Did Anyone Run Martinez Canyon Last Weekend (Feb 23/24)??

[Sean K.]

How is the Luge Bypass? Doable or definite body damage?

Sorry, asked this last week, but we lost the thread in the server backup apparently.

I'm taking a group of 4 or 5 FJ Cruisers out there Sunday and need to know if they can actually make it down the bypass.

I'm hoping someone ran it last weekend and can say for sure.

If you're heading out there Sunday and you happen to run into us.....please just let me know. We'll do our best to get out of your way and let you through. I expect this trip to take ALL DAY. :(

TIA,
Sean

[Bilt4Comfort]

We spoke with a member Saturday night who said that he had just run Martinez and the bypass was doable. His user name was "YOURWHATHURTS". He was in a nice lifted black LJ.

[Sean K.]

Well, thanks for the info. After I posted the pics from last weekend's trip to Willow Springs, they are now thinking they want to do that instead.

Still going to be a LONG day, but at least we'll be close to town and closer to pavement.

Any of you guys with locked up Jeeps wanna show these guys how it's done? ;)

Sean

[Silver Bullet]

Ran Martinez on Saturday. Looks the same as it did back in November.

[Sean K.]

Thanks. Good to know anyway.

'Preciate the help. :)

Sean

[Desertdawg]

Well, thanks for the info. After I posted the pics from last weekend's trip to Willow Springs, they are now thinking they want to do that instead.

Still going to be a LONG day, but at least we'll be close to town and closer to pavement.

Any of you guys with locked up Jeeps wanna show these guys how it's done? ;)

Sean

If you guys run Willow I might join you. It will be fun to see the FJ's run it. Are you planning on running the whole trail?

[ROKCRLR]

I'd be up for that as well if you guys are running on Sunday. I gotta work Saturday. I've got a bone to pick with that trail....

[xjstocker]

oh that one :D

[Sean K.]

Whole trail is relative.

I don't know how far you've been in, but at a certain point the boulders get pretty big and you need to be really set up to go that far. You can sometimes drive all the way to the lake water....depending on the lake level.

I highly doubt these FJs will get anywhere near that far into the trail.

I'm planning to run mini-Moab first, then run the trail. I figure if they can't make it very far on the trail, at least they will get to have some measureable fun on the mini-moab area.

They are locked in the rear with A-trac up front with appropriate sliders, but they are very heavy, have poor visibility and lack much in the way of flex, so it will be a tedious day of spotting and tugging them along I'd imagine. Just a word of warning.

It would be good for many of them to see how the Jeeps work though. There is a thought process that they are every bit the equal of the locked f/r Jeep and my experience is that they are not. I'm not looking to have anyone be rude or try and one up them. This much I must be adamant about. They are nice folks and are new to the sport. We need them as allies to keep the trails open and I'd appreciate a warm welcome if you can come.....please check any attitudes at the pavement.

Thanks,
Sean

[Sean K.]

Yes. The plan is for Sunday. Meeting time is still up in the air. 8-9 am. Meeting place will be the gas station just north of US 60 and Idaho on the east side of Idaho. I believe it's a Chevron, but I'm not certain.

Sean

[azcharlie]

I might be able to make this as well, and I promise to behave.:)

[ROKCRLR]

oh that one :D

That's one of many:fashizzle:

[xjstocker]

hey charlie come on out and have some fun

[Desertdawg]

Whole trail is relative.

I don't know how far you've been in, but at a certain point the boulders get pretty big and you need to be really set up to go that far. You can sometimes drive all the way to the lake water....depending on the lake level.

I highly doubt these FJs will get anywhere near that far into the trail.

I'm planning to run mini-Moab first, then run the trail. I figure if they can't make it very far on the trail, at least they will get to have some measureable fun on the mini-moab area.

They are locked in the rear with A-trac up front with appropriate sliders, but they are very heavy, have poor visibility and lack much in the way of flex, so it will be a tedious day of spotting and tugging them along I'd imagine. Just a word of warning.

