Northern AZ exploration - Canyon Diablo, 07 Oct 06

[crawler#976]

Northern AZ exploration - Canyon Diablo, 07 Oct 06

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Where: Canyon Diablo, AZ. south of I-40

When: 07 Oct 06

Meeting Location: Two Guns, AZ. - Exit 230 on I-40, south side of the hwy

Time: 9:30 AM meet and greet, depart at 9:45 sharp.

Trip duration: ??? but it'll definately be a full day! Bring food and water.

Comms: CB 4, 2M 4WD 2 146.460, or the repeater on Mt Elden 147.140+, PL 162.2 (secondary monitoring). Call sign KE7IXX

I've been wanting to check out Diablo Canyon at approx N34.947 W111.094, . Looks like it has some pretty steep drop offs on the topos, and access via a 4x4 trail from Dog Valley. I've got to do some research on the route, but Two Guns is as good a meeting point as any! There may be some light??? hiking involved to reach the canyon rim.

Also, there is a ghost town located south of the interstate - used to be several buildings there in years past.

http://www.rerowland.com/canyon_diablo.html

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/canyondiablo.html

May exit the area to the south towards 260 - we'll have to see how time goes.

Mark

[MaddBaggins]

Oooh, thats my B-day! If I get my gears/locker done by then, it might be a nice break in. I'll let you know.

[crawler#976]

Come on up! Two Guns is roughly 2.5 hours north of Phx from the L101 and I-17, not counting a necessary fuel stop in Flag.


I've gone past Two Guns at 80MPH year in and year out - never considered it would be of any historical value. How about a town regarded as tougher than Tombstone!!!

[BajaXplorer]

Amy and I will be there. Will probably camp out somewhere saturday night on the Chavez Trail around Chavez Pass then hook into Hwy 87 near Clint's Well for trip home to Mesa on Sunday. Meteor Crater road just east of Two Guns drops down past the crater (worth a stop) and joins up with the Chavez Trail along the southern extension of Diablo Canyon near Chavez Pass.
BX

[Scott Brady]

bummer, I am in CA that weekend.

[crawler#976]

we'll miss ya!

[datrupr]

mark, what are the vehicle requirements if any? I may up for this trip.

[crawler#976]

Aaron, I don't anticipate the need for 4x4 unless the roads are muddy, and by then the monsoons should be done and over with.

[4wheelingmirage]

Newbie to this forum might potentially hook up with ya'lls to check out the sights up in Two Guns. Sounds kinda fun.

We're working on doing a mini camping deal to see if the 2 year old is as accomodating to camping as he is to 4 wheeling....lol.

Mom....Dad we go 4 wheeling? Huh? Huh?

Anyway will check back here for updates.


Apryl

****************************
2001 Dodge Quad Cab...not afraid of a bit of dent and scratch...1 HIGHLY mangled Weston step...will be replaced..eventually.

Co-owner...2002 Taco....stock....except for the husband...

[crawler#976]

Apryl and Co.

WELCOME to the forum! Be glad to have you come along - should be an enjoyable trip!

Edit: read your profile - see that your into geocaching. BX (BajaExplorer) and Amy are geojunkies - I'd bet dimes to dollars that Mike has a cache or two already lined up!

Mark

[crawler#976]

one week away bump!

[AZCPP]

Crawler,
Approximately how long do you estimate it will take to complete your route? I have to work that night but if I can squeeze it in I want to come along.

[crawler#976]

Chuck, sure hope you can make it!

If you want to stay for the Two Guns/Canyon Diable town site exploration, that'd be great, and if you have time to head south, that'd be a bonus.

Current route planning:

Explore Two Guns/Canyon Diablo town sites. Locate the Geocache at Two Guns.

Drive/hike to the Rock House Ruins a few miles south on the rim of Canyon Diablo.

Drive/hike to the goosenecks shown on the topo near Dog Valley.

May try to find an old 4wd route from Dog Valley to Mud Tank. Depends on what vehicles are present and time constraints.

Exit thru Chavez Pass to Hwy 87.(Some of the group may camp in this area).

[AZCPP]

I will plan to be there and I will leave accordingly.

[BajaXplorer]

Drive/hike to the Rock House Ruins a few miles south on the rim of Canyon Diablo.
Drive/hike to the goosenecks shown on the topo near Dog Valley.
May try to find an old 4wd route from Dog Valley to Mud Tank. Depends on what vehicles are present and time constraints.


Mark,
We had the Rock House ruins in our plans. I also want to verify whether the 4x4 trail across the canyon less than a mile north of the ruins is still usable. Would like to visit the Raymond Ranch (http://www.gf.state.az.us/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_raymond_ranch.shtml) on the other side to see the buffalo one of these days.(map (http://www.gf.state.az.us/images/outdoor_recreation/map_raymond.gif))
The track up Dog Valley from Dog Tank looks interesting. I did not see Mud Tank on map at all.
We are still planning to camp in the Chavez Pass area saturday night.
BX

[crawler#976]

Michael, that works for me!

Mud Tank is a mile or so south of Dog Valley paralleling the canyon. The 4x4 track shows up on the topos and aerial maps, but not on my Garmin software. It does show the southern route into the tank tho. From the aerial pic's (1983) there is a definate track, but I can't tell if it's a two tracker or not.

Lots to see up there!

