Upper Woodpecker on Saturday January 4th

[will e]

Tad and I blew off last weekend so we will try again this weekend.

Upper Woodpecker is another fun trail east of Florence. Lots of fun stuff with bypasses for everything that is hard. We will meet up early so the Tucson folks can get home before dark.

We probably won't bother stopping at the petroglyphs and I may/may not 'cook' on the trail since that can take a bit of time as well.

We will meet up at the flag pole and be ready to roll by 8:30am. (This means show up earlier to give yourself time to BS/air down)
We will exit via Price road. Either via Box canyon or Sand Man.

Come on AZ FJS Guys! We were going to try to do some runs this year!

Attending:
WILL E
TAD
RSTEP
Locked and Loaded

NGMI:
Tudrewer

Kevn

[TUDrewser]

With no petroglyphs and no cooking, how long does the run typically take? I'm 90% sure I can't do it, as I'd be leaving my wife with our kids plus some extras, but figured I'd ask.

[will e]

If all goes well probably 4 or so hours on the actual trail. Figure 6 hours total from start to end.

Can't you bring the family along?

[TUDrewser]

My wife nannies for a 1 yr old whose parents are Mesa firefighters...we get her for 24 hour shifts, 10 days a month. And we have her on Saturday...so while the other kids would be fine, her not so much. Not to mention I doubt 3 car seats will fit across...

[78 Arizona Chief]

Mike,
Saturday is actually the 4th.

I am going to be out in that area running the Coke Ovens with my father-in-laws Casa Grande 4 Wheelers club. Not sure if a guest can bring guests but if some folks showed up to run it coninsidentally, whos to know.

FYI, Upper Woodpecker has been bladed around 70%. Starting from the southern end, the only real obstacle is the very first turn near windshield rock, after that smooth sailing through to about 70%, then it is back to normal. We ran it over the Thanksgiving weekend while we were camping. Anything with a mild lift and good spotting can get through.

Y'all be safe and call my cell if the wheels fall off the bus, I will be out there watching....
Kevin

[will e]

Kevin. So has it been graded since you and I ran it earlier this year?

[AwesomeJ10]

with