It would be good for many of them to see how the Jeeps work though. There is a thought process that they are every bit the equal of the locked f/r Jeep and my experience is that they are not. I'm not looking to have anyone be rude or try and one up them. This much I must be adamant about. They are nice folks and are new to the sport. We need them as allies to keep the trails open and I'd appreciate a warm welcome if you can come.....please check any attitudes at the pavement.

Thanks,
Sean

I'm not a buggy like you but I think my Jeep is set up enough for the whole trail. 33's locked front and rear. I have a Dana 35 but I'm easy on the throttle. No worries about attitude from me. I show them some southern hospitality!:)

[Sean K.]

Fine by me. Though I'll warn you now that since I'm leading the run (and as much as I'd like to just leave with you when they get stopped), I have to take them back out....so if you want to continue on down the trail to the end, you're more than welcome to do so, but I'd politely recommend you make sure at least one other vehicle goes with you....just to be safe.



Oh, and just so everyone knows: YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE A PERMIT TO ACCESS THIS TRAIL. NO EXCEPTIONS.

You can get one at the NFS office near McKellips and Highley in Mesa but they close at 4pm?? and are NOT open on weekends, so you'll have to go during the week.

Sean

[Sean K.]

hey charlie come on out and have some fun

You coming Steve? :)

Sean

PS...did you ever put that flatbed I gave you on your truck?

[Desertdawg]

Is that the same place you get the Bulldog Canyon permits?

[scully]

Is that the same place you get the Bulldog Canyon permits?


Same permit, same place.:D

I can't make it Sunday, but I'm up for a Saturday run if anyone is interested.

[Sean K.]

Yes. All you need is the Bulldog Canyon Permit. It's the same one. Don't confuse the NFS people when you go in....just ask for the Bulldog permit and you'll be fine. It covers both areas.

Sean

[xjstocker]

you'll have to see. im runnin with rokcrlr this weekend and he's interested in doing this so it looks good

[Desertdawg]

Thank's for the info guys! I can't wait, this will be my first hardcore trail!:drummer:

[Mike H.]

What would one rate Willow as on the VJC system?
Would it be more difficult than Powerline or Upper Woody?

[Desertdawg]

What would one rate Willow as on the VJC system?
Would it be more difficult than Powerline or Upper Woody?

I think it's listed in the hard section of the Arizona Trails section. It's got some pictures too.

[xjstocker]

http://virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=13760
here you go. rated a 4.0.

[Sean K.]

Posting up meeting time and location here as well in the other thread for the Sunday March 2 run of Willow Springs.

8am at the gas station just north of US60 and Idaho. The station is on the east side of Idaho.

Sean

[GRUNT]

Is this the same as the Bulldog pass or do you need a Tonto pass...?

[kemolewis]

Man I wish I didnt have other obligations that sunday. I have never ran willow before.

[Sean K.]

Is this the same as the Bulldog pass or do you need a Tonto pass...?

Same Bulldog....no need for a Tonto pass.

Sean

[Sean K.]

What would one rate Willow as on the VJC system?
Would it be more difficult than Powerline or Upper Woody?

I just realized I never really answered this question. My apologies. Yes, this trail is harder than UW or Powerline. I'd say it's much harder than Powerline.

HTH,
Sean

[Sean K.]

Man I wish I didnt have other obligations that sunday. I have never ran willow before.

Can't wiggle free, huh? ;)

Sean

[azcharlie]

hey charlie come on out and have some fun

I'm in for sure got a hall pass for the whole day.:angel:

[Sean K.]

It'll be nice to meet cha and have an experienced wheeler along. Hope you don't mind the slow pace. :)

Sean

[Sean K.]

Can I get a list of people that think they might be coming Sunday? This group is getting pretty large and I need a headcount.

Sean

[AZLugz]

Based on these FJ's you are taking in and the way it sounds like they are set up, how are they gonna make it if it is that much harder than upper wooody??

Mine is an LJ with 5" lift, 33's and a rear locker....can I make it??? Never been there but have made UW several times and the center lie of LW a couple tooo

[Sean K.]

I obviously need to link this and the picture thread together as there seems to be a lot of misconceptions and I'm honestly having trouble keeping track of where the conversations are headed in each case.


