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| Hiking | 5.20 Miles |
1,271 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.20 Miles | 6 Hrs | | 1.73 mph |
| 1,271 ft AEG | 3 Hrs Break | 3 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | While this was to be a day of four-wheeling one last time through the Martinez Mine loop, for me it turned out to be a 4x4/hike/run all rolled into one including a healthy dose of filming. I said one last time because BLM has already put the gate rails in place and will be installing the permanent gate very soon. 
It will prevent vehicle access only and those on foot will now have a short 1.5 mile hike to the Martinez Mill.
Ok, back to the triplog...
Although I could have continued all the way with the other Jeeps in the Cherokee, I decided this 'last trip' called for a series of videos best shot from along the road, if you could call it that. I left the Cherokee with one other Jeep that had no lockers while I walked alongside the other six who drove the full loop.
Going through the boulder-field was plenty of work for man and vehicle so about halfway up the east side we stopped for lunch. Well, the others did... since I had the last-minute change of plans I realized my lunch and all but a small Gatorade bottle in my fanny pack was at least a mile back at the Cherokee. 
I guess I'll be thirsty and starving later.
After lunch we had the long slog up the hill past Columbia and Silver Bell mines. Although there were plenty of scrapes going over and around the boulders, with all the skid plates and rock sliders on the vehicles there was no damage, only more evidence of passage. The only mechanical issue was an air compressor check valve that came unscrewed and fell off. I had mentioned to the driver a few minutes earlier that it sounded like he had a leak, to which he replied, I just had it checked out yesterday and they said it was all good. Then a few moments later there was a pop and hiss of air. 
When we opened the hood I looked down by the compressor and the check valve had dropped into the only spot that kept it from falling on the ground and being run over. The only Teflon tape around was two miles away in my Cherokee so I put it back on as is. Wrenches were available but none that would fit in such tight quarters so I tightened it as tight was I could by hand and we hoped for the best. Luckily it stayed tight the rest of the trip... but he'll have a word with the folk who pronounced it fit. I have a feeling although they did use some Teflon tape they likely tightened it by hand as well and with the under-hood heat it loosened up. Oh well, we made do.
Now to the downside of the trip... literally! Hmmmm, The Luge! For those unfamiliar with this feature, think Winter Olympics... hurtling down the mountain on ice with high walls on either side. Ok, so there was no ice, but even on foot there wasn't much more traction than on ice. 
The first (and most capable) Jeep got halfway through before it fell sideways into a hole, ending up against a wall. Within just moments it was time to break out the winch. With this one plus 5 more Jeeps waiting, the one with the most capable winch was planted at the top of The Luge to winch each one down to a smooth rock area free of loose gravel, where they would continue on their own to the bottom. After winching the first Jeep back up out of the hole, we set out with pick and shovel to fill the worst of the holes. We kept this up while the rest of the Jeeps were winched down so by time the 'wincher' had to drive down without assistance, it was doable.
When it was down to the last two to drop through The Luge, I realized I still had to get back to the Cherokee and help guide out the one guy still a his Jeep by the mill. It didn't take a moment to realize I would have to hustle to make it back to the cabins by time the others got there. So, once I got past the first 100 yards of real treacherous footing I took off at a jog until I reached more-or-less flat (but still rocky) ground. It wasn't but a few minutes later I heard the group starting down the hill so I kicked it in high and ran the last mile to the Cherokee. Before turning around in tight quarters and leading David (the one who had waited patiently for hours!) back out to the cabins, by now absolutely famished and thirsty I grabbed a quick sandwich, slogged down a 32 oz Gatorade and we set off. The timing worked out just right, we made it to the cabins just as the last Jeep turned the corner ahead of us.
Passing the newly installed gate rails on the way out, I realized this was the last trip in by vehicle... which I guess is best, since too many inexperienced (and many times inebriated) folks have disastrous results in the area, especially the many roll-overs in The Luge. |
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| 4x4 Trip | 16.20 Miles |
1,832 AEG |
| | 4x4 Trip | 16.20 Miles | 2 Hrs 22 Mns | | 6.85 mph |
| 1,832 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Our group of 8 Jeeps left Price Rd near Florence and headed into Box Canyon. Although this part is plenty easy for most 4x4's, whenever the leader spotted an extra challenge next to the road we would pass over it and those who cared to would follow. Being third in line and following the only other Cherokee I had a chance to see the route over each obstacle so had no problem following. The last major obstacle we came to was a big boulder that looked a bit tougher, yet the Cherokee ahead went right over. Unbeknownst to me, he had broken a rock loose and since I was angled up at the time, I didn't see it and I just continued. Unfortunately with that rock out of place I dropped the left side slightly off the rock and the running board got hung up on the boulder. Although it already had thousands of Arizona pinstripes, this was the first dent for the Cherokee. I was able to back off and continue, but I'm already thinking of adding rock-sliders to prevent another occurrence.
On the north end of Box Canyon we turned east onto Martinez Canyon Road, following it out to the Martinez cabin area. From there we continued through a few boulder fields and up to the mill. One of the other Jeeps had no lockers so decided not to continue, so since I was more interested in filming that driving, I parked there as well and hiked alongside the other 6 Jeeps as they made their way around the loop up the mountain and past the mines.
Once the last of the Jeeps were passing through The Luge I ran back down the mountain to the Cherokee where the other driver was waiting patiently. I got turned around and we headed back out, catching up with the others back at the cabins again. From there it was back out to Box Canyon, where I turned right and headed north all the way out to the US 60. |
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