I had the chance to wheel this nasty little piece of path with a few of my Arizona Virtual Jeep Club members….Bill Mish, Ross Skinner & son, Keith Auble, and Rob Wilson, and Becky (who would by no means inform me her final identify!). The path is situated on the south facet of FR52, simply throughout from the Forest Dept. Helo Pad close to Horse Thief Basin Recreation Area. The GPS places it 4.0 miles SSE of Crown King.
I at all times do my very own write-ups for my internet web page. However, Bill did such an excellent path report, and posted it on the VJC membership reflector, that I simply can’t cross up the chance to make use of it right here. The footage of the Jeeps on the path have been graciously taken by Rob and are used with permission. I took those of us stacking the Jeeps after we obtained again up the hill. Rob and Keith dangle with the oldsters from www.alloffroad.com.
Bill writes:
Where to start. Originally, it began out as a small concept I had after I found the street a few 12 months in the past. It was what gave the impression to be a street as much as Crown King from Table Mesa or Black Canyon metropolis. I checked topo maps, it appeared to undergo to inside 3/4 of a mile to the previous FR52 from Packer. The higher finish of the street from Packer has been closed as a result of “Horsethief wilderness space” designation within the space.
I lastly obtained to wheel it this weekend. It didn’t undergo as I had anticipated. At least not within the sense of satisfactory by car journey. Our try makes for a very good story although, so right here goes.
I dropped my truck and trailer off in Black Canyon City. I drove the Maggie Mine path up into the Bumble Bee path with Eric in his YJ. Greg Banfield And Chet have been on Quads. We obtained so far as Cleator, when Greg’s spouse Dodi and Glen caught as much as us in his CJ-7. We went up the hill (the entrance manner), and took a pause for the “b” trigger on the saloon and lodge on the west facet of the road, earlier than heading on up. Eric had rotated to move again house in his YJ, he was out of time.
When we lastly arrived at Tip Top trailhead, Stu was already there. I FINALLY MEET THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND, Stu Olson!!
Brief introductions, I started bowing feverishly,(in true to kind “we’re undeserving” vogue) earlier than he despatched me scampering off for firewood. It was getting darkish. Greg Chet and Dodi weren’t staying up there, and now their time was up, so that they headed again down the hill. Keith, Rob and Becky have been subsequent to reach in Keith’s TJ. Stu and I have been swapping tales and pouring over the maps for a plan of assault like 2 generals chasing victory……or not… Anyway we have been interrupted by the clamorous entrance.
“Friends of yours?” Stu requested. To which I replied, ” Just wait, It will get worse!!” Stu correctly selected the “peaceable” campsite he already established and despatched us down the best way. We lit the hearth. It was Big. Fair warning when you camp with us. Don’t fear, you received’t harm our emotions! The trio needed to return to city for a Fireman’s fund raiser that promised a lot of pleasure and enjoyable. I opted to seclude myself in camp, having fun with the magnificent view of the town lights, the moon, the peace and quiet of the mountains and the cool breeze blowing via camp. I’m a self proclaimed complicated and various man, which might clarify The Kid Rock cd blaring from my stereo the following morning……
The trio got here again……at 2:00am, I woke and joined in on the celebration, which ended at 3:00am. I woke with the solar at 5:30am, rekindled the hearth, ate a few of the most luxurious one’s “most luxurious Breakfast burritos”. Great Job, Stu!!
Ross by no means arrived, till now, so we broke camp whereas he attended to his final minute particulars. The most fun a part of the path is the primary 600-800 yards of close to vertical decomposed granite (no traction) hill. Which rises approx 1200 ft on the Topo. The the rest of the path was just about a bust, since we needed to flip round and are available again….. No one was wanting ahead to tackling the hill, however except we go up, we will’t go away. Ross was 1st, and made it up the first part with grave issue. The second part, he winched himself up, as a consequence of some recommendation from me to attempt the hill in first gear low. He made good progress, I didn’t need him to lose the progress he made so far with out breaking, so I suggested him to winch, and so he did. Next up was Keith Auble (Crus) and, whereas we have been getting Ross’ Jeep in place to winch the remainder of us up, Keith DROVE to the highest! As all our jaws dropped in amazement, Keith was beaming ear to ear, and excessive fiving us. Next was Stu, he too winched after making improbable progress, nevertheless a rock which his Jeep slid into whereas struggling for traction, managed to scratch his rim and partly tear his valve stem. It didn’t leak, and the clever factor to do was winch from this place, to stop additional harm. I used to be final up the hill, and having the benefit of watching what labored and what didn’t, I drove up in 2nd gear 4lo with a complete lot of mud and funky air below my tires. We all made it to the highest after that, stacking our Jeeps in celebration (infantile, I do know, but it surely was my concept….). Those who went thanks for the fantastic recollections……….. Then there was the journey right down to civilization. But that’s one other journey all collectively!!
