Suggest Trip Ideas Here

[K7VZ]

One of my 2011 goals for 4x4 Ham is to have a 4x4, ham radio, or both/combined event each month. Also, I'd like to get out the non-AZ members to start posting trail runs and other events.

So.....do you have a trail you'd like to run or an event idea? Post it here and we'll get the ball rolling.

Some ideas I have are:


Activate DM31. Camping trip to Organ Pipe NM. April sometime?
Harqualhala Peak - However you pronounce it.
Field Day in June.
TMM in the fall again.
Upper Woodpecker trail near Florence Junction.
Sheep Bridge/Bloody Basin Road
Pipeline Trail at Table Mesa is always fun.
Trails south of Maricopa.
(Devils Highway, Canyon DeChelly, Monument Valley) ??
Meet and Eats. Just some rag chew meetups in an urban setting. Every other month or so.
Broken Arrow trail in Sedona --Solders Pass is a nice "quick" trail too!
Poland Junction Road up to SR261 around the back side of Mt. Union (Post #7)
Mountain top lake near Tucson, think its Mount Lemon?
Cherry Creek Road, from where it meets Hwy 288 (just north of Globe), all the way up to Young
Back way to Mt Ord
Sunflower Mine
Log Corral
Mud Springs
FR 401 (Cane Springs)
76 Ranch to Young
Doll Baby Ranch loop

[KE7NEA]

Randy & Steve also mentioned maybe some camping trips south of their location, Id be interested in that.

Everything you have posted there Virgil looks good!!
Any idea or suggestion for an expedition type run? (Devils Highway, Canyon DeChelly, Monument Valley) ??

[K7VZ]

Yes Paul. I want to do Monument Valley again. We could do that in a 2 day weekend.

Also, I forgot to mention Meet and Eats. Just some rag chew meetups in an urban setting. Every other month or so.

[N1HX]

If anyone is looking for a quick morning or afternoon run, I have done the Broken Arrow trail in Sedona a few times. If you don't mind dodging all the Pink Jeeps, it is a fun and moderately challenging trail in spots. It is considered to be one of the most scenic trails in the country to 4x4 on. I usually end the day with a trip into Sedona for some food and adult beverages. Probably good for up to 5 vehicles due to space limitations at the two spots available to park (so you can gawk at all that Red Rock). Could also travel in a couple of groups. A $10 Red Rock pass is required to stop and park.

Paul - N1HX

[N1HX]

I like your thinking on a monthly event Virgil. Keep the details coming. I haven't been to any of these spots but they all sound interesting.

Paul - N1HX

[KE7NEA]

Solders Pass is a nice "quick" trail too!

[KE7KUS]

Poland Junction Road up to SR261 around the back side of Mt. Union is a nice drive with a couple of scenic views. We could possible contact some of the Yavapai County guys with repeaters up on Mt. Union and tie it in with a repeater site maintenance day, since the road runs right by the access road to the top of the mountain. A nice summer day trip. SR 261 dumps into Senator Highway on the west end, so maybe an early AM push followed by a late lunch/dinner at Prescott Brewery?

[KE7NEA]

A co-worker mentioned something about a mountain top lake near Tucson, think its Mount Lemon? But sounded like a neat place, there's camp grounds there too, so mountain top HF work? Camping? Fishing? sounds like a good weekend trip to me :)

[KE7KUS]

Cherry Creek Road, from where it meets Hwy 288 (just north of Globe), all the way up to Young is a nice drive. Probably a two-day trek, especially if you stop to see the Indian ruins in Devil's Chasm (a definite must). Plenty of beautiful country to camp in along the way. Last time I was up that way, we slept out on cots under the stars and it was fantastic. Low elevation at the start(~2000'), but ends up around 5500' when you get up to the north end. Also in the area is Workman Creek and you can take the short drive up to the fire lookout tower on top of Aztec Peak.

[K7VZ]

Updated first post. Great ideas guys. Now we just need to start getting them on the calendar.

[KE7TXQ]

Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. Not a easy day trip but would be fun for those of us who are into Photography and Jeepin.

Trails in Prescott and Flagstaff?

Trails around Quartzsite.

