the winch was out of commission. So we hooked up a strap and pulled him over the obstical.</div>



After discussing our options, we all agreed to keep going since it would actually be easier to finish the loop rather than go back the way we came. Scott would finish it using 2 wheel drive whereever he could, and 3 wheel drive where needed (you gotta love air lockers!).</div>



The rest of the trail was uneventfull, although the scenery back there is some of the best I've seen in the Sonoran desert. A couple of stops were made to poke around a little bit and take some pictures. Then down the Luge bypass (which is really easy now), and back out through the box. At the top of the box canyon, Darin (my passenger) saw a purse laying on the trail, so we stopped and picked it up. Once back in town (Florence) he went through it looking for ID, but didn't find any. He did find some pictures of one of the jeeps that passed us on the trail, which the owner of the purse was kind enough to label with the owners name. After figuring out how to unlock the cell phone that was in the purse, he found the name of the guy that was on the back of the pictures....so he called them up and told him about the purse he found. Arrangements were made for them to pick the purse up at the gas station when they came through. So as Darin took the purse inside to the store clerk, there was the funniest part of the trip. If you don't know Darin, he is a good sized 'ol boy, with a buzz cut....so here he is walking acrossthe gas station parking lot with this little black purse, right past the motercycle (harley-davidson) club that stopped for gas....one can only imagine what they were thinking http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/baja_rofl.gif Much to Darins relief, they left without saying a word, but I think he scared the poor girl behind the counter when he walked up and put the purse on the counter.http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/rofl.gif That was a good ending to a almost perfect Arizona day. Everyone was able to drive home, but Scott has some work to do.</div>



Pics to follow sometime. http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/beertoast.gif </div>


olllllllo <---- If you can read that, roll me over.

KG6OWO

Price is soon forgotton, quality is not.

[expeditionswest]

Thanks for the great trip report GT! That is so funny about the purse http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/baja_rofl.gif !</div>
Here are some pictures. I will put some videos on the expeditionswest site, and let everyone know.</div>
http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/martinez_2004/images/1-17_martinez%20035_jpg.jpg</div>
http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/martinez_2004/images/1-17_martinez%20048_jpg.jpg</div>
http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/martinez_2004/images/1-17_martinez%20050_jpg.jpg</div>http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/freaked.gif http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/martinez_2004/images/1-17_martinez%20052_jpg.jpg

Scott Brady
2001 Land Rover Discovery II
1998 Isuzu Trooper
1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mailto:guide@expeditionswest.com (guide@expeditionswest.com)
http://www.expeditionswest.com

[JackSilb]

Nice!
Nothing like some technical work to make the trip more interesting.
I am gald you guys all made it safe. The other things we can always fix.

Me, I had to wake-up at 4:30 today to get to L.A. area for a volleyball tournament. Still, I have to get the bad humor of my daughter on the way back because I did not stop in a shop to get her a new school back pack. Go figure...
: gzo work on some small projects I have on hold.

-JACK


So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...
http://www.4wdtrips.net

[expeditionswest]

The trip report is up on expeditions west:
http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/martinez_2004/index.html

No videos though, my drivers for the converter are crashing my machine. Need to do some work to sort it all out...



Scott Brady
2001 Land Rover Discovery II
1998 Isuzu Trooper
1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mailto:guide@expeditionswest.com (guide@expeditionswest.com)
http://www.expeditionswest.com

[JackSilb]

As always, a good report Scott.

The rocks were a bit too much for me. I am not sure how you guys can take it. Too much work to go a short distance.
-JACK


So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...
http://www.4wdtrips.net

[YukonBob]

Scott</div>
I can seem to convert your MPS file. The GarTrax program is telling me it's not a valid file. </div>
Is it the right file?</div>

[expeditionswest]

Bob,

It is the correct file, but my software version has changed to 5.4 (recently). I had to update all of my machines, as the .mps files are not backwards compatible. Can I save the file as something else for you?

Scott Brady
2001 Land Rover Discovery II
1998 Isuzu Trooper
1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mailto:guide@expeditionswest.com (guide@expeditionswest.com)
http://www.expeditionswest.com

[YukonBob]

I was able to use your txt files to see where you guys went so it's not necessary, but thanks.</div>
I'd better go see if GarTrax has a new version so I can keep up with your travels.</div>

[YukonBob]

By the way Goodtime, always enjoy your words on the trips. Thanks

I got the latest version of GarTrax and now I can see were you guys were. I've attached a satellite image that gives some perspective. Your route (courtesy of Scott) is the blue line. I've labeled some other landmarksin the area.

