El Camino Del Diablo: (2/23-26/2006)

[Desertdude]

We were in Anza Borego a few weeks ago and the rules are no fires on the ground - the landscape remains unscared - a nice look :bowdown:

Thinking now of always traveling with something to contain a non white man fire:campfire:

 

[Desertdude]

Hopefully that doesn't scare anyone away! We may end up at the beach!

I could always use more beach time :jump:

 

[articulate]

...I think we should use a fire pan and haul out our ash. If we do burn any wood outside of CPNWR, we should definitely bring our own. Scott and Al, you guys have done the trip before, would you agree?

I'm more than happy to bring firewood; I've got a quarter-cord out back that hardly got used at all this winter. For that matter, I remember serious stretches where the only thing that has the guts to live out there is creosote. Even if it were ethically sound to collect fire wood, you wouldn't find much.

It sounds like one or two adventurers have fire pans....?

For the record, I canceled my hotel reservation to camp near Welton, or drive in early on Friday, too. (no offense to the crew meeting in Yuma ). I don't want to be a ball-n-chain on the camper group because I won't be able to get out there until after dark. I'll consider it gravy if I find you guys. So long as this detail remains solid, we're good:

Meet at 10:30 am at exit 14 off of I8

Also: My brother will be my co-pilot! That's got serious adventure factor now. This is going to be one hell of a trip.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[BajaTaco]

Hey now, that's a sweet update! :jumping:

I have an outdoor "fireplace" with lid, but it is pretty bulky. I can probably bring it on the the roofrack unless someone else has a better setup. Mark, if you plan to get there on Thurs. night, we can monitor the CB - with the ultra flat terrain, I bet we would have a good chance of hearing one another. Let's use channel 7.

 

[DaktariEd]

I'll bring some mesquite firewood also. I have a bunch on the porch and out back but haven't had a single fire all "winter" (if that's what you call it).
:camping: :campfire:

Mark,
I suspect the coordinates I posted previously may get you pretty darned close to where we actually end up. Then with the CB I'll bet we can talk you in...worth a shot in any case!

This is going to be a great trip! :victory:

Ed

 

[articulate]

Taco & Ed: Thanks! You got it. Channel 7. I suppose, also, that you'll see my headlights a-comin' since it's so flat. Good points, fellas. Shouldn't be difficult at all.

Golly, all this talking about it....I'm ready to go tonight.

Later,
Mark

 

[desertgirl66]

Hola Amigos,
Pasquale is recovering from his knee surgery now, has lots of staples in his leg! Yikes! He is doing really well, keeping it iced and elevated and being studious about the 80 rebuild. We were hoping to be able to take the "new" 80 on this trip but the surgery may put us behind a bit. Waiting for the regearing to be done on the diffs right now, Pasquale & I are doing all the work ourselves and having fun with it!! :exclaim: We pulled the diffs out and sent them up to Slee for the regearing and the install for the ARB lockers. First thing we did was remove most of the ugly gold bling :shakin:

Anyway, would like to camp also if that is what everyone is doing, are we still planning on meeting in Yuma at the Bella Vista restaruant for group dinner Thursday night??

 

[DaktariEd]

Hola, Amiga!
I will be camping out :camping: , having dinner in camp :chowtime: , and staying put for the evening...not planning on driving in to Yuma.

Not sure about the others. I think Chris and Mark are the only two campers so far.

Hasta luigi...
Ed

 

[DaktariEd]

BTW...
I input the coordinates I posted previously (that I had pulled from Google Earth), and found a bit of a discrepancy from my Garmin Topo program.
Not huge, but enough to cause a little confusion perhaps in the dark if using the Garmin maps.

The topo program shows only trails in the area, but the Google Earth images clearly show what look like fairly new roads. I chose the coordinates from Google Earth to plot; it's hard to argue that the roads aren't there!

I think Chris & I will be meeting just south of I-8 exit #30 (edit: not #14 as previously stated) so it shouldn't be a big deal.

But in the dark...I'd stick with the roads...use the coordinates as guides and head west, young man!

Ed

 

[desertgirl66]

Ed, it will be great to see you again! Would you mind sending the exact coordinates of where y'all will be camping---thanks!! :camping:

 

[DaktariEd]

Chris has a map on one of his earlier posts.
But the trail that goes there is based on 1965 map data . The freeway seems to have eliminated that route.

We'll still be camping in the general vicinity, but will get there from the Wellton exit.

If you look at Google Earth, we'll most likely go south off Wellton exit (South Ave 29E) to the "T" (E County 14E), turn west, then zig-zag our way to the east flank of the Gila Mountains.

I think Chris plans to monitor CB Ch. 7 (as will I) so anyone coming in after dark can call.

I also just packed a few wooden survey stakes in my 40 and can mark turns for the late-comers...:victory:

That ought to work!

Ed

 

[BajaTaco]

Hola desertgirl! Good to hear from you!! Wow, please give my best wishes to the dude. I hope it all went smoothly, and I hope I get to help him test out the new equipment sometime, on a beautiful walk in the desert somewhere :exclaim: Great update on the 80, it doesn't surprise me that you two are tackling the project together.

As far as camping, I just decided to camp on Thurs. night since I will be coming from inside Arizona, and it would be an extra 50 miles of travel (RT) to go all the way into Yuma and back, plus $ for hotel and dinner... I just decided to camp since that is what I like best anyway You are certainly welcome to join us. As Ed mentioned, we'll be rendezvousing at the freeway exit in Wellton. Ed mentioned an exit #14, but I believe the exit is actually #30 (Ed, that is what is showing up on my AZ Atlas, and on Mapquest). See if THIS mapquest link works. From this exit, we will basically be heading west and a little bit south to get away from the freeway noise.

 

[desertgirl66]

Hola Chris! Look forward to seeing you again~~~
What time about are you guys meeting at the exit? We are open that day and can leave like whenever.

 

[DaktariEd]

Ed mentioned an exit #14, but I believe the exit is actually #30 (Ed, that is what is showing up on my AZ Atlas, and on Mapquest). See if THIS mapquest link works. From this exit, we will basically be heading west and a little bit south to get away from the freeway noise.

Yikes! You're right...my atlas shows exit #30. I don't know where I got #14, but that's definitely not correct.
Thanks for catching the error.
I'll go back and edit my posts...
I must be too excited for my own good!

Ed

 

[BajaTaco]

Yikes! ...
I must be too excited for my own good!

Ed

:xxrotflma

OK, for those camping on Thurs. night, let's just plan on meeting at the #30 exit at 5:30 PM. As the time draws near, we'll see if we can't scoot that time up a bit, but for now let's plan on 5:30 MST (AZ time).

Scott, would you mind if I added the Thurs camp info to the 1st post so it's easier to reference?