Thanksgiving Weekend Run

[houndstooth]

I am from California and I have a few people that want to spend Thanksgiving in Florence Junction/Table Mesa area. Does anyone have a run that weekend that we could tag along on?

[RokNRich]

How's your rig set up ?

[k7mto]

Probably nothing planned yet, but post a run for that weekend with stats on yours and your friends rigs and ask for someone to lead a run. With this much advance notice you're sure to get a few folks interested in helping out.

You might also provid info on your itinerary, eg, when you plan to arrive, where you'll be staying/camping, which days you have to wheel, etc. You'll also want to ensure you have the necessary permits.

http://www.land.state.az.us/programs/natural/recreation_permit.htm

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

Sounds like a great trip! I can lead, only the 4.0 and lower though...Is this a Sat or Sun run??? Or weekday?

Jason

[houndteeth]

My rig is a TJ Rubicon, 6" lift, 35" tires with bead locks, winch, roll cage, full armor underneath. The other rigs are similarly built with the exception of a LJ with 40" tires, an Atlas and other goodies.

We like to do moderate to difficult runs. We don't mind light body damage but would prefer not to roll.

We were thinking about coming out Wednesday evening, ready to wheel on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday is Thanksgiving so it may cost too many honey-do points to come out on that day but we will be coming a long way and want to make the most of our time off.

Right now, I only have three rigs confirmed but will have more by the time Thanksgiving rolls around.

FYI - I had to re-sign up on the website because for some reason, I couldn't log in with my original user name. So that is why the user name has changed.

[amber.hodge]

We'll be in the new house long before that. I volunteer up our backyard in queen creek off of ellsworth/rittenhouse/ocotillo for an "after run BBQ"

[houndstooth]

We'll be in the new house long before that. I volunteer up our backyard in queen creek off of ellsworth/rittenhouse/ocotillo for an "after run BBQ"

Sounds like fun, what day are you thinking of?

[houndstooth]

I guess the best thing for us would be to camp at Florence Junction and do runs from there. Unless someone can recommend lodging that is fairly close to the trail heads.

[RokNRich]

There are some cheap motels in Florence. Florence is a prison town so it's not 5 star resort type stuff, but for $40 or something a night you can shower and have a nice bed. Of course, cooking turkey out in the desert is fun as well.

For the last couple of years a group that also post on ROF had a Thanksgiving get together, here's a couple of threads:

2005 - http://www.rubiconownersforum.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=24845&highlight=thanksgiving

2004 - http://www.rubiconownersforum.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=11237&highlight=thanksgiving

knetaz was doing most of the organizing and then moved so I don't know the status now.

Anyways, you guys will have a blast, you'll probably want to do some of the 3.0 and up trails in Florence. Table Mesa is on the other side of town (2+ hours away at least) so if you want to run trails at both places, you should figure that into the equation.


If I'm around I should be able to make it out for the Florence runs. There are usually several different groups out there most any of the weekend days that time of year.

PS- post up some Jeep porn !

[houndstooth]

Yeah, I was talking to one of the guys that did the ROF run a couple of years ago and he is the one who got me interested in coming out there but he is not available to show us around on Thanksgiving this year. Thanks for the links, I'll check them out.

[houndstooth]

I see you want jeep porn. Check out my website http://RubiconScat.com and scroll down to "Calico Clean Up" Click on the link for Vicki on Gatekeeper.

[amber.hodge]

any day but thanksgiving itself - I don't have a relationship with my parents, but ben's family is very close knit and we could never get away with flaking on turkey day....oh, i cannot stand eating turkey....I'd rather have a burger on a grill with a beer after a trail!
Anyway, there are a couple nice hotels in gold canyon area too.

[houndstooth]

Sounds like a great trip! I can lead, only the 4.0 and lower though...Is this a Sat or Sun run??? Or weekday?

Jason

What trails do you like to go on?

[houndstooth]

So...the hotels are in Florence and Gold Canyon, I'll check them out. Is Florence Junction a place where a group could comfortably camp, with trailers and possibly an RV?

[amber.hodge]

but you want to be careful of florence junction in some areas. there is the army national guard's weapons ranges to include howitzers - if you see red flags up, avoid the area. if you get to the airdown spot for Hackberry off the us 60 in superstition, arizona; there is a camping site there. The camp has a 70 year old guy as a camp host.

