Coves Cleanup 6/26 - IMPORTANT UPDATE

[jeepsonly]

Things are a changing a little with this weekends cleanup. Here's an update:

1) Difficulty level considerations - CHANGED!
2) Participation list note
3) Potential cancellation due to fires
4) Maps
5) water!

DIFFICULTY LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS - CHANGED!

There are 4 main coves. Cove 1 is reportedly pretty clean so the need is mostly on the other Coves. The problem is, the other Coves are noticeably

harder to get to. Therefore, there will be some mandatory 4 wheeling. However, I want to suggest that only modified Jeeps (Rubicons are the exception)

attend. This means larger than stock tires, preferably not street tread, lift and a tow rope at minimum. This is a change - prior to this I suggested

stock vehicles could make it.

PARTICIPATION LIST NOTE

The Forest Service has a new policy that requires we deliver a list of participants BEFORE showing up. As a result, I need to fax a list of who expects

to be there on Sunday. If you signup on Saturday, you can still go but I need our priliminary list tomorrow (Friday). Those who have signed up on the

site - I will put your name on the list.

POTENTIAL CANCELLATION DUE TO FIRES

As you no doubt know, there are fires all over the desert. The Barlett area fire is huge and is actually pretty close to where we are scheduled to be

on Sunday - about 12 miles. Fires can travel fast so there is a very real possibility we will not be participating in this cleanup. Please be sure to

check the website Saturday night to see if there is any news. If there is any reasonable danger, it will be postponed.

MAPS

Below are a few satellite photos of the area we'll be cleaning up. To see a much bigger version of these, click the link below them. Also below is a

link to a Google map of the area for those who need help finding it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Apache+Junction,+AZ&ll=33.547690,-111.590881&spn=0.200293,0.341263&hl=en

http://members.cox.net/whooven/bigsat_sm.jpg

bigger version: here (http://members.cox.net/whooven/bigsat.jpg)

http://members.cox.net/whooven/bigsatcoves_sm.jpg

bigger version: here (http://members.cox.net/whooven/bigsatcoves.jpg)

WATER!

Make sure to bring plenty of water, just in case you break down or something. Communication isn't the best out there so we'll need to be prepared before heading out.

[Stomper]

Bill,

Aside from wearing sensible clothing, a hat, and gloves should we bring anything else?? Rakes, shovels, trash bags, or any other yard work tools??

Take care,

S

[jeepsonly]

Sometimes a rake or shovel is nice but in my experience with cleanups most of the trash is stuff boaters throw out or things that fall overboard or blow out like paper plates, aluminum cans, bags. Sometimes things end up in trees.

Bags will be provided by the Forest Service.

Did you sign up on the site? Those who have signed up are on the "participation list" so if you didn't please send me your name so I can add you to the list. Look forward to seeing you Sunday!

http://www.azvjc.org/OldSite/default.asp?A=1&ID=1810

Bill

[roger]

This is excellent information, Bill. Regarding the potential cancelation, will you post related info to both the BBS and YahooGroups? (I think you should.)

-Roger

[jeepsonly]

You bet Roger. In fact I just got off the phone with the Forest Service and they don't have any concerns with the Barlett/Cave Creek fires and Saguaro Lake at this time. They don't anticipate any danger in the area where we'll be. So everything is still on.

[1eagle]

Bill, Is their a place for me to unload my jeep, since I will be towing? Roger

[jeepsonly]

Absolutely. You can pull your whole rig into the wash past the gate and leave it there. The gate will be locked behind us (I'll have the combination so we won't get stuck there). There will be no other traffic through the gate and there is plenty of room in the wash. Alternately the paved parking lot is pretty big right next to the gate. Can't miss it.

[1eagle]

Hopefully, I will get my pull fence done so we will be able to get final inspection on our pool.

Roger

[Stomper]

I have never been out to the Coves or too close to Cactus Lake. It looks like I can take the Beeline to the Bush Highway, then take that to Butcher Jones road. Is that correct?? Does anybody have any GPS co-ordinates for reference??

Take care,

S

[Hackle]

You are correct but I do not have GPS coordiantes with me right now.
It is pretty easy to find.
Jim F.

[jeepsonly]

Stomper - sent you the GPS coordinates.