Bill Mish
Yldkat
1955 Willys CJ3B
Here are some pics that Rob took whereas we have been wheelin. I’m going to must get some sort of a Jeep CAM mounted on my TJ so I can get extra of those photographs. You simply can’t do it whenever you obtained your fingers full going up these sort of hills!
One different disclaimer….as typical, the pics don’t do it justice. The hills are about 3 instances steeper than what they seem in these pictures. Were Ross and I winched, I had one heck of a time making an attempt to stroll on that part of the path. At one level, I took a spill and banged up some ribs a bit. NASTY, NASTY TRAIL!
Here is Bill by Keith’s TJ. As you’ll be able to see, his write up was only a bit off. The bowing was being accomplished by me, not him….oh…I’m not worthy! I believe Bill catches a bit too many rays in the course of the day on account of him not sporting a hat!
Yes, you guessed it….the best way out is up that little skinny ribbon of path. Oh my….will we ever make it again to the highest? That and some dozen different issues have been going by way of my thoughts as we picked our manner down the path.
Here is Lady beginning on the backside of the path and dealing her manner up to some extent the place we may cease and group up for the following part. As you’ll be able to see, Bill’s Jeep will not be that distant from me, however is far decrease on the path. It will get steeper from right here!
After I made it as much as the primary staging level, Bill put it in 4LO and labored his manner up the hill to hitch us. Just a little little bit of mud from the tires slipping on the decomposed granite. Parts of this path had all of the traction of a effectively oiled set of curler bearings!
Tip Top Trail
As we labored our manner up the hill, we obtained to the part that was going to provide Ross and I our issues.
Ross obtained only a few yards additional up the path earlier than he performed out the winch cable and assisted himself as much as the following “stage” spot. I slowed down on the similar spot and Ross was good sufficient to ship the cable right down to me for a reasonably fast trip again this part of path. Bill and Keith made it up this half with some good effort. By this time, Bill was studying that with the very low gears that he and Ross have been working, the large Swampers did higher when going over these things in 4LO, 2nd gear.
After we had all gotten previous the part the place we winched, Ross took off for the highest. After giving him a couple of minutes of journey time, I headed out after him, adopted by Bill. We have been all on the prime, apart from Keith, and on the brink of have fun once we realized that Keith was overdue. Little did we understand that he had caught a rock together with his proper entrance tire (locked axle) and it spun him round on the path in a microsecond. We noticed the minor harm on his proper entrance fender the place his TJ got here to relaxation in opposition to the manzanita (sp) bush that saved him from rolling down the hill. We heard all about it as soon as Keith and Becky made it to the highest to hitch us in Bill’s Jeep stacking celebration!
Lady managed to get her 32″ BFG up onto Ross’ 38.5″ Swamper.
Bill parks his 38.5″ Swamper on Ross’ CJ-7.
While Bill wasn’t wanting, Keith hopped his TJ up onto Bill’s rear tire. Yo Bill! Gotcha ya!
Shortly after we un-stacked our Jeeps, we headed into Crown King for one thing moist and chilly to drink. From there, I headed for house, wrapping up a two day journey within the Southern Bradshaw Mountains close to Crown King, Arizona. So many trails to run, so few weekends through which to do it.
More pics from Tip Top Trail
Tip Top Trail
This shot was taken as we have been nonetheless working our manner alongside the path to see if we may punch by way of. A variety of brush….quite a lot of brush each course you turned. A fireplace had swept by way of this space a while in the past. You can see the stays of a burned tree on this image.
This one was taken close to the highest. We have been on the final part of the path climbing again out. Although no stroll within the park, this part was a lot simpler than the extent slightly below the place this was taken, which was the place we needed to get away the winch.
Keith and I are discussing getting my TJ out of this spot on the path. Although hardly detectable right here, this part was so steep you could possibly hardly stand on it. You can see the rear diff housing touching the bottom. Makes for a tough time getting up the hill when you find yourself making an attempt to plow a brand new path on the similar time! After a few foiled makes an attempt from this spot, I had Ross ship down the winch cable.
Bill’s CJ-3b waits its flip to go up the final part. Once we had all made it previous center part and had gotten parked on one thing that resembled stage floor, we headed towards the highest and a chilly one again in Crown King!
