Martinez again 03-08-09-08
Once again we headed out to the Martinez Mine area for some camping and riding. The flowers are out at this time so I couldn't resist when Montana Jim asked use to come along to show his friends from Montana some of the beautiful Arizona desert on bloom. Along with Jim and his wife was his friends Toad, his wife Marge, Zane, Robert, his wife Laura with their 3 kids and me and my wife Margaret.
We arrived after dark on Friday. They made it easy for us to find them by being in the same spot as we were for the pig roast. It was a little cool but very nice. Sure beat the 20 inches of snow they got in Ohio over the same weekend.
Saturday we headed off to see if we could make it to the Coke Ovens. We planned on going backwards from our normal way just to see if we could make it. It was overcast when we started so the flowers weren't out as much as I had hoped. We went down Box Canyon and surprisingly there was still water flowing somewhat. It is always amazing going through box canyon with some water. There was also water running down the canyon walls as well. With the weather warming up there were a few more people to watch out for along the way.
After weaving through traffic on the 3 or 4 miles of main dirt road it was time to play on the sand hills by the diversion dam for a few minutes. We went up and down the hills a few times here and at Dave's landing behind the dam before heading down the trail south of the railroad tracks.
This is where there was a slight mishap. As we were coming through the wash to the trail I spotted a nasty mogul hill climb. I looked for Insane Zane and pointed to the hill. He took off for it without any hesitation. In fact he went for it so fast I didn't even have a chance to get my camera out of my back pack. As he was going up the hill he must have hit a mogul wrong because it pitched him sideways. I saw his left leg come off his quad then he was off the side standing trying to hold onto his handlebars which were over his head. That's when he said "Ok if you want to go over you are going by yourself" and he let go. His quad flipped 1 or 2 times then landed on it's wheels and headed downhill. From here it was a race to the bottom. The quad won but Zane was in hot pursuit. Robert was playing a middle linebacker at the bottom of the hill standing waiting to catch the quad as it was slowing down. The machine had some minor damage but nothing serious. One thing that was amazing was his front rack was bent on one side quite a bit but the Koplin flat gas pack on top of the rack survived. It had some deep gauges but no leaks. Well at this point we had enough excitement so off we went.
The sun finally came out so soon the flowers opened up as well. At this part of the trail you have to cross the railroad tracks to head to the river crossing. As we neared the river we passed a couple of guys that had a KTM Motorcycle strapped to a quad. They said they lost it in the river the day before and came back for it with quads. They also said we wouldn't make it across. Oh well we had to at least look. After studying the river we decided to make an attempt. Jim waded out and thought we may be able to make it so I went 1st, but we did tie a tow rope to the back of my quad just in case. The first 30 feet is the worst part. Here the water is the deepest and fastest running. I knew it would push me downstream some so I hit it turning into the flow. I was giving her all she had as I was going downstream. I was within a couple of feet of climbing out to a shallow spot in the middle when my motor quit. Now what!!! Jim had to hook the tow strap on to his quad and pull me backwards up stream to get me out of the water. We opened the air box and found some water in it, that must have been why it quit. I cleaned it out and it fired up. At this point everyone turned around to head back to camp the way we came in. As I tried to move nothing happened. I figured my belt has water on the housing. Sure enough as I took out the clean out screw water pored out. After it was done it fired up and ran fine.
We ran back at a bit faster pace than we came in but I did manage to stop for some gorgeous Arizona Highways type of photos along the way with the flowers and green mountains.
Another beautiful Arizona sunset as we have happy hour followed by a nice campfire.
Sunday we all head out on a trail to the town of Superior for lunch at La Hermosa. As we head out on lower Woodpecker there is a truck stuck at the 1st boulder pile. I went around the Jeeps and pushed on in front of them. We all went through so fast the Jeep people couldn't believe it. They were still tugging on the 1st truck as we went on our way.
The views are incredible on this trail as it goes over the tops of the mountains with a look at Weavers Needle on the Superstition Mountains and Picket Post Mountain before heading towards Superior.
We had a great lunch then headed down the 60 about 2 miles to Silver King Mine road to the right. This road turns to the left and heads to Montana Mountain Loop. (AKA Rogers Trough) At the intersection where you turn right to the switchbacks my wife and I left the group. We needed to get back so we took a short cut. We came out on Hewitt Station Rd, took that to Queen Valley road, crossed the 60 at what used to be the 1st flag pole ( they took it down and are widening the 60 to a divided 4 lane road) and headed S to Cottonwood Canyon road back to camp.
