AZ - Bloody Basin Rd./Great Western Trail - 18 Feb 06
01-15-2006, 05:49 PM
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AZ - Bloody Basin Rd./Great Western Trail - 18 Feb 06
http://gwt.org/desc/arizona.html
Date: 18 Feb 06 - weather permitting! The trip will be canceled if we get wet conditions.
Meeting point: East side of I-17 and Bloody Basin Interchange (Exit 259)
Time: Meet and greet 09:15 AM - Depart at 09:30 AM
Expect a full day - bring food and beverages!
Route: Head east on FS 269 to FS 677 (the Great Western Trail). North on FS 677 to FS 68 near Dugas, AZ., then west to FS 68D. North on FS 68D to I-17, and time permitting, north on FS 96 to Old Cherry Rd. From there it's an easy return to Phx via Hwy 169 west or back to Prescott heading east. The GWT cont. north to Potato Patch campground on Mingus Mt. on Hwy 89A.
Route Difficulty: Currently Unknown
I've been over these roads, but it was many, many years ago. They required 4x4, but there was nothing extreme on them at that time. Things do change tho...
Vehicle Requirements: Due to the unknown conditions, a 4x4, rear locker and 31" tires is recommended.
Date: 18 Feb 06 - weather permitting! The trip will be canceled if we get wet conditions.
Meeting point: East side of I-17 and Bloody Basin Interchange (Exit 259)
Time: Meet and greet 09:15 AM - Depart at 09:30 AM
Expect a full day - bring food and beverages!
Route: Head east on FS 269 to FS 677 (the Great Western Trail). North on FS 677 to FS 68 near Dugas, AZ., then west to FS 68D. North on FS 68D to I-17, and time permitting, north on FS 96 to Old Cherry Rd. From there it's an easy return to Phx via Hwy 169 west or back to Prescott heading east. The GWT cont. north to Potato Patch campground on Mingus Mt. on Hwy 89A.
Route Difficulty: Currently Unknown
I've been over these roads, but it was many, many years ago. They required 4x4, but there was nothing extreme on them at that time. Things do change tho...
Vehicle Requirements: Due to the unknown conditions, a 4x4, rear locker and 31" tires is recommended.
01-16-2006, 06:07 AM
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Crawler976 - I've traveled the section from the junction of Bloody Basin and the road south that leads to Seven Springs, from this junction I traveled the FR16 road North to Childs, just before the road drops down into the Verde Canyon you must take a left nearby Houston Cr and head northwest and it will take you to the 68G road which then will lead you up the Verde Rim and eventually through the town of Dugas.
The most difficult section is from the turnoff near Houston all the way up until you reach the top of the Rim where I remember a tougher section where the trail squeezed between some trees and rocks. I ran this trail last March, and we encountered a heavy rain storm with snow in the higher reaches. 31s, 4x4 and a rear locker is a good recommendation, incase storms roll in, and even in the case it does storm it would still be fine to travel. Nothing extreme existed when I traveled it.
Awesome trail, with lots to see and very remote part of AZ.
The most difficult section is from the turnoff near Houston all the way up until you reach the top of the Rim where I remember a tougher section where the trail squeezed between some trees and rocks. I ran this trail last March, and we encountered a heavy rain storm with snow in the higher reaches. 31s, 4x4 and a rear locker is a good recommendation, incase storms roll in, and even in the case it does storm it would still be fine to travel. Nothing extreme existed when I traveled it.
Awesome trail, with lots to see and very remote part of AZ.
01-16-2006, 05:03 PM
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That's a cool trip! Last I heard the Childs road was impassable after the Mar/April rains - but I don't have that verified. Where FS 68G splits off FS 68 and heads east there is a sign that posts the road closed. Gonna have to go check that out soon.
We'll be a few miles west of that on the signed portion of the GWT. The trail is posted at the Junction of FS 68 and FS 677 - roughly N34.353 W-111.951.
I've looked the trail over on topos downloaded via USA PhotoMaps (jdmcox.com) and it's the same route I recall from years past. Great software by the way. I have every topo map from east of Carefree to west of Wickenburg, north to Seligman and almost to Winslow downloaded at 4 meters per pixel. SWEET!!!
We'll be a few miles west of that on the signed portion of the GWT. The trail is posted at the Junction of FS 68 and FS 677 - roughly N34.353 W-111.951.
I've looked the trail over on topos downloaded via USA PhotoMaps (jdmcox.com) and it's the same route I recall from years past. Great software by the way. I have every topo map from east of Carefree to west of Wickenburg, north to Seligman and almost to Winslow downloaded at 4 meters per pixel. SWEET!!!
01-17-2006, 05:58 AM
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Mark I too have downloaded the maps from jdmcox, very cool maps!! Better than any GPS topo map software I've seen. Infact, I'm working on getting an inexpensive GPS system setup using an old laptop with a little GPS satelite antenna mounted on the roof with the entire states topo maps from the jdmsite so I can have a full 15" screen display! No more tiny gps screens.
I may have to get back up there soon and see whats changed since all the storms of last year. Last time I did the trip, it started getting dark about halfway up the Verde Rim, made things real interesting. I should also note, the road on the top of the rim, heading west into Dugas is nasty when its muddy. This year unfortunately you shouldnt have any worries. Infact I bet you could cross the river at Childs if the road is passable down to it, last year I couldnt cross and that is the reason we had to take the Houston Cr. road.
Hey Mark, I figure if anyone knows its you - have you ever done the road that splits off near Oro Belle mine and heads east towards Milk Ranch, and eventually down to Tip Top? I've heard it needs some work on the section between Milk Ranch and Oro Bella but may be passable? I'm looking to check it out soon. I've been wanting to find the way from Tip Top To CK but I hear the other road from Milk Ranch that ends up near Horsethief is closed to motorvehicles, they have turned it into a preserve and its way too overgrown anyway.
I may have to get back up there soon and see whats changed since all the storms of last year. Last time I did the trip, it started getting dark about halfway up the Verde Rim, made things real interesting. I should also note, the road on the top of the rim, heading west into Dugas is nasty when its muddy. This year unfortunately you shouldnt have any worries. Infact I bet you could cross the river at Childs if the road is passable down to it, last year I couldnt cross and that is the reason we had to take the Houston Cr. road.
Hey Mark, I figure if anyone knows its you - have you ever done the road that splits off near Oro Belle mine and heads east towards Milk Ranch, and eventually down to Tip Top? I've heard it needs some work on the section between Milk Ranch and Oro Bella but may be passable? I'm looking to check it out soon. I've been wanting to find the way from Tip Top To CK but I hear the other road from Milk Ranch that ends up near Horsethief is closed to motorvehicles, they have turned it into a preserve and its way too overgrown anyway.
01-17-2006, 07:03 AM
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Nope, I've only been past TipTop a few times prior to 2000. That was prior to bluilding the BPOS...
The only other routes I've taken near the Oro Belle headed to the west and ended up on the Minnehaha Flat/Wagoner Rd.
The only other routes I've taken near the Oro Belle headed to the west and ended up on the Minnehaha Flat/Wagoner Rd.
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02-07-2006, 06:48 PM
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Is everyone still going on this? Do you all really recommend a locker? Im looking at just bringing my stock 97 (4wd, 32's). I don't think it would be a problem seeing as we proly wont see any rain until monsoon season this summer hehe.
Anyhow Im from flag but will be in Wickenburg that whole weekend and wouldn't mind leaving for a nice day trip.
Anyhow Im from flag but will be in Wickenburg that whole weekend and wouldn't mind leaving for a nice day trip.
02-08-2006, 09:53 AM
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noahrexion,
Be glad to have ya come along!
A locker is recommended for this run, but is not a requirement.
_________________________
THESE ARE MY RULES, NOT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OF THE BLM OR FOREST SERVICE. (not yet anyway)
DUE THE THE EXTREME FIRE DANGER:
1. AS A PRECAUTION THERE WILL BE NO SMOKING PERMITTED OUTSIDE VEHICLES. ALL SMOKING MATERIALS WILL BE EXTINGUISHED IN YOUR ASHTRAY PRIOR TO EXITING THE VEHICLE.
2. ALL VEHICLES WILL STAY ON THE TRAIL AT ALL TIMES TO AVOID COMBUSTION OF GRASS/WEEDS BY A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WE WILL NOT PULL OFF THE ROADS OR TRAILS DURING OUR BREAKS OR FOR LUNCH.
Be glad to have ya come along!
A locker is recommended for this run, but is not a requirement.
_________________________
THESE ARE MY RULES, NOT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OF THE BLM OR FOREST SERVICE. (not yet anyway)
DUE THE THE EXTREME FIRE DANGER:
1. AS A PRECAUTION THERE WILL BE NO SMOKING PERMITTED OUTSIDE VEHICLES. ALL SMOKING MATERIALS WILL BE EXTINGUISHED IN YOUR ASHTRAY PRIOR TO EXITING THE VEHICLE.
2. ALL VEHICLES WILL STAY ON THE TRAIL AT ALL TIMES TO AVOID COMBUSTION OF GRASS/WEEDS BY A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WE WILL NOT PULL OFF THE ROADS OR TRAILS DURING OUR BREAKS OR FOR LUNCH.
02-15-2006, 04:37 AM
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Kent,
Come on up! Usually have at least one no show, so hopefully we'll still be a relatively small group!
____________
As of today, no more signups tho!
Thanks
Mark
Come on up! Usually have at least one no show, so hopefully we'll still be a relatively small group!
____________
As of today, no more signups tho!
Thanks
Mark