[amber.hodge]

Oh, I was hoping Wind Danzer could be able to go.......you up for it, girlie?

and jason, you gonna speed through as leader or you gonna wait for everyone?

[RokNRich]

I see you want jeep porn. Check out my website http://RubiconScat.com and scroll down to "Calico Clean Up" Click on the link for Vicki on Gatekeeper.


Nice porn !

you are more than ready for:

Elvis and Martinez Canyon (must do for scenic reasons) - 1 Day
Upper Woodpecker + Upper Ajax, throw in H2H if you're feeling froggy - 1 Day
There are several other trails in the area to choose from as well, the ones above are what I would recommend for people from out of town with well built rigs, just my .02.

Any of the lesser trails would be fun as well.
:cool:

[Mike 77 CJ5]

So...the hotels are in Florence and Gold Canyon, I'll check them out. Is Florence Junction a place where a group could comfortably camp, with trailers and possibly an RV?

There is a bunch of spots on Cottonwood for RV's. We take our motorhome there when the weather is nice.
We might be game to camp with you.

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

[QUOTE=amber.hodge;181883]Oh, I was hoping Wind Danzer could be able to go.......you up for it, girlie?

and jason, you gonna speed through as leader or you gonna wait for everyone?[QUOTE]


HUH?:confused: Have you been on one of my trips??:confused: Where I was the leader??:confused: Give it a try sometime:D

Jason:eek:

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

OPPS double post pad!

[squinko]

I will try to get a weekend day off for Thanksgiving. I will have Fridays off by then, so I am in for that day for sure. Sounds like a decent size group.

[amber.hodge]

[QUOTE=amber.hodge;181883]Oh, I was hoping Wind Danzer could be able to go.......you up for it, girlie?

and jason, you gonna speed through as leader or you gonna wait for everyone?[QUOTE]


HUH?:confused: Have you been on one of my trips??:confused: Where I was the leader??:confused: Give it a try sometime:D

Jason:eek:

I posted that because I'd never ridden with you on a trail - was wondering if you like to plow through or if your style is slow and easy does it - LOL don't worry, I have to know you to give you crap like how you took that! :D

[amber.hodge]

houndstooth:

Since Ben works at the weapons range in florence full time, we will post up what days there will be live fire around the november timeframe so that you have a heads up...Oh, and if anyone ever is going out towards FJ and wants to know, PM us and we'll let you know if there will be live fire going on :D

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

Amber, If I am a trip leader I tend to go at a steady pace on the trail, Once off the trail I tend to speed up the pace..So to speak;) Some Jeepers do not like the fast off the trail pace:rolleyes: I assure you that I have never left anyone behind....

Jason

[amber.hodge]

We'll be sure to speak up :D When I drive on the trail I tend to be slower, so mainly, it will decide who between Ben and I drives. :D

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

I'd let my wife drive, the only problem is last time she almost rolled my Jeep over backwards near Martinez Canyon/cabin area...ASK AZG23! He was the spotter!

Jason

[k7mto]

houndstooth:

Since Ben works at the weapons range in florence full time, we will post up what days there will be live fire around the november timeframe so that you have a heads up...Oh, and if anyone ever is going out towards FJ and wants to know, PM us and we'll let you know if there will be live fire going on :D

We've been out there plenty of times during live fire exercises, but not camping, just driving into and out of the hills. As long as you stay on the roads you are fine as the troops stay south of Cottonwood Canyon Rd and North of Price Rd and shoot in between. If they are doing exercises, you could still probably camp on the north side of Cottonwood Canyon road - but it wouldn't be very peaceful :) Chances are they won't be there during Thanksgiving anyway but Amber's calendar will be helpful.

btw, Florence Junction itself is nothing more than a intersection of highways 60 and 79. There used to be a store and gas station there but it's long since closed. Florence is about 10 miles south of there on 79 with the "Florence Junction rec area" to the west of 79 in between FJ and Florence. Cottonwood Canyon Rd (meeting spot/primitive camping) is about halfway between on the west side of the Rd.

[amber.hodge]

Another important tidbit of info:

most of the FA units have went away...most of them going to light infantry....and most of those currently deployed in Afghanistan. There really shouldn't be anymore howitzer fires, but there are brittish troops, other forces and of course, guard out there firing other weaponry. The biggest things being fired out there are the 762s and the 50 cals.