Another successful camp and ride with Great friends.
Read MoreWe arrived after dark on Friday. They made it easy for us to find them by being in the same spot as we were for the pig roast. It was a little cool but very nice. Sure beat the 20 inches of snow they got in Ohio over the same weekend.
Saturday we headed off to see if we could make it to the Coke Ovens. We planned on going backwards from our normal way just to see if we could make it. It was overcast when we started so the flowers weren't out as much as I had hoped. We went down Box Canyon and surprisingly there was still water flowing somewhat. It is always amazing going through box canyon with some water. There was also water running down the canyon walls as well. With the weather warming up there were a few more people to watch out for along the way.
After weaving through traffic on the 3 or 4 miles of main dirt road it was time to play on the sand hills by the diversion dam for a few minutes. We went up and down the hills a few times here and at Dave's landing behind the dam before heading down the trail south of the railroad tracks.
This is where there was a slight mishap. As we were coming through the wash to the trail I spotted a nasty mogul hill climb. I looked for Insane Zane and pointed to the hill. He took off for it without any hesitation. In fact he went for it so fast I didn't even have a chance to get my camera out of my back pack. As he was going up the hill he must have hit a mogul wrong because it pitched him sideways. I saw his left leg come off his quad then he was off the side standing trying to hold onto his handlebars which were over his head. That's when he said "Ok if you want to go over you are going by yourself" and he let go. His quad flipped 1 or 2 times then landed on it's wheels and headed downhill. From here it was a race to the bottom. The quad won but Zane was in hot pursuit. Robert was playing a middle linebacker at the bottom of the hill standing waiting to catch the quad as it was slowing down. The machine had some minor damage but nothing serious. One thing that was amazing was his front rack was bent on one side quite a bit but the Koplin flat gas pack on top of the rack survived. It had some deep gauges but no leaks. Well at this point we had enough excitement so off we went.
The sun finally came out so soon the flowers opened up as well. At this part of the trail you have to cross the railroad tracks to head to the river crossing. As we neared the river we passed a couple of guys that had a KTM Motorcycle strapped to a quad. They said they lost it in the river the day before and came back for it with quads. They also said we wouldn't make it across. Oh well we had to at least look. After studying the river we decided to make an attempt. Jim waded out and thought we may be able to make it so I went 1st, but we did tie a tow rope to the back of my quad just in case. The first 30 feet is the worst part. Here the water is the deepest and fastest running. I knew it would push me downstream some so I hit it turning into the flow. I was giving her all she had as I was going downstream. I was within a couple of feet of climbing out to a shallow spot in the middle when my motor quit. Now what!!! Jim had to hook the tow strap on to his quad and pull me backwards up stream to get me out of the water. We opened the air box and found some water in it, that must have been why it quit. I cleaned it out and it fired up. At this point everyone turned around to head back to camp the way we came in. As I tried to move nothing happened. I figured my belt has water on the housing. Sure enough as I took out the clean out screw water pored out. After it was done it fired up and ran fine.
We ran back at a bit faster pace than we came in but I did manage to stop for some gorgeous Arizona Highways type of photos along the way with the flowers and green mountains.
Another beautiful Arizona sunset as we have happy hour followed by a nice campfire.
Sunday we all head out on a trail to the town of Superior for lunch at La Hermosa. As we head out on lower Woodpecker there is a truck stuck at the 1st boulder pile. I went around the Jeeps and pushed on in front of them. We all went through so fast the Jeep people couldn't believe it. They were still tugging on the 1st truck as we went on our way.
The views are incredible on this trail as it goes over the tops of the mountains with a look at Weavers Needle on the Superstition Mountains and Picket Post Mountain before heading towards Superior.
We had a great lunch then headed down the 60 about 2 miles to Silver King Mine road to the right. This road turns to the left and heads to Montana Mountain Loop. (AKA Rogers Trough) At the intersection where you turn right to the switchbacks my wife and I left the group. We needed to get back so we took a short cut. We came out on Hewitt Station Rd, took that to Queen Valley road, crossed the 60 at what used to be the 1st flag pole ( they took it down and are widening the 60 to a divided 4 lane road) and headed S to Cottonwood Canyon road back to camp.
Another successful camp and ride with Great friends.