Bill

[XterraGuy]

I had a great time guys. Thanks for showing me around a bit. Glad I could help out the forestry service too. Patiently waiting for pics and video. :)

[Stomper]

Agreed it was a very good time. Your Xterra performed very well. It was fun watching everyone go over the various obstacles, finding a couple of cool new campsites, and cleaning up. I will post pics soon.

Take care,

S

[Stomper]

I added some of the photos I took on the clean up.

http://community.webshots.com/user/srd2005

Take care,

S

[jeepsonly]

Thanks for posting the pics! I have some too and I'll post them soon. And the video(s). Been pretty busy since we got back.

BTW, welcome xterraguy. I was impressed with the performance of your 2005 Xterra.

Thanks again for coming out, ya'll. And thanks for not leaving early because it took AN HOUR AND A HALF to open the gate. :rolleyes:

[roger]

And thanks for not leaving early because it took AN HOUR AND A HALF to open the gate. :rolleyes:

Too bad about that - we could have cleaned up cove 4 in that hour and a half. :(

[Stomper]

That is true. As mentioned that morning though they were right on time for government workers. Lol.

Take care,

S

[XterraGuy]

:D Thanks for posting the pics! I have some too and I'll post them soon. And the video(s). Been pretty busy since we got back.

BTW, welcome xterraguy. I was impressed with the performance of your 2005 Xterra.

Thanks again for coming out, ya'll. And thanks for not leaving early because it took AN HOUR AND A HALF to open the gate. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the compliment. Like I said, I just pointed the nose in the direction I wanted to go and the truck took me there. :D

[XterraGuy]

Anymore pics or videos. Just curious. :cool:

[OlneyJeeps]

Super big thanks for everyone who participated in the cleanup (Coves is one of my favorite places to hang out for over 30 years now).

Super bummed I could not join you (up in AK for another couple of months helping my mother run lodge ( http://beartrackinn.com ) and trying to get a Jeep runing so I can do some wheeling in what little area there is to go up here (surrounded by national park).

Thanks again
SteveO

[OlneyJeeps]

Just curious, is big green gate being locked a temporary or permanant thing?

[jeepsonly]

Sorry no pics and videos yet. Im in Tennessee for a week starting today.

Yeah Steve we know you dissed us. AK...likely story :D .
Just kidding of course. Steve O. has been at most of the cleanups I've ever been to.

[Antman]

Just curious, is big green gate being locked a temporary or permanant thing?

I think that gate is just locked for the fire season.

[jeepsonly]

Though I didn't ask that specifically, the FS seemed to indicate it was just for the fire closure.

[jeepsonly]

Okay, finally here are my pics from the cleanup. I haven't finished editing the video yet. Sorry for the delay but it takes a long time and a lot of disk space.

Although I didn't get any pics of it (I was cleaning up trash!), we collected many bags of garbage as well as lots of larger items such as a fake palm tree and various party barge items. We cleaned up to Cove 4 but didn't have time to do Cove 4 before our permit expired. We were approached by MCSO since no one was supposed to be there but were fine because we had a permit. The FS was over an hour late opening the gate due to an internal miscommunication.

http://www.jeepsonly.com/gallery/AZVJC_Cleanup_070905

[Stomper]

Excellent pics!! I am in the witless....er witness relocation program so be careful not to show me in the video!!

Take care,

S

[XterraGuy]

Great pics. Thanks for posting them up. :D

[OlneyJeeps]

Great pics!
Thanks for helping out!
Did you tow the Toyota out (was in little valley (from where your pics were taken) about 50yrds (towards lake) to the right? It has been there since November (slowly losing parts). sorry I did not post location prior to clean up (been really busy up here.

SteveOinAK
http://BeartrackInn.com

[jeepsonly]

Hey Steve, I thought about it but it was hot and we were running late. Our little permit only have us till around noon and we didn't want to get locked in. :) So that thing is still there huh. When are you going to be in town next? We'll have to go over and pull that sucker out like we did that huge car we dragged out last year. I swear we need to print or paint some signs that say "Recovered by AZVJC" to get some positive press.

[OlneyJeeps]

Tennatively I will be back for the first week of August.
Really want to do at least one trip while I am back... are coves still closed (weather report shows rain)? Is Four Peaks road closed?

[jeepsonly]

I would bet money the Coves are still closed but not sure about Four Peaks. Someone said that last year it took several weeks of monsoon before they opened it. Quick to close/slow to open. :rolleyes:

[OlneyJeeps]

PM'd ya Bill :D