[datrupr]

MArk, i am going to have to bail on this one. I have Ellesha that weekend, and that is a very long day trip for her. But I will see if I can't catch you on the next one.

[crawler#976]

OK, Aaron. We'll see ya later!

[crawler#976]

...along the route to Chavez Pass there is a large "spider web" of animal trails - must be a important watering hole!

[4wheelingmirage]

Locate the Geocache at Two Guns.

That's all you needed to say. LOL

Count me as in.

I'll have to look up this area on a map somewhere...is the camping, etc free or are there sites to camp at around that area?

[crawler#976]

Great, glad to have you come along!

Apryl, once we enter the National Forest near Chavez Pass camping is permitted any place you wish to do so. There should be plenty of opportunities!

Mark

[crawler#976]

FYI:

If anyone is late arriving at Two Guns, we will be in the immediate area for an hour or so checking out the ruins/town site.

[MaddBaggins]

Won't be able to make it. Gears won't be done until next week.

[crawler#976]

Great artical on the area!

http://www.hkhinc.com/arizona/twoguns/diablo.htm

At this point I'm not sure if we can access the old town of Canyon Diablo.

The research I've done online shows two locations for the town of Canyon Diablo. One is southeast of the ruins of Two Guns, the other approx 4 miles north. The northern site seem's to be the most promising, but it appears the railroad crossing to the area has been removed. I'll keep digging!

Mark

[crawler#976]

Alvin, it's probably a good thing - new gears need careful break in, and a long highway run is not the best way to go.

I've gone thru more gear sets than most, and have finally found a good proceedure to make'm live (unless you bang the pinion flange into a boulder repeatedly)

After install, use cheap straight 90W gear oil. Drive 20 miles at varying speeds. Let the diff cool completely - all day or overnight. Repeat. Drive normally (NO TOWING) until you've got 100 miles on the diff. Drain and refill with cheap 90W. Drive until 500 miles. Drain and add what ever diff juice you like - I prefer a full synthetic 75W-90 from Valvoline.

[MaddBaggins]

Thanks! :iagree:
I'll have about 9 days to put some miles on them before drain/refill and going to Nevada for a wheeling trip.

[crawler#976]

I don't think we'll need to be concerned about dust!

The weather today thru thru Friday calls for 60 to 70% chance for rain, possibly heavy at times. Temps will be cooling off by Saturday, and there will still be a slight chance for showers, high's in the low 70's, lows in the low 40's. I always expect there to be a "breeze" blowing east of Flag, and I'd guess by afternoon it'll be blowing 15 to 20 MPH across the flats.

With the possibility off heavy rain, we may see a wee bit of mud here and there.

Looks like a good group size!

ExPo:
Crawler#976 (Mark and Tami) White Taco
BX (Michael and Amy) Silver Taco
4wheelingmirage (Apryl and Co.?) Dodge QCab
AZCCP (Chuck and Co.?) Big Red Dodge!

[AZCPP]

Mark; I may have to bail. The yayhoos at the Sanbernadino terminal have been making changes and it has gotten my run screwed up.:violent-smiley-031: :violent-smiley-031: :violent-smiley-031: I haven't been getting home until 10:30 to 11:00am verses 7:00 to 7:30am. So I will have to see when I get home on Sat. morn. if I can make it over there in time to catch up with you or not. Hopefully I can!!

[crawler#976]

OK Chuck!

At this point I think we'll be skipping the Canyon Diablo town site north of Two Guns since the railroad crossing appears to be closed a mile or so from what little is left.

So, if we've left the Two Guns area, we'll be at either the Rock House ruins on the east side of Canyon Diablo or heading towards Dog Valley. Once we've looked at the ox bow canyon, there is a two track that heads west southwest from Dog Valley and parallels the canyon down to Mud Tank. Topo of the Mud Tank area below - the upper corner of the map shows the trail in from Dog Valley, and the aerial photo shows it better yet.

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&X=615&Y=4823&Z=12&W=3

I'll be monitoring the CB, but range is limited with the squelch up to avoid hearing all the traffic on the big road.

Mark

[4wheelingmirage]

Typical weekend out for us..we decide to camp...in comes the hurricanes and stuff. Sigh...lol.

Granted I did get a CB this week....now if I can just figure out how to get the antenna and the truck into the garage...I'll be all set.

Got my GPS loaded with coords..enough maps for a TOPO convention...my bro and sister-in-law are coming out for camping as well..unfortunatly my bro fried his gears/diffs this past week so they're taking her stock Grand Cherokee...but they're not gonna hook up with us until Sat evening.

Just look for the "Deep Garnet" Dodge with the AZ pinstriping....we'll be there!

[crawler#976]

Cool beans!

Had some pretty good rains up that way - should make for a great trip!

For: 13.3 miles southwest of Leupp.
Created: October 06, 2006 07:21:35 MST

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers with chance of thunderstorms. Probability of measurable precipitation 10 percent. South wind 12 mph. High 71.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers with chance of thunderstorms. South wind 8 mph. Low 44.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Rain showers with chance of thunderstorms. South wind 9 mph. High 70.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Rain showers with chance of thunderstorms. Low 45.


See ya'll tomorrow!

[AZCPP]

Just look for the "Deep Garnet" Dodge with the AZ pinstriping....we'll be there!

Cool! I have those AZ pinstripes as well.

[BajaTaco]

I will lock this thread and you guys can start a new one and give us a report.

:lurk: