Montana Mountain Sunday 11-05-06

[desertdawg]

I plan on taking an easy scenic run with a couple of friends Sunday to Montana Mountain.

This is a very scenic run that takes you from the desert east of the Superstitions up to Pinon and Juniper elevations much like Four peaks. The trail winds back down and exits onto U.S 60 just west of the Arboretum near Superior.

We plan on exploring an old miner's cabin made of stone after descending down the east side of the mountain.

If time permits we will take an offshoot trail that takes you to the top of another mountain with a beautiful view of the valley on one side and the copper mine in Globe/Miami on the other (if you think that's pretty:rolleyes: ). This trail winds back down and exits onto U.S. 60 right across from Oak Flats campground east of Superior.

Stock Jeeps are welcomed to join us.

Meet at the Circle K in Gold Canyon at 0800 hrs.

Sign up here so I know who is coming.

Definite

Desertdawg
John
Bob
Special K
DesertRat
Rokcrlr
Zeliman
Yelacon

Tentative

MeganJacob

[desertdawg]

Here's a few pics from previous trips.

View going up the west side of Montana Mtn.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8054&stc=1&d=1162514260

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8055&stc=1&d=1162514260

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8056&stc=1&d=1162514260
Stone miner's cabin
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8057&stc=1&d=1162514260
Mine shaft near cabin
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8058&stc=1&d=1162514260
Going up FR342
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8059&stc=1&d=1162514260
Views from FR342
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8060&stc=1&d=1162514260

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8061&stc=1&d=1162514260

[meganjacob]

i am very interested, i don't know if i can get my girlfriend up early enough but can i bring my dog? my only problem is i don't know where this gas station is that you speak of, i'm at I-17 and thunderbird, directions perhaps?

[desertdawg]

Take U.S. 60 east past Mesa and Apache Junction like your heading to Florence junction. Keep going east past AJ until you get to Gold Canyon. The meeting place is at the Circle K/Shell on the North side of the road at the traffic light. I believe it's the second traffic light as you come into Gold Canyon.

Hope to see you there!:)

[meganjacob]

how far is this from say th i-10 and the 60?

[desertdawg]

Approximately 40 miles

[Special K]

I'll be there.

[ROKCRLR]

Put me down as tentative. Lemme see if I can get McGuyvr to come out and play too.....

[desertdawg]

i am very interested, i don't know if i can get my girlfriend up early enough but can i bring my dog? my only problem is i don't know where this gas station is that you speak of, i'm at I-17 and thunderbird, directions perhaps?

Yes you can bring your dog. I will be bringing my dog also.:)

[desertdawg]

By the way I also have this posted on the old site.

[GLEN REAMS]

this looks like a nice run i would love to go but will be to busy wrenching on the jeep but soon the jeep will be ready to go out again

[Allen]

I have to work :(

[DesertRat]

Sign me up :)

[ROKCRLR]

Well I couldn't talk Jamie(McGuyvr) into it. But I'll be there. Change me to a definite.

[DesertRat]

Well I couldn't talk Jamie(McGuyvr) into it. But I'll be there. Change me to a definite.

Cool, it will be good to see ya again :D

[YELACON]

i am in as a definite as well. sounds like fun.

[Wind_Danzer]

I wanna go but can't... I have a meeting at 1pm and I know we won't be back by then.

Have fun, I'll hit this up next time.

[desertdawg]

Had a great day today! It was a nice easy scenic run with a great group of people. It was nice to meet some new people. For a couple of them this was their first run with the AZVJC. We had a total of 11 Jeeps show up.

This is a great trail to bring the family up for a Sunday drive. Any two wheel drive pickup can make it. It's amazing how you can be in the desert one minute and turn the corner and your in Juniper and Pines.

Of course Mike (DesertRat) can find a way to break something on his jeep even on the easiest trails. He lost a bolt on one of his lower control arms and it came dangling down. Luckily he found the bolt, but not the nut. Bailing wire and duck tape saved the day again!

Here's some pics.
Views from Trail 172
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8123&stc=1&d=1162770180

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8124&stc=1&d=1162770180
Yes that is a natural bridge between the Saguaros.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8125&stc=1&d=1162770180
Turantula Crossing!
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8126&stc=1&d=1162770180
One of the buttes on 172.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8127&stc=1&d=1162770180
Climbing up out of the desert. Note the butte in the background is the same one in the previuos pic.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8128&stc=1&d=1162770180
I had to throw in a line of jeeps pic. I drove my son's XJ today. Hope you don't mind David!
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8129&stc=1&d=1162770180
Heading up the switchbacks after the trail repair.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8130&stc=1&d=1162770180
View of the east side of the Superstitions.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8131&stc=1&d=1162770180
Lunch at the top of the mountain.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8132&d=1162769823

[desertdawg]

View along the shelf road on the south side. That's Superior in the background.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8133&stc=1&d=1162771216
View heading down the east side. Picket Post Mtn. just west of Superior in the background.
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8134&stc=1&d=1162771216

The pics of the stone cabin didn't turn out so if anybody has some other pics to share post them up.:)

[YELACON]

i had a great time and it was good meeting all of you. hope to have some pics up soon.

[DesertRat]

It was good to meet some new people and I had a blast.

Desertdawg you had to bring it up didn't ya..
Ok next run for me should be rated 0 :rolleyes:

[ROKCRLR]

I had a great time. Thanks for leading Mike!

[Special K]

I had a great time also, thanks for leading Mike.

[Wind_Danzer]

Loved the pics but can't see the natural bridge... didn't know we had one in these parts.

Can someone be cool and point it out for me. :)

[corwyyn]

Loved the pics but can't see the natural bridge... didn't know we had one in these parts.

Can someone be cool and point it out for me. :)
Jamie, I think this is what he's talking about:
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k180/corwyyn/stuff/IMG_9143a.jpg

That arch in the background between the two saguaros.

[YELACON]

here are some of the shots that Katie and I got

http://thumb12.webshots.net/t/59/459/9/89/56/2735989560098715572nOqawy_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/album/555368323tIDJUw)

[xFallen]

Great pictures everyone.

How about someone submitting a trail report and writeup for our trails section? Seems like this would be a nice addition.


Barry

[Wind_Danzer]

Barry,

I got it now, thanks for the help!!!! Didn't catch that was an arch in the pic and I'm looking at a bunch of cactus going which two??? :confused:

:D :D :D

[desertdawg]

Great pictures everyone.

How about someone submitting a trail report and writeup for our trails section? Seems like this would be a nice addition.


Barry

I'll work on that Barry.:)

[mingoglia]

How long did this run take in total? I'm still scoping out my son's first trail run (he turned 3 in Aug).

Mike

[desertdawg]

It takes approximately 4 hours to complete. Great trail for the family.:)

[Dragonfly]

Did you guys start out by going through the river? If so, how was the water level?

[desertdawg]

I think you have the wrong thread.:)

[Lifes A Jeep]

Hey Mike

Thanks for the Arizona Trail Write up! Looks good! :)

Here is a link to the thread...
http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=17858

John

[corwyyn]

Barry,

I got it now, thanks for the help!!!! Didn't catch that was an arch in the pic and I'm looking at a bunch of cactus going which two??? :confused:

:D :D :D
Yer welcome, but I'm not Barry :p