[joe bartels]

Hey Nighthiker (or anyone else that knows)

I'm not sure but I'm thinking you once said you got over the steps in a 2WD full size pickup?
If so have you done that lately?

that second step is looking like a monster without 4x4


also, when are they closing the road and changing the wilderness boundary?

[Nighthiker]

Its a monster in a jeep, but my problem has been at the parking lot next to AZ 88. Sometimes people will park and block access, I have been blocked in twice. The area at Tortilla Ranch can/may be used for grazing in the future so probable the access road will stay out of the wilderness for the time being. I have not been up there lately. I am miffed that the forest service has blocked access down to Canyon Lake on forest road 80. SRP had a gate much farther in. If you hike in from Tortilla Ranch, take note of the trees.

[arizonaheat]

I remember you telling me that when we did our Woods Canyon hike and thought holy cow. I agree with Nighthiker that second is huge in a jeep.

I want to get in there this winter and do the Peter Trail to Charlebois like last time, but return via Hoolie Bacon, for a great loop.

[Randy]

Joe- since I'm one of the old, fat and slow crowd, I really appreciate that extra four miles to drive in. I've spoken with the Mesa District Ranger several times over the years, and I don't know if they have decided on a course of action.

If someone wanted to go in there some day with a rotary hammer drill, some rebar and about twenty sacks of sackcrete, I'm game.....

[joe bartels]

oh good, sounds like it's still wishy-washy
I'll definitely take advantage of exploring the area while it's still easy to access.

I did get in there over the weekend. Two six foot 2x12's went pretty smooth. The dried grasses on Peters Trail filled my boots & socks with more pricklies than I ever recall. Ended up tossing the socks.

[J&SHike]

I'm sorry but this road sucks the big one. I've driven several backroads in Arizona class 5 and below. I have a 2003 Tundra 4x4 and I only made it half way up the second "step". You could say I was a little bitter at the fact that we got up early and drove from Prescott Valley only to be stopped by this obstacle.
I could have made it, but wasn't prepared for this kind of offroading, and consequent damage to my truck thats not paid for yet. I'm thinking of going this Sunday with about eight eighty pound bags of quikcrete concrete and have at it. Thinking about stacking some, splitting,pour water on and leave to harden and drive over.

[HikerInGilbert]

Here is a pic of that second area on the road. Jeep owners have said they can make it due to their short wheelbase. I was reluctant to try it with my '99 Tahoe.

There has been debate over whether to fix this area, or not. It may have an adverse impact on the ranch area in the long run.

As a disclaimer, don't kid yourself, it's a lot nastier looking in person. Many contact scars on that rock.

http://www.hikearizona.com/dex2/album_page.php?pic_id=776

[J&SHike]

So what are we supposed to do? I'm game for fixing it, and i'm not talking about making it into a super highway but at least so people with a high clearance vehicle can make it. How does this sound? Anyone game for this kind of "trail/trailhead" repair?
How is the rest of the road to Tortilla TH?

[whereveriroam]

The rest of the road after the 1st 1/8th of a mile is in really decent shape in which a High clearance vehicle will do. I'm with hikeringilbert in that the ranch area WILL get trashed since it's close proximately to the lakes. I don't know if you've been to the lakes during the summer and have seen firsthand all the punks and wanna be's that the area attracts. I have the feeling that this area will be discovered and wrecked with lots of trash and bullet holes in no time at all. Hiking the road is rather scenic and adds maybe 4-5 miles R/T to the hike. I personally think that side of the JF trail is one of the best hikes in the Superstitions. I can only recommend for you to day hike the road and re-think your opinion on repairing the road after. I had your same view until I went their.

[RedRoxx44]

Looks pretty easy for my wrangler ;but I have a six inch suspension lift, 33" tires, 4 to 1 low range tranny and lockers front and rear.
4wheeling basics- tires go on tallest rock to clear your diffs and oil pan, know your vehicle low points, air tires down to get a better grip.
Do not spin tires which will spit out rocks or cause you to slip off. Use a spotter if you have one to direct your tire placement. You may scrape, but most vehicle have some skid plating, if you are going slow should be ok. Try not to bend back the cover on the diff.
Road building- stack rocks to lift up tires, be careful with "concreteing" if road washes at all you could have a concrete ramp to nowhere.

[Sredfield]

I recommend clear permission from the FS folks, you don't want the good deed to be punished. Breaking rocks could be "damage," concrete could be "littering." I wonder if the guys who blasted the falls a few years ago thought they were improving things.

[hikeaz]

My stock '95 Bronco (4x4 with limited slip differential) made it up the steps with no problem... as well, a buddy with a '97 Dodge extended cab 4x4 w 8' bed who was behind me, did, as well.
I just recently got a 4x4 2000 Tahoe w/3" lift (again with limited-slip) & it does this section just fine.
I believe that the main ingredient to success is a "limited-slip" differential, as when another buddy tried it in his '96 Bronco (4x4 WITHOUT limited slip) he could not make it.

[J&SHike]

It's a shame we have to factor in punks ruining a place that the rest of us treasure and take care of. As I said I wasn't prepared for that kind of offroading so the next time I go I will be. I'm still thinking of putting a few rocks in key places to make it a little better though.

[whereveriroam]

It's a shame that there are people out there that would mess a nice place up, I believe most people wouldn't. I guess the USFS thinks along that line so they haven't done anything with the road. After driving up to the Reevis TH this weekend it appears that that road requires much more $ to maintain and is in great shape but then again there really isn't much to wreck up there. I wonder what the USFS long range plan for the wilderness is? They sure do get a lot of fee money.