Northern AZ exploration - Canyon Diablo, 07 Oct 06

[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!