mkitchen
Explorer
A year ago, almost to the day, Crawler took us on a run through Casner Mountain. It truly is one of the most scenic trails in the state and due to the required permit process, it is seldom used and certainly never crowded. I made this a family trip with the hopes that all my kids would be able to be able to work out their schedules and make it up to Flagstaff for the weekend (organizing the Kitchen family is like herding cats).
We met up in Flagstaff on on Saturday, July 13, and did some catching up as well as sampling some of the fine breweries in the area. Since the permit is good for up to 10 vehicles, I opened up to some of the folks in our local 4X4 club as well. Now we were up to seven vehicles.
We met up at the Walmart in Flagstaff and as usual, we had vehicle problems right off. One of the fellows in the club had a loose drive line and we needed to replace the bolts, which required a trip to the hardware store for some bolts.
All of us standing around while the jeep gets repaired.
From there, we were off to the trail head. The gates are a bit difficult but having worked on ranches, I have seen what some people are willing to do to get through where they shouldn't. So I don't mind the effort.
Quite a few switchbacks to get to the top but since they are made to get powerline equipment up, they are not tight at all. And the views begin.
Casner travels between Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and the Red Rock Wilderness. Needless to say, the views are breath-taking.
The above is a left sided view and the below is to the right.
Just as the temps were going up, we hit the trees and cooler weather. A fellow just couldn't ask for nice weather for a trip. We were originally going to head out west but with the later start and the fact that some of the group needed to get to Flagstaff and Phoenix, we opted to head to Hidden Cabin and then back out at Flagstaff. I will save Partner Canyon for another trip (story of my life, the more I see, the more I need to go back and see more).
Lunch at the cabin.
No this is not Jim holding court, he is taking pictures of the group and no doubt they are better than mine.
I would love to see this trail opened up. It would make an exceptional addition to the Great Western Trail, either as an alternate or working it into the main route. In the mean time, enjoy it as it is.
Mikey
We met up in Flagstaff on on Saturday, July 13, and did some catching up as well as sampling some of the fine breweries in the area. Since the permit is good for up to 10 vehicles, I opened up to some of the folks in our local 4X4 club as well. Now we were up to seven vehicles.
We met up at the Walmart in Flagstaff and as usual, we had vehicle problems right off. One of the fellows in the club had a loose drive line and we needed to replace the bolts, which required a trip to the hardware store for some bolts.
All of us standing around while the jeep gets repaired.
From there, we were off to the trail head. The gates are a bit difficult but having worked on ranches, I have seen what some people are willing to do to get through where they shouldn't. So I don't mind the effort.
Quite a few switchbacks to get to the top but since they are made to get powerline equipment up, they are not tight at all. And the views begin.
Casner travels between Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and the Red Rock Wilderness. Needless to say, the views are breath-taking.
The above is a left sided view and the below is to the right.
Just as the temps were going up, we hit the trees and cooler weather. A fellow just couldn't ask for nice weather for a trip. We were originally going to head out west but with the later start and the fact that some of the group needed to get to Flagstaff and Phoenix, we opted to head to Hidden Cabin and then back out at Flagstaff. I will save Partner Canyon for another trip (story of my life, the more I see, the more I need to go back and see more).
Lunch at the cabin.
No this is not Jim holding court, he is taking pictures of the group and no doubt they are better than mine.
I would love to see this trail opened up. It would make an exceptional addition to the Great Western Trail, either as an alternate or working it into the main route. In the mean time, enjoy it as it is.
Mikey