How about Kingman area?

[K7DCL]

Back way to Mt Ord
Sunflower Mine
Log Corral
Mud Springs
FR 401 (Cane Springs)
76 Ranch to Young
Doll Baby Ranch loop

[K7NNT]

Wow! I want to go on them all!

On the snow run I learned that Richard N7IYT has not been on Woody yet. I have not run it in a year, might be time. 3.5 trail last time I was on it.

[amfgaming]

I have a stock Baja so the tame runs sound good. Like to make camp trips out of it from FLG. Sat./space station contacts around the campfire. I'll watch to see what you decide. Will test in late Jan. Hope to get HT in Feb.


Promontary Point above Payson
4. TMM in the fall again. what's TMM?
6. Sheep Bridge/Bloody Basin Road camping?, river runs from Camp Verde?

7. Pipeline Trail at Table Mesa is always fun.
10. Meet and Eats. Just some rag chew meetups in an urban setting. Every other month or so.
12. Poland Junction Road up to SR261 around the back side of Mt. Union (Post #7)
14. Cherry Creek Road, from where it meets Hwy 288 (just north of Globe), all the way up to Young

[K7VZ]

TMM is Titan Missile Museum.

[K7VZ]

First post updated again. Anyone can grab an idea and go with it.

[K7VZ]

Bump. Trip leaders needed. Contact me if you need help posting in the Upcoming Events (http://www.4x4ham.com/forumdisplay.php?8-Upcoming-Events) section.

[K6OZY]

I'm hoping some trips have staging areas. I romp in a Polaris RZR XP 900 but I need to haul it to an area to unload. It's street legal, but I wouldn't want to drive it on the highway.

[K7VZ]

I'm hoping some trips have staging areas. I romp in a Polaris RZR XP 900 but I need to haul it to an area to unload. It's street legal, but I wouldn't want to drive it on the highway.
Most trails do have trailer/staging areas. The biggest problem would be if it's not a loop trail though.

[N7IYT]

I suggest that someone lead a run to a mountain top the same day as my Shamrock run, 3/17/2012, and we try to make contact between the two groups on simplex. Depending on the rigs we might even try SSB or UHF.

Looking at the list in the first post, Harqualhala Peak seems like a good choice, maybe Mt. Lemon near Tucson. Four Peaks comes to mind. Maybe some other peak not on that list.

Any interest in this? Anybody have a suggestion for the other peak? Anybody willing to lead the run?

[N5MUD]

Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. Not a easy day trip but would be fun for those of us who are into Photography and Jeepin.

I would love to do Canyon de Chelly, and would make the trip from Tejas for it if there was any way possible. Do you still have to have a Diné (Navajo) guide there? That's the way it used to be for any off-road exploration at all.

[K7VZ]

I would love to do Canyon de Chelly, and would make the trip from Tejas for it if there was any way possible. Do you still have to have a Diné (Navajo) guide there? That's the way it used to be for any off-road exploration at all.

We used Adam Teller and stayed at Antelope House when we took this trip in 2008. http://www.canyondechelly.net/tours_4wd.html

[KE7NEA]

Been there twice, very neat place! If you have the chance to go... GO for it :)

[KI6MLU]

Foxhunt.

Other 4WD clubs can run easy trails, hard trails, rocky trails, mountain trails, desert trails, etc. but only 4x4 hams could combine an off-road run with a ham radio foxhunt. I'm thinking that the run leader would go out to an area with a lot of 4x4 trails and start transmitting. Everyone would use DF gear to find him. Once everyone gets to the leader's site, we would run the rest of the trail as a group (or go looking for the ones who are lost and never made it to the transmitter site).

just my .02

[N7TLW-WQGX468]

The Wickenburg Mountains have some good trail rides, too; some not so challenging, but they are still interesting if you haven't been there before. The road through Sayer Springs to Williams Ranch, then backtracking to come out on Castle Hot Springs road is a nice ride.

[KE7TXQ]

Foxhunt.

Other 4WD clubs can run easy trails, hard trails, rocky trails, mountain trails, desert trails, etc. but only 4x4 hams could combine an off-road run with a ham radio foxhunt. I'm thinking that the run leader would go out to an area with a lot of 4x4 trails and start transmitting. Everyone would use DF gear to find him. Once everyone gets to the leader's site, we would run the rest of the trail as a group (or go looking for the ones who are lost and never made it to the transmitter site).

just my .02


I was thinking about this same thing the other day. This would be fun!

[N5MUD]

We used Adam Teller and stayed at Antelope House when we took this trip in 2008. http://www.canyondechelly.net/tours_4wd.html

Thanks for the link Virgil, that looks like a good service.

[K7VZ]

I've been to the Sheep Bridge many times, but never from the east/Horseshoe Lake. http://www.everytrail.com/fullscreen.php?trip_id=1457437 I've always gone in from Seven Springs Road.

[KF7IZQ]

I desparately want to do Monument Valley either camping or motel. Looking to do some photography. Guide needed?
Also, if interested, I can post trips planned by the AZFJ cruiser group. We often have jeeps and trucks join us. Also, there seems to be at least one or two more new hams on every new trail run we do.

[N7IYT]

One of my 2011 goals for 4x4 Ham is to have a 4x4, ham radio, or both/combined event each month. Also, I'd like to get out the non-AZ members to start posting trail runs and other events.

So.....do you have a trail you'd like to run or an event idea? Post it here and we'll get the ball rolling.

Some ideas I have are:


Activate DM31. Camping trip to Organ Pipe NM. April sometime?
Harqualhala Peak - However you pronounce it.
Field Day in June.
TMM in the fall again.
Upper Woodpecker trail near Florence Junction.
Sheep Bridge/Bloody Basin Road
Pipeline Trail at Table Mesa is always fun.
Trails south of Maricopa.
(Devils Highway, Canyon DeChelly, Monument Valley) ??
Meet and Eats. Just some rag chew meetups in an urban setting. Every other month or so.
Broken Arrow trail in Sedona --Solders Pass is a nice "quick" trail too!
Poland Junction Road up to SR261 around the back side of Mt. Union (Post #7)
Mountain top lake near Tucson, think its Mount Lemon?
Cherry Creek Road, from where it meets Hwy 288 (just north of Globe), all the way up to Young
Back way to Mt Ord
Sunflower Mine
Log Corral
Mud Springs
FR 401 (Cane Springs)
76 Ranch to Young
Doll Baby Ranch loop



It may be hard to believe, but the hot weather will soon be over. It is time to start planning and posting trail runs. I will commit to leading at least one trail run in the next few months, probably something in the Table Mesa Area. Will anybody else commit to lead a run?

I have never ran #17, Log Corral, but I would like to. Will somebody commit to leading that run?

Several of these runs involve mountain tops or high elevations. It would be great to schedule two runs on the same day and to try to establish communications between the two runs. Is there any interest in this idea?

Please post if you are willing to lead a trail run, or if you would like to run a particular trail that you would like somebody else to lead.

[KF7VRZ]

I see that Broken Arrow and Soldier Pass were placed on the list at #11. I know there was talk not long ago about closing the Soldier Pass trail to vehicle access, although I don't know what came of that. For those that have never been on it, the trail is a cul-de-sac, one way in and one way out. Very scenic (hey, it's Sedona), but less than a mile long, with a couple very short side trips to the Devil's Kitchen sink hole, and the Seven Sacred Pools (a series of pools eroded into the stone as the water flows downhill). It's a nice ride, but with more than just a couple rigs it will be very crowded, and if you meet oncoming traffic (tour Jeeps go there all the time) there is very little room to pass. Broken Arrow is definitely fun, so no discussion there. A trip all the way to Sedona for just these trails seems like too much time on pavement for the payoff. Other Sedona trails, including Greasy Spoon and Oak Creek Homestead could be combined with Broken Arrow to make more of a day of it. Oak Creek Homestead has great swimming and wading opportunities, and a rope swing for those inclined, not to mention the ruins of the old namesake cabin.

If there is interest in a Sedona trip, I would volunteer to lead.

[K7VZ]

I believe Log Corral is still in the closure area for the Sunflower Fire from this past summer. Trail is currently closed.

[N7IYT]

I believe Log Corral is still in the closure area for the Sunflower Fire from this past summer. Trail is currently closed.

I was afraid of that. Thanks for the information.

[kc6rdf]

Foxhunt.

Other 4WD clubs can run easy trails, hard trails, rocky trails, mountain trails, desert trails, etc. but only 4x4 hams could combine an off-road run with a ham radio foxhunt. I'm thinking that the run leader would go out to an area with a lot of 4x4 trails and start transmitting. Everyone would use DF gear to find him. Once everyone gets to the leader's site, we would run the rest of the trail as a group (or go looking for the ones who are lost and never made it to the transmitter site).

just my .02

Sounds like fun! I will have my Doppler in a few weeks if anyone else is still interested in this idea.

[K7AZS]

Harquahala Peak has the 1920's solar observatory at the top. It is a wide open mountaintop with 100 mile views; 360 degrees.

[K7NNT]

Harlalckac Peak was a fun run. I would do it again.

[K7AZS]

I would be willing to lead a Harquahala peak run if there is interest.

[N7IYT]

I would be willing to lead a Harquahala peak run if there is interest.

I am interested. Anybody else?

[AD7AS]

Depends on when, but yes.

[K7AZS]

It would probably be the first part of December. I'll see if there is any more interest before I post.

[K7AZS]

Harquahala (Hark-wa-hala) peak trail is a BLM National Byway which climbs to the top of 5,681 ft. Harquahala Peak, the highest mountain in southwestern Arizona. At the top, find an observatory built by the Smithsonian Institution in use from 1920 to 1925 to measure solar temperatures. Also find modern solar collectors used by the Central Arizona Project. There are also microwave relay towers. I only have a Tech license but I am sure many HF contacts could be made from here if the solar and microwave equipment don’t interfere.
Easy at the bottom, but the upper parts of the road are narrow, steep and rocky. Suitable for all SUVs with four-wheel drive and low-range gears. Their views as far as the eye can see with no obstructions.

I would like to see if there is any interest before posting. This is a very long trip, especially from my house 160 miles one way. I would like to have at least 6 confirmed yes RSVP's before posting sometime in December or January.





1928

[KY7K]

I would love to go to Harquahala and activate it for SOTA. However I work two weekends a month so hopefully I won't have to work the weekend of the trip.

[K7AZS]

I have not chosen a date yet. I need to look at my calendar as well as the groups. It could even be into next year. I just wanted to throw the details out there for feedback.

Happy Trails,
Steve
K7AZS

[KF7RTR]

Depending on the date I'd be interested in doing Harquahala.

[K7AZS]

I have plans to do a run to Harquahala peak in the near future but I can't do that long of a trip on a Sunday, but I could lead a run to Mt Lemmon on 3/17. I live a little over an hour from there. There are communication towers and an observatory up there in a couple of different spots. It is an easy road up there with a short optional 4x4 trail through Peppersauce Canyon. Sounds like fun. PM me if you want to do this. Steve

[K7AZS]

It would probably be the first part of December. I'll see if there is any more interest before I post.

It will now have to be in January. Saturday date suggestions anyone?

[N7IYT]

I have plans to do a run to Harquahala peak in the near future but I can't do that long of a trip on a Sunday, but I could lead a run to Mt Lemmon on 3/17. I live a little over an hour from there. There are communication towers and an observatory up there in a couple of different spots. It is an easy road up there with a short optional 4x4 trail through Peppersauce Canyon. Sounds like fun. PM me if you want to do this. Steve

If you do Mt Lemmon on 3/17, we might be able to do some mountain topping. We have the Shamrock run in the Bradshaw mountains that same day.

[K7AZS]

That is the reason I was going to lead a run up Mt. Lemmon on 3/17 to coincide with your trip in the Bradshaws. I am only mobile on vhf/uhf. Probally will need some heavier duty equipment up here to mountaintop. I will post this weekend. Maybe some of the eastsiders will come along.

[KF7IZQ]

I have done Harquahala a couple of times. Awesome views but windy as hell! I will put 3/17 on my calendar and see if some mt topping can be done with you in the Bradshaws and Lemmon that day from Harquahala.