I've got a map that shows a road going through to Superior. It goes through Box Canyon, Cottonwood Canyon, by the Ajax Mine and exits through Telegraph Canyon into Superior. The yellow line is my estimate of where this road goes by looking at topographic maps of the area.

Anybody know anything about this road?



Post Edited (YukonBob) : 1/21/2004 4:57:22 AM GMT

[JackSilb]

Nice going Bob.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

-JACK


So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...
http://www.4wdtrips.net

[expeditionswest]

Bob,

Thanks for the great map (as always)! You (and others) should come to Arizona, and we will run the road you mentioned to Superior. If you have not been through box canyon, you will love it! It is so beautiful there (one of my favorites).

Scott Brady
2001 Land Rover Discovery II
1998 Isuzu Trooper
1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mailto:guide@expeditionswest.com (guide@expeditionswest.com)
http://www.expeditionswest.com

[YukonBob]

That should be an easy weekend trip from here. All we have to do is come up with a date. I'd love to do it.http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/hop.gif

[expeditionswest]

That sounds great Bob. I will look at my calendar and post the trip. It will be great to meet you. Do you have a preference between camping and 'hoteling'?

Scott Brady
2001 Land Rover Discovery II
1998 Isuzu Trooper
1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mailto:guide@expeditionswest.com (guide@expeditionswest.com)
http://www.expeditionswest.com

[YukonBob]

Scott said...
Do you have a preference between camping and "hoteling"?
For this trip, I think hotels. I haven't spent the night in Florence in many years.

It looks to me like the road is 35 miles tops so it should be an easy day on Saturday. After that I guess we'll just follow our nose for a while. It's been a while since I've been tubing on the Gila but that's only good inhot weather. I've never been to the San Carlos Reservation and that's a place I should probably visit.We're open for suggestions on Saturday night and part of Sunday before we head home. I think the drive is probably about sixor six and half hours each way.

[YukonPeggy]

Bob - that wasn't a hotel you stayed at in Florence. You don't stay for 5 years and leave "for good behavior." Sorry Scott, he forgets.http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/ieh.gif





Good friends are like stars... You don't always see them, but you always know they're there.

[BajaTaco]

YukonPeggy said...
Bob - that wasn't a hotel you stayed at in Florence...http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/baja_rofl.gif

Oh man, Scott - sorry about the carnage. What a bummer! I actually got to hear the whole story from GT when I was in Tucson. Now that I see the pics, I know just where that spot is. Seems like that would be tough for a SWB vehicle. Glad you enjoyed the atmosphere of that trail though. It is AWESOME! And kudos to you for completing it with a "limp". Nice work.

I am up for the Superior trip when you guys go.


http://www.bajataco.com

[expeditionswest]

The carnage was no big deal. You have to expect it when you play on the bigger rocks. I just bought new axle shafts with bigger u-joints. They are going in the Jeep tomorrow. I will try that spot again (and bring more tools now that I know what it takes to pull those sealed hub assemblies!)

That was such a great trail, and so beautiful back in there!!! I am thinking about going again on the 8th of Feb.

Scott

Scott Brady
2001 Land Rover Discovery II
1998 Isuzu Trooper
1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mailto:guide@expeditionswest.com (guide@expeditionswest.com)
http://www.expeditionswest.com

[expeditionswest]

The Jeep is back together. I now have an inventory of the tools required to replace or remove the axle on the trail. The 13mm 12 point was the wierd one...http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/headscratch.gif

Here is a picture of the munched axle and the new replacement installed. It is a 15 minute job with the right tools. The new axles have upgraded u-joints (same as new Rubicon Wrangler) which should help keep this from happening again. Unless I go looking for trouble http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/skull.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/skull.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/skull.gif

Scott Brady
2001 Land Rover Discovery II
1998 Isuzu Trooper
1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mailto:guide@expeditionswest.com (guide@expeditionswest.com)
http://www.expeditionswest.com

[BajaTaco]

Scott Brady said...

...Unless I go looking for trouble http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/skull.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/skull.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/skull.gif
</div>http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/devil.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/turn.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/devil.gif

I would like to do this trail again sometime too. I can't go in Feb. though. It will probably have to wait until AZRocks, or sometime in the fall.


http://www.bajataco.com