As for comparison, UW is easier than WS. Can you make it? I'd guess so, but with an open front diff, climbing back out of the canyon could prove troublesome as there are at least a few places with no bypasses where you have to climb a few 24-30" tall boulders with both front tires at the same time.

Will we run the whole trail with the FJs? Most assuredly, NO. When you get very far down in the canyon, there are several boulderfields that require big tires and big axles to keep from breaking and getting stuck. The FJs don't meet this criteria.


As soon as I get a chance, I'll cross link the posts so you can get a more complete picture of what I'm discussing.

Sean

[Sean K.]

The other thread:

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=31490

Hope this helps clear up any confusion.

Sean

[Desertdawg]

Sean just a suggestion here. Why don't you start a new thread for this run under the difficult trail runs so people aren't so confused. That way you don't have people going to two different threads to sign up for the run. And you don't have people thinking Willow is a moderate trail run when it's not.

[ROKCRLR]

Sean just a suggestion here. Why don't you start a new thread for this run under the difficult trail runs so people aren't so confused. That way you don't have people going to two different threads to sign up for the run. And you don't have people thinking Willow is a moderate trail run when it's not.

That's a good idea. I've been bouncing between the existing threads trying to make sure where I should post that I'd like to run this. I wanna watch you grenade that turdy-5.:aagh:

[ROKCRLR]

Based on these FJ's you are taking in and the way it sounds like they are set up, how are they gonna make it if it is that much harder than upper wooody??

Mine is an LJ with 5" lift, 33's and a rear locker....can I make it??? Never been there but have made UW several times and the center lie of LW a couple tooo

I ran it last summer and made it in with no trouble. Coming back out was a whole different story. I had to winched and strapped on the way back out. I have an LJ Rubi on 33's. I'm curious to see how I do now that I have a Belly Up on it. The stock shovel just killed me that day.

[Desertdawg]

This is the reason why many of us don't post runs anymore. It's not worth the headache answering a billion questions about the trail and if their rig is capable or not.

People, you can research the trail by using this site and others. That's what the search feature and Google is for. Then decide for yourself for heaven's sake!

[Sean K.]

As far as we are probably going to get....it is moderate. Still think I should post it in the Difficult forum? In my first post I asked if locked up Jeeps would like to come so they wouldn't be a hinderance since the FJs will already be a large one.

As for signing up....I'm actually trying to keep it smaller. There are already up to 7 FJs coming.

Think I should post it with the fact that I'm trying to keep it smaller?

Regardless, I appreciate the suggestion.

Let me know what you think, and I'll follow your wishes.

Sean

[Desertdawg]

As far as we are probably going to get....it is moderate. Still think I should post it in the Difficult forum? In my first post I asked if locked up Jeeps would like to come so they wouldn't be a hinderance since the FJs will already be a large one.

As for signing up....I'm actually trying to keep it smaller. There are already up to 7 FJs coming.

Think I should post it with the fact that I'm trying to keep it smaller?

Regardless, I appreciate the suggestion.

Let me know what you think, and I'll follow your wishes.

Sean

I think that would work Sean. Either under moderate or difficult but there should definitely be a seperate thread to prevent confusion.

[ROKCRLR]

As far as we are probably going to get....it is moderate. Still think I should post it in the Difficult forum? In my first post I asked if locked up Jeeps would like to come so they wouldn't be a hinderance since the FJs will already be a large one.

As for signing up....I'm actually trying to keep it smaller. There are already up to 7 FJs coming.

Think I should post it with the fact that I'm trying to keep it smaller?

Regardless, I appreciate the suggestion.

Let me know what you think, and I'll follow your wishes.

Sean

You could post a limit on the number of other rigs you want on the run. I know that it ruffles some people's feathers, but it is your run. And the primary reason is to take those FJ's thru, not lead a bunch of Jeeps. Just a suggestion.

[Sean K.]

I gotta run right now. Back in a bit to answer the questions and start a new thread.

Sean

[Sean K.]

Closing this thread. Moving to this one:

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?p=302567#post302567