FJ ROCKS ARIZONA (FJ Cruiser Team Run) Saturday, June 10th

[ShottsCruisers]

Due to further communications with the FJ Team, the National Forest Service and comments/recommendations from interested antendees, we've finalized the trip plans and updated the first post.

We been asked to improve:

Trail Difficulty (more difficult)
Shorten Trail Run (a bit)
Go to higher altitude (for cooler temps)

The trail run has been changed to "DeSoto Mine". DeSoto Mine Trail is well known for it's various challenges. Grades, off-camber, rocks...can all be had on DeSoto. It will be the best "test" for the FJ Team in the area.

Running this trail should make for a much nicer day, weather and dust-wise. FJ40's without tops will appreciate this change a lot. No excuses not to show now!

These plans are final. If the Prescott NF closes then Raw Deal will be the backup and it's in a similar area starting along I-17 closer to Phoenix.

 

[crawler#976]

SWEET!

I heard this was in the works and may be leading ya'll out there from Mayer if you choose to run it from that direction. Going west to east offers the most challenging route, starting with the rock section, and ending with hill climbs and serious off camber stuff. I don't like the off camber stuff due to the exo cage's tendency to get a bit tippy...

 

[Westy]

I may try and make it up for this run. Great trail choice. It will be perfect for the FJ and always nice to get out of this heat and go wheeling as well, plus cold beers waiting for everyone in Cleator.

PBR on tap :beer:

 

[seth_js]

ha ha, Clee-ator rocks!

-Seth

 

[ShottsCruisers]

I'm excited too! Never ran DeSoto. I hope to have my LX completed this weekend (vibration-wise). I wanna bring it.

 

[crawler#976]

DeSoto is a fun 12+ miles of actual trail ride, and about 35 miles of FS road to get there.

The largest group I've taken thru on my annual trip was 19. It usually takes several hours to get that many rigs thru the creek bottom - last year was longer due to another group in front of us that had problems.

I'd guess we'll probably have more than 19 if this is a nationaly anounced trip, and with stock rigs it could take substantially longer than that. So, if it's a large group, I'd figure it'll be close to 4:00 PM before we're done.

There is an early out option at the Peck Mine Rd. - it avoids all of the hill climbs and ridge running in the second half of the trail. It comes out on the main road to Crown King.

The seriously off camber section can bypassed by going over the top to the DeSoto Mine. In past years I've taken that route to avoid the terror of looking out my doorless junk at a 400 to 500' long steep slope while sitting at a 40 deg angle. Stock rigs do much better on it than I do - I have a huge amount of body roll with the soft springs and high weight.

10 June Average Temps for the Mayer, AZ. Hi 86°F Lo 62°F
Record Temps Hi 98°F Lo 45°F

 

[ShottsCruisers]

DeSoto is a fun 12+ miles of actual trail ride, and about 35 miles of FS road to get there.

The largest group I've taken thru on my annual trip was 19. It usually takes several hours to get that many rigs thru the creek bottom - last year was longer due to another group in front of us that had problems.

I'd guess we'll probably have more than 19 if this is a nationaly anounced trip, and with stock rigs it could take substantially longer than that. So, if it's a large group, I'd figure it'll be close to 4:00 PM before we're done.

There is an early out option at the Peck Mine Rd. - it avoids all of the hill climbs and ridge running in the second half of the trail. It comes out on the main road to Crown King.

The seriously off camber section can bypassed by going over the top to the DeSoto Mine. In past years I've taken that route to avoid the terror of looking out my doorless junk at a 400 to 500' long steep slope while sitting at a 40 deg angle. Stock rigs do much better on it than I do - I have a huge amount of body roll with the soft springs and high weight.

10 June Average Temps for the Mayer, AZ. Hi 86°F Lo 62°F
Record Temps Hi 98°F Lo 45°F

Nice write up! Couple of questions if I may:

How's the brush on the Desoto?

Those off-camber spots....I see you are saying that the drop-offs are big, huh? Is the trail very narrow there?

 

[crawler#976]

Brush is OK - used to be pretty damn bad, but it was cleaned up by a volunteer who also rebuilt a portion of the trail.

First off camber spot isn't TOO bad - it's just before the Peck Mine Rd. (used to be a real fun one just past the Peck Mine Rd, but it was also fixed - see pic!)

The second off camber section of two track is a wash that cuts thru the trail. I'll do it - but might need a couple folks to hang on the high side :Wow1:

 

[ShottsCruisers]

Brush is OK - used to be pretty damn bad, but it was cleaned up by a volunteer who also rebuilt a portion of the trail.

First off camber spot isn't TOO bad - it's just before the Peck Mine Rd. (used to be a real fun one just past the Peck Mine Rd, but it was also fixed - see pic!)

The second off camber section of two track is a wash that cuts thru the trail. I'll do it - but might need a couple folks to hang on the high side :Wow1:

Good news on the brush! The cambered spots sound and look like fun then! So there aren't any super-narrow spots with long drop-offs?

 

[crawler#976]

yeah, the last off camber spot is pretty bad. I've avoided it the last 3 years, so I don't know what it's like now. I had my trail bud Dave hangin' off the high side the last time thru - and I did the same for him. If you lost it, you'd roll down 400 or 500' feet. With groups I've always gone over the top - it's more scenic and a lot safer (unless it's muddy, but that's another story). The optional route is still fun - it includes the pic below and the veiw too. The other pic is of the longest hill climb - it's a real hoot!

 

[ShottsCruisers]

I'm ready to go!

 

[Westy]

I've run Desoto a couple times, including the annual trip that Mark Longfield led last year. It was a great time with an even better group of guys.

This is what to expect in the wash section...nothin too difficult. Several mostly stock TRD tacomas struggled through it

and heres the downhill section when caught in a nasty thunderstorm...

 

[ShottsCruisers]

Drool!

 

[datrupr]

Mark, can the Trooper make this? I am going to be ordering my suspension at the beginning of the month, but it will probably not get her in time for this run.

 

[crawler#976]

Mark, can the Trooper make this? I am going to be ordering my suspension at the beginning of the month, but it will probably not get her in time for this run.

Aaron,

The DeSoto is definately tougher than Smiley Rock. You can do it, but the step bars and maybe the rear bumper will be wasted for sure.

With a lift on DaTrupr, you've got a reserved spot in the 5th Annual DeSoto Trail Ride this fall. I can arrange that pretty easily :hehe: