Nyroc 2 Superior/Hackberry Creek 02-20-09
Well we had quite a turn out this time for the 2nd annual Arizona camp and Ride. The weather was almost perfect. We had a little rain Tuesday to knock down the dust for a day or 2 but that is about it. The trails dry out quick in the desert. It was in the 70’s each day and sunny.
After setting up a few of us headed out for a short ride. We went thru lower Woodpecker where Dave showed us how to use body English to get over the big boulders.
Next we just headed down a wash just for fun. I had a brand new Polaris 850 XP with Power steering to try out and wanted to keep the plastic off the rocks. I almost accomplished that but not quite. The power steering is absolutely amazing. I thought the steering on the regular 850 XP was great and why would you need power steering but after you ride with the power steering ATV you are hooked. It is so easy to turn in the boulders it is incredible.
On Thursday a good sized group showed up for a long ride. After getting a few banner shots we headed out towards the town of Superior. We had a good sized group of ATV’s and UTV’s. We were trying to do a half day ride so I was leading us on a bit of a fast pace to get to a trail called Hackberry Creek Trail. We made great time up over the mountains to Superior to the highway. Here we made sure everyone was aware that big trucks were on the road doing 65 so be very careful. Everyone made it easy as we timed it just right with no traffic.
The first part of the trail is very scenic as you go up and over the mountain. I guess this lulls you into thinking the trail will be a piece of cake. Well this trail is anything but that.
I missed stopping at the by pass and came in at the top of the trail head. We were about to get off the highway as our saying goes. Normally we run this trail in the other direction so this should be fun to see how it is this way. The last time we did this thail about a month ago it was covered with snow and ice.
If you like boulder hopping this trail is for you. Lots of big boulders, off camber, ledges, hill climbs and descents. Everyone was doing real well until Bill (Dave’s Brother from Alaska) decided we needed a little excitement. On one of the nasty hill climbs he hit some of the large boulders that threw him skyward. He grabbed the handle bars and nailed the throttle throwing him over backwards with the quad landing on him. I had a great shot of him from up the hill but dropped the camera for a few frames as he was going over, then I got back on him as I was 50 yards away and could not help from there. Luckily he is a big strong guy and was able to kick the quad to the side but he landed hard on some rocks. We were all worried but he was ok just a few scrapes.
This fortunately was the only miss hap for the day. Going backwards on this trail is way easier but still it is a nasty trail. We headed on to the by pass to make it a loop. There was quite a bit of water on the trail which made it fun. Jim, Zane, Toad and Katt had a good time playing along the way. What a blast watching everyone have so much fun.
We stopped for another group shot at a water tank before heading back to the highway. I was wanting to get back in case some of the others showed up so I was heading back. Bill had enough so he headed out with me. I asked him if it was ok if we picked it up a bit and he said ok. After a couple of miles I thought he was hurting so I stopped and let him ride the plush Polaris 850 XP with the power steering. We were making great time but had to stop as my camera case almost fell off the XP. At this point Bill said he could not believe the difference in the ride over his machine. He said it takes no effort at all to steer the Polaris and the ride is so comfortable. You hardly feel any of the rocks at all.
The rest of the group headed on to Oak Flat Creek trail and back. As for Bill and I we made it back in record time. As it turned out I could have stayed with the group as the only others that showed up were the Prescott riders and they were heading out for a ride as we came in. Those guys are good riders and love to explore so they had no problems finding some fun trails.
Since I was back early I asked my wife if she had any lipstick. She said WHY, and looked at me weird. I said we should fix up Jeff’s pig. Well her and Susie went in and took care of Miss Piggy. They painter her snout red along with her toe nails and painted on eye liner. What a riot.
Follows the link to the first round of my many photos. If you click on slide show in the right corner and pick fast it goes pretty quick and you can even click on next to make it go faster.:
Read MoreAfter setting up a few of us headed out for a short ride. We went thru lower Woodpecker where Dave showed us how to use body English to get over the big boulders.
Next we just headed down a wash just for fun. I had a brand new Polaris 850 XP with Power steering to try out and wanted to keep the plastic off the rocks. I almost accomplished that but not quite. The power steering is absolutely amazing. I thought the steering on the regular 850 XP was great and why would you need power steering but after you ride with the power steering ATV you are hooked. It is so easy to turn in the boulders it is incredible.
On Thursday a good sized group showed up for a long ride. After getting a few banner shots we headed out towards the town of Superior. We had a good sized group of ATV’s and UTV’s. We were trying to do a half day ride so I was leading us on a bit of a fast pace to get to a trail called Hackberry Creek Trail. We made great time up over the mountains to Superior to the highway. Here we made sure everyone was aware that big trucks were on the road doing 65 so be very careful. Everyone made it easy as we timed it just right with no traffic.
The first part of the trail is very scenic as you go up and over the mountain. I guess this lulls you into thinking the trail will be a piece of cake. Well this trail is anything but that.
I missed stopping at the by pass and came in at the top of the trail head. We were about to get off the highway as our saying goes. Normally we run this trail in the other direction so this should be fun to see how it is this way. The last time we did this thail about a month ago it was covered with snow and ice.
If you like boulder hopping this trail is for you. Lots of big boulders, off camber, ledges, hill climbs and descents. Everyone was doing real well until Bill (Dave’s Brother from Alaska) decided we needed a little excitement. On one of the nasty hill climbs he hit some of the large boulders that threw him skyward. He grabbed the handle bars and nailed the throttle throwing him over backwards with the quad landing on him. I had a great shot of him from up the hill but dropped the camera for a few frames as he was going over, then I got back on him as I was 50 yards away and could not help from there. Luckily he is a big strong guy and was able to kick the quad to the side but he landed hard on some rocks. We were all worried but he was ok just a few scrapes.
This fortunately was the only miss hap for the day. Going backwards on this trail is way easier but still it is a nasty trail. We headed on to the by pass to make it a loop. There was quite a bit of water on the trail which made it fun. Jim, Zane, Toad and Katt had a good time playing along the way. What a blast watching everyone have so much fun.
We stopped for another group shot at a water tank before heading back to the highway. I was wanting to get back in case some of the others showed up so I was heading back. Bill had enough so he headed out with me. I asked him if it was ok if we picked it up a bit and he said ok. After a couple of miles I thought he was hurting so I stopped and let him ride the plush Polaris 850 XP with the power steering. We were making great time but had to stop as my camera case almost fell off the XP. At this point Bill said he could not believe the difference in the ride over his machine. He said it takes no effort at all to steer the Polaris and the ride is so comfortable. You hardly feel any of the rocks at all.
The rest of the group headed on to Oak Flat Creek trail and back. As for Bill and I we made it back in record time. As it turned out I could have stayed with the group as the only others that showed up were the Prescott riders and they were heading out for a ride as we came in. Those guys are good riders and love to explore so they had no problems finding some fun trails.
Since I was back early I asked my wife if she had any lipstick. She said WHY, and looked at me weird. I said we should fix up Jeff’s pig. Well her and Susie went in and took care of Miss Piggy. They painter her snout red along with her toe nails and painted on eye liner. What a riot.
Follows the link to the first round of my many photos. If you click on slide show in the right corner and pick fast it goes pretty quick and you can even click on next to make it go faster.:
