Harquahala Mountain Az.

[Locked and Loaded]

Rugged 3000 feet and 10.5 mile climb to historic 1920 Smithsonian Solar Observatory. Site includes picnic areas,restrooms,and access to historic hiking trail and primitive camping.
This is what the Off-highway vehicle recreation guide for Arizona says. I can describe it in one word. View.
It is about 90 miles west of Phoenix. At 5681 ft. it is the 3rd. highest peak in Arizona. The highest in this part of Arizona. On the way up there are many places to stop and check out the View. You can see for miles. You dive right up to the top. Where there is a spectacular 360 degree View.
I'm going up Saturday April 23rd. And you are welcome to join me. Bring your family the road up isn't that bad. Just some loose rocks at the top. If you don't want to take a FSJ because of gas or whatever thats fine. Should be high clearance. Depends on who shows up. I know some of the mines in the area. And some I'd like to look for. But the roads to those are tougher and will require 4WD.
Did I mention the VIEW.

Click on link below



http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/cultural/harcs.print.html

[FSJunkie]

Jaber is planning on a mother's day run, check out what he thinks about this trail.

[gwinn]

This should be a good easy to moderate ride. I've heard mixed reports on the experience level, but it appears they have made some recent changes to make the trip fairly easy.

The Mother's Day ride will be in the Prescott/Chino Valley/Sedona area.

[Locked and Loaded]

This trail is easier than what Jaber is doing. Unless we go to look for mines. As a group we haven't done much wheeling in the last couple years. (Come on Tom, get Gus back on the road.:D ). I'm just giving people different options. I usually go out on runs but don't post it. I'm doing this one no matter what happens. Doesn't matter where you all like to wheel. Just get out there and put dirt under those tires. It's getting hotter, and gas ain't gonna get cheaper. Happy trails to you.

[gwinn]

Gus still has a few mechanical issues, but the big hold up is... getting thru emissions and affordably insuring a third vehicle. I do intend to sell the PT Cruiser & the Sentra and fix Gus to be dependable enough to be my daily driver. My guess is I'll be ready for some mild to moderate wheeling by next fall. Although I'll be putting 4" of Johnson's lift ( the original skyjacker w/o mods) on Gus, I don't think I'll change gears or lock the diff. Put me down for September... or if all goes well an August night run.

[Locked and Loaded]

Let me know when your ready Tom. The Boulders are close by. And are fun to run at night.

[amc79j10]

jeff count me in. I have some baby jeepers that want to come also.

so at what time and were do you plan on meeting up.

Mike A and the baby jeep

[Locked and Loaded]

Welcome aboard Mike. The other Jeeps will be fine. If I didn't get any responses from this site by this weekend I was going to post on another local Jeep site. Now I don't have to. How many other Jeeps are coming?
Have you ever been to Harquahala Mountain? If you have we can meet at the staging area at 9 am. If you haven't maybe we should meet in West Phoenix somewhere (My House would be fine) at 7 am. So far it looks like just us so if we need to change the meet times I'm flexible.
Anybody else interested? Once you see the pictures and you didn't go. Your going to be kicking yourselves.

[amc79j10]

Your house or someplace to grab breakfast along he way that is easy to find.

I have at least two other jeeps wanting to join us. None of us have done the run yet.

Mike A and the baby jeep

[Locked and Loaded]

Meet at The McDonalds at Dysart(Exit 129) and I10 at 7am. It is south of I10 on the west hand side. From there we will go to Tonopah to top off our fuel tanks.
After that we head to the Harquahala Mountain area. If you guys don't mind I would like to do a little exploring in the morning. There is a mine that I have been wanting to go to. I have never been there so I don't know what the roads will be like. But from the aerial view they look easy. The mine is open pit but has about twenty shafts. Some big enough to fit a Jeep in. Sound interesting?
After that we head up Harquahala Mountain. I know of some mine shafts on the way up if you want to check them out. Eat lunch at the observatory on top. Come back down the Mountain and head home.
If you guys aren't into exploring mines thats fine we can skip that part. It's just since we are going that far we might as well check it out.

[amc79j10]

Thanks for the info. I will pass it along to the others. They also like exploring mines, so I see no problems with your plans. see you around 7:00.

Mike A

[Locked and Loaded]

Cool. This is going to be a fun time. To those of you that are sitting on the fence on this run. "Because it's to hot." The weatherman says it will be in the upper 80s this Saturday. Thats means beautiful wheeling weather. And where we are going it gets cooler. In other words. It's not hot enough YET to hang out at the Mall. So come join our little expedition.

[Locked and Loaded]

Leaving now. He He.:drivin: :drivin: :drivin: :drivin: :D

[gwinn]

Have a good time and take lots of pics!

[Locked and Loaded]

Had a excellent time today. The trail was fun. The weather beautiful. Nobody broke down. No flat tires. Just plain old fun. Thanks to everyone that showed up. Mike it's always fun to wheel with you. Same to you Al. Your always one for a good story. Nice to meet you George and Pete. It was a little hazy at the top. I guess I better let the pictures do the talking.

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep001-4.jpg


http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep002-5.jpg

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http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep005-4.jpg

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http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep009-1.jpg

[Locked and Loaded]

Some mor eye candy. Enjoy.

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep010-2.jpg

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep011-1.jpg

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http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep015.jpg

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep016.jpg

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep017.jpg

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Dorscher/Jeep018.jpg

[gwinn]

Thanks for the pics Jeff! What did you find in the way of mines?

[Locked and Loaded]

Thanks for the pics Jeff! What did you find in the way of mines?

Darkness and Bats.

[Tad]

Darkness and Bats.
LOL, sort of like my brain on a Saturday morning sometimes.
Great pic's :thumbsup: