Hackberry Creek/Powerline Monday 11/12/07

[desertdawg]

My son and I are planning on running Hackberry Creek/Powerline on Monday if neither one of us break anything on Payette Draw Saturday,:D

We plan on hitting the most challenging parts if there's any left. Plus I plan on taking the side trip to Devil's Canyon.

My plan is to enter the usual way through Oak Flats campground and proceed down the rock fin and up the long boulder hill and down the switchbacks to the green valley. From there I plan on taking the side trip to devil's canyon, then proceed up the hackberry creek side. Then I plan on taking the bypass down to the obstacle on the Powerline side and then up the obstacle and on through the Boulder garden. I then plan on exiting out onto Highway 177.

Plan on meeting at the rest area (there's only one) in Superior, AZ at 0800 hrs. We will leave shortly afterwards for the trailhead.

I'm not rushing so plan on an all day trip.

Please do your homework on this trail to make sure you or your rig can handle it. It's not a difficult trail unless you or your rig are not prepared.

[TomHatch]

Too bad I have to work... I've always wanted to run Hackberry.

[jim0352]

If you think my Jeep could make it, I'd like to join your run on Monday:D


Jim

[xjstocker]

hey mongo i think you and those wonderful knobs will do great.:D
btw how did you become mongo theres a story there i know it. and dont forget for the hard stuff: rock, rock:D

[desertdawg]

If you think my Jeep could make it, I'd like to join your run on Monday:D


Jim

Have you completed those Montana Mtn. runs yet?:D

[jim0352]

Have you completed those Montana Mtn. runs yet?:D

As far as you are aware, yes I have:p

[jim0352]

hey mongo i think you and those wonderful knobs will do great.:D
btw how did you become mongo theres a story there i know it. and dont forget for the hard stuff: rock, rock:D


I've been on the Hackberry trail a bunch of times, I was just giving DesertDawg some grief:D And you're right, my knobs will take me anywhere:eek:

As far as Mongo goes, let's just say mistakes were made, lives were lost and now I'm Mongo. I'm not a hundred percent on board with it, but why fight it.



Jim

[desertdawg]

Jim and I, and my two sons went out to Hackberry Creek today and a lot has changed since the last time I was out there a few months ago. Our usual radio chatter was very minimal this trip because I think both of us were pretty depressed over what we saw.

With the addition of the alternate switchback that was graded a few months back, half the trail up the Hackberry Creek side has been graded all the way to the ledge. Also before the ledge a large area has been cleared for another drill rig. Very sad to see!

Also part of the road heading to Devil's Canyon has been graded and another graded road has been carved that Y's off to the north of the Devil's Canyon Rd. This apparently is the main thoroughfare for equipment and vehicles in and out of the canyon.

Also as somebody mentioned in another thread, the large boulder that was the main obstacle to get around or over on Mcgyver Hill appears to have been pulled down.

The trail is still fun and scenic at this time, but who knows what it will be like in six more months.

Here's some pics.

Old chevy Hill and the rock fin are still untouched and still a thrill for the newbe coming down such a steep hill.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3647.jpg

The optional waterfall is still there and offers a bit of a challenge
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3654.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3659.jpg
The long steep boulder hill is still there.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3677.jpg
Once over the hill you can see the trail through Hackberry Creek has been graded. At this point we weren't sure if it was graded the whole way or not.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3689.jpg
The switchbacks heading down to the green valley have not been touched.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3696.jpg
The poser rocks are still in the valley.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3705.jpg
As you can see heavy equipment heading down the graded switchback.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3708.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3690.jpg

This is the road heading to Devil's Canyon. The road going up to the left is the main thoroughfare for all the mining equipment and vehicles.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3711.jpg

More to come....

[desertdawg]

The view of Devil's Canyon is still as beautiful as ever.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3715.jpg
After our side trip to Devil's Canyon it was off to see the damage on the Hackberry Creek side. At least they didn't grade this small section of the creek that provided a little entertainment for us.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3729.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3736.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3742.jpg
This is what the road looks like going south through Hackberry Canyon. Very sad.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3745.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3750.jpg
This is where a new drill rig platform is in the works.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3753.jpg
Here's the large area that was cleared out for the rig.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3755.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3757.jpg
This was the rocky area right before the ledge. All blasted away and graded.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3763.jpg

More to come....

[desertdawg]

I was happy to see the rocks I stacked on this boulder two years ago were still in tact. I stacked them there when I took my son with me on his last wheeling trip before he left home for the military. You can tell I'm not too happy.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3760.jpg

Here is what's left of the ledge. The trail has not been touched past this point.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3765.jpg
After lunch we headed to the Obstacle (McGuyver Hill). It appeared like somebody had dug around the boulder and dragged it off the hill, then stacked rocks around the boulder.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3772.jpg
Anyway the obstacle is no longer an obstacle and we all walked right up with no problem at all.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3779.jpg

We then headed up the boulder garden hill and worked our way out to 177.

Over all it is still a good trail but sad to see it changing so fast.

[GRUNT]

Cool, nice pics. It is unfortunate we are loosing our trails to growth and tightening of the private owners...:( Looks like Nena's tie rod job is still holding well on the XJ! :D

[RokNRich]

That sucks Mike !!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the pic's, it's been a while since I've been out there, it used to be one of my favorite trails as well.

This whole situation torques me..............Shady land deals, foreign mining companies, land set aside for recreation given to the highest bidder..........:disappointed:

:bigcry::puke::bigcry:

Maybe a huge rain will come and wash away all their "work". :banghead:

[jim0352]

I didn't take too many pictures today as I was to bummed out. It's hard to believe what is going on out there :banghead: Like Mike said, it is still a very scenic trail it is just that next time I'll take my wifes Mazda 3 and see the same things we saw in the Jeep.

On a positive note, the weather was great. This was the second trail with the new Trepadors and I'm liking them more and more. I aired them down to 8psi and they worked well. Going through the boulder garden after the "obstacle" I didn't spin any tires like I used to with the MTR's. They seemed to grip the rocks really well. Only more trails and time will tell.



Jim

[Lifes A Jeep]

This just breaks my heart to see!!! How sad!!!

Thankfully the trail is still open and the ledge is somewhat in tact. That sucks about that rock getting moved to the bottom!

Mike - I want to copy one of your post over to the Az Trails Section. This is good info and I want people to be aware of it before they run this trail. I will copy one post over and then consolidate the pictures focusing on the grading and the main obstacle. Let me know if you have any issues with that.

Thanks for posting!

[westy]

I found the same things true a few weeks back when I ran the trail with some friends. The mining is going to happen...at this point there is no denying that but I was very sad and frustrated to see the large rock pulled down, and worse yet it was probably a fellow wheeler.

[desertdawg]

This just breaks my heart to see!!! How sad!!!

Thankfully the trail is still open and the ledge is somewhat in tact. That sucks about that rock getting moved to the bottom!

Mike - I want to copy one of your post over to the Az Trails Section. This is good info and I want people to be aware of it before they run this trail. I will copy one post over and then consolidate the pictures focusing on the grading and the main obstacle. Let me know if you have any issues with that.

Thanks for posting!

No problem John, you are more than welcomed!

[desertdawg]

I found the same things true a few weeks back when I ran the trail with some friends. The mining is going to happen...at this point there is no denying that but I was very sad and frustrated to see the large rock pulled down, and worse yet it was probably a fellow wheeler.

I kind of think it may be the rancher who ranches his cattle out there. I have met him before and he drives a Jeep out there. I have come across that obstacle at times where a large amount of rock and dirt have been moved to fill in areas, and I just can't imagine a group of wheelers going out there to do all that work.

[westy]

I kind of think it may be the rancher who ranches his cattle out there. I have met him before and he drives a Jeep out there. I have come across that obstacle at times where a large amount of rock and dirt have been moved to fill in areas, and I just can't imagine a group of wheelers going out there to do all that work.

Thats a better possibility. I have noticed Hackberry has more 4x4 traffic these days and certain sections are getting more difficult and dug out, especially the long long rocky hill is getting much worse, along with the steep down hill decent just before the 'Mcgyver ledge'. Can't blame the rancher if that is the case...

[highjeeps]

...
Also part of the road heading to Devil's Canyon has been graded and another graded road has been carved that Y's off to the north of the Devil's Canyon Rd. This apparently is the main thoroughfare for equipment and vehicles in and out of the canyon.
...
This is the road heading to Devil's Canyon. The road going up to the left is the main thoroughfare for all the mining equipment and vehicles.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_3711.jpg


I drove up that road going to the left last month and it ended at a flat spot at the top of the hill (after one or two switchbacks) where I had to turn around. There was nothing there at that time, but it was apparent that it was being prepared as another drilling site. In other words, it can't be a main thoroughfare for mining equipment/vehicles unless they did some serious road building since I was there. In fact, I don't know where it could go as there is a canyon on the other side.

[SHNIPE]

that just sucks... and people wonder why we make a big deal about the littlest closures.

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

WOW...how can this happen??? I thought this was BLM land????? Bummer....Glad I ran this trail last summer.....Pray for a WET WINTER.....

Jason

[desertdawg]

I drove up that road going to the left last month and it ended at a flat spot at the top of the hill (after one or two switchbacks) where I had to turn around. There was nothing there at that time, but it was apparent that it was being prepared as another drilling site. In other words, it can't be a main thoroughfare for mining equipment/vehicles unless they did some serious road building since I was there. In fact, I don't know where it could go as there is a canyon on the other side.

You are probably right. I just assumed it was a main thoroughfare since we saw at least two trucks coming and going from there.

[ROKCRLR]

It's really sad what they're doing to that area. I wish they'd use one of those drills on whatever idiot took down that rock on McGuyvr hill. I wonder how much more they're planning to grade....