Hackberry Creek ~ Jan 7th

[Wind_Danzer]

After talking to Gary today, the 8th sounds like the day to hit this trail. He's going to lead it for us so I'll leave the start time up to him.

I have posted it on the old site so if you are interested in running this trail, please sign up there. :D

[Wind_Danzer]

Ok, spoke to Gary and we're changing the date to the 8th so we can go to the kill switch/rock light thing at Performance Off Road.

Meeting at the rest stop 1 mile outside of Superior at 9am.

[jeremy rice]

what is the terrain like? I have clearance but unlocked.

[Wind_Danzer]

I have clearance and I'm unlocked too. :D

Gary, can you chime in here??? I personally never have run this trail before.

[desertdawg]

The terrain is very rocky with steep hill climbs. I would not suggest anything less than a limited slip on this trail. You can do it with an open diff with a lot of spotting and/or strapping. It will be a long day for everybody if you have somebody with an open diff.

[T.C.'S TOY]

I Agree With Dawg, Even Where There Are No Rocks The Pea Gravel Is Quite Loose In Alot Of Spots To Where You Think You Are On Ball Bearings,jamie Kind Of Like The Hill On Mud Springs......Thom (T.C.'s Toy):)

[lancetkenyon]

WD, lots of real steep hills/switchbacks with real loose gravel.

[jeremy rice]

that sucks. I gotta get alocker

[RokNRich]

Just signed up as tentative, what's with the meeting spot ? The rest area before Superior ???????

I'll be getting gas and Dr Pepper at Circle K in Superior, why not meet at the campground/trailhead ?

[Gary]

There is a rest stop 1 mile into Superior on the right hand side. We can meet there. The gas station and store are less than a block down the road. Meet at 9am...Sunday 1/8...

Don't worry Jamie, after seeing you drive I know you can make it... As long as you keep at least 3 of your tires on the dirt....:D

[Wind_Danzer]

I wasn't too worried.....

[AZPetrak]

Is this the same trail as Power Line Rd?

I signed up as tenative, I want to get out, just not sure I have an entire day to play. What time (with out a major incedent) should we be done? Or how long should the trail take?

[k7mto]

Yes, Hackberry Creek is aka Powerline (but there are other "Powerline" trails in other areas of the valley).

It's normally an all day run, especially if there are lots of rigs (post shows 13 total but only 5 definite), but that doesn't mean you could't head back early if you can remember the way (pretty easy), or use a GPS to track your route.

[Gary]

Is this the same trail as Power Line Rd?

I signed up as tenative, I want to get out, just not sure I have an entire day to play. What time (with out a major incedent) should we be done? Or how long should the trail take?

Unlike alot of trails, there are not a lot of obstacles for people to gather around to watch. Normally that is what takes a big chunk of the time.

There is (1) obstacle at the half way point that we won't be tackling as it took a couple of hours for 5 of us to climb last time. :cool:

And if you need to turn back early, it is fairly easy to get back.

Let's go wheelin'!:)

[Gary]

So let me get this straight...I am at stock height, but I am locked front and rear...I should be OK then?

You will prevail!!!:D

You will also put those skid plates to the test!!:D

[Wind_Danzer]

Gary...

Did you want the westsieders of Phoenix to meet at one location to caravan up and then meet the eastsiders at another location so we have a big convoy heading up 60. :D

[Gary]

I'm afraid we'll get ourselves in a time crunch if we have too many meets...
go ahead and organize a caravan if you wish...obviously I won't leave without you.

I'm going to head straight for Superior. I'll be there at/or before 9am. The goal is to get on the road to the trail as early as possible (9:15)... That's not much of a window so if anyone has not passed the FJ interchange by 9am, they need to call. My Cell is 480-226-5456 or 480-215-0941... I'll have them both with me. If someone is late that couldn't call, they should drive thru Superior about 4-5 miles and turn right at the Oak Flats Campground turn off and hail us on CB channel 4. We will be airing down for a short time.

I'll check out the old site at 7am and print the definites...

It's an easy drive from the US60/101 interchange that will take about an hour at most so please plan accordingly.

And it will be COLD...

[RokNRich]

9 Definites
7 Tentative

Could be crowded.............

[Wind_Danzer]

Well we'll just have to see how many show. :)

This is what I'm going to be doing. I believe I'm well enough to hit the trail tomorrow (yay) so I'm going to be leaving from my place around 7am hoping to be at the Texaco on Rt 60 (after the freeway ends) by around 7:45/8:00am. It's on the North side of the highway and I believe a MickeyD's is attached to it. I'll leave there about 8:15am to make it to the meet spot by 9am.

If anyone wants to meet up to caravan in the rest of the way, stop there.

I'll be blast mailing the rest of the people now on the old site. :)

[Wind_Danzer]

Hey all,

I had a great time today!!! Gary thanks for leading and Lonny please post up to let us know you made it home ok. :eek:

Pics to come from me, but not till later or tomorrow.

[RokNRich]

Had a blast.

Lonnies rescue rig showed up at 10:15, they should be good, albeit tired.

Bar in Superior right out of deliverance. Good night.......

[tyota]

Great, I have been looking for a run this weekend, and I think this may be the one!

So let me get this straight...I am at stock height, but I am locked front and rear...I should be OK then?

john.....you coulda made it, not to piss anyone off, but I did most of that trail in 2wd:(

but I did get to meet some cool people, so that made it a good day:D

[Wind_Danzer]

not to piss anyone off, but I did most of that trail in 2wd:(

And backwards. :p

[tyota]

And backwards. :p


oh yes I also did some backwards in 2wd:rolleyes:

that atleast was somewhat fun:D

[Lonnie]

As Rich said son showed up about 10:15 with truck and trailer, we had the trailer loaded by 11:00 and started down the highway, made it home about 1:00. Not too bad, no traffic and even made most of the lights going thru town.
Great day, fun trail, wonderful people. Now for the next fix on the rear axle. Catch you all on the next trip. Thanks to all that stayed and helped, enjoyed dinner and great company.

Lonnie

[tyota]

glad to hear you made it back ok lonnie!
it was a pleasure meating you.....

[Wind_Danzer]

Well here are a few pics from yesterday. Again, I had fun but it was a bit tough on the kidneys.

Airing down:

http://tinypic.com/k00qzc.jpg

Working our way down the steepest part of the trail:

http://tinypic.com/k00sg1.jpg

Poor little CJ having a few issues, this was his first run ever with a group:

http://tinypic.com/k00sn5.jpg

Heading down the switchbacks to our lunch spot:

http://tinypic.com/k00sqv.jpg

Nick being Nick:

http://tinypic.com/k00sxl.jpg

Nick on flexing his junk:

http://tinypic.com/k00t47.jpg

Nick attempting the true lone obstical on Hackberry Creek:

http://tinypic.com/k00tcl.jpg

and getting himself stuck to the point he needed a winch (note the pretty backdrop) :

http://tinypic.com/k00tqh.jpg

Lonnie winching himself up the obstical:

http://tinypic.com/k00u0z.jpg

And my favorite pic of the day, a puppy we came across at the rest stop waiting for the group:

http://tinypic.com/k00u80.jpg

The camera was tricky today because of the constant light to dark ratio being in the valley for a lot of the trip, some of the pics I thought would be cool, came out a little poor due to shadowing. These I felt were some of the best ones I had.

[xFallen]

glad to hear you made it back ok lonnie!
it was a pleasure meating you.....

:eek: You "meated" him? I don''t even want to know what that means...does this have anything to do with Don's recent movie review? :rolleyes:

[Wind_Danzer]

:eek: You "meated" him? I don''t even want to know what that means...does this have anything to do with Don's recent movie review? :rolleyes:

ROTFLMAO... I think it was a slip because the big bad dog that was with us almost made Nick his meat. :D

For lunch that is... :eek:

[AZPetrak]

So what is the story on Lonnie's damage/carnage???

[tyota]

:eek: You "meated" him? I don''t even want to know what that means...does this have anything to do with Don's recent movie review? :rolleyes:

ha ha ha thats funny!
told ya I was stupid:rolleyes:

[Wind_Danzer]

So what is the story on Lonnie's damage/carnage???

Broken rear UC and trackbar bracket and a sliced rear brake line.

[Lonnie]

So what is the story on Lonnie's damage/carnage???
Pretty much what Jamie said track bar bracket / upper control arm bracket fatigued metal, lots of wheeling, one of the many things that seem to be a weak point to check once in awhile while your under the jeep. Have had all the front lower brackets welded at least once, and the back ones a couple of times,the weld held but the metal, is well crap. Not a big deal stuff happens especially if you enjoy the jeep as much as we do. So right now it looks like the plan is seeing Nick at Performance and going with some Rock Krawler four link for the upper replacement and loosing the track bar. Also replacing the front lower control brackets to some heavy duty ones, head off the next problem before it happens again.
Again thanks to all for the help in getting out, had a great trip with a wonderful group of folks as always, nice meeting you all.

Lonnie

[xFallen]

Pretty much what Jamie said track bar bracket / upper control arm bracket fatigued metal, lots of wheeling, one of the many things that seem to be a weak point to check once in awhile while your under the jeep. Have had all the front lower brackets welded at least once, and the back ones a couple of times,the weld held but the metal, is well crap. Not a big deal stuff happens especially if you enjoy the jeep as much as we do. So right now it looks like the plan is seeing Nick at Performance and going with some Rock Krawler four link for the upper replacement and loosing the track bar. Also replacing the front lower control brackets to some heavy duty ones, head off the next problem before it happens again.
Again thanks to all for the help in getting out, had a great trip with a wonderful group of folks as always, nice meeting you all.

Lonnie


You'll love the Rock Krawler LA stuff -- works awesome and stands up. Just be sure to get the weld-in rear cradle from Nick when you get it.


Barry

[tyota]

You'll love the Rock Krawler LA stuff -- works awesome and stands up. Just be sure to get the weld-in rear cradle from Nick when you get it.


Barry


yep I already advised of such, I also mentioned you and your upgrade to that as well, this guy lonnie is a pretty cool guy. his rig seems like it can do more than I've seen. I'd like to try to convince him to wheel with us sometime. I think he's personally capable, and his rig aint bad either other than the lack of RK stuff, but I'm sure he'll come around to his senses:D :D

[Gary]

Here is a link to some of the pics we took...

http://photobucket.com/albums/d137/grenne/Powerline%20Jan8/

Thanks for a great day everyone!!
Gary

[k7mto]

Nice pics. They really show just how steep that one rock is :)
Did you guys drive back up it on the way out or take the bypass to the left?

[Gary]

Nice pics. They really show just how steep that one rock is :)
Did you guys drive back up it on the way out or take the bypass to the left?

We climbed right back up! :cool:
I think Nick wanted to do it in reverse but it was getting dark! :D

[desertdawg]

Looks like you guys had a blast! Did you take the side trip to Devil's Canyon?

[RokNRich]

Cool pic's Gary, thanks for sharing and also for leading the run. We had a good time, will do it again for sure.

Don't believe all the stuff about it being too easy, of course it's easy when you're sitting in your rig and other people are scrambling around the hill hooking up winch lines and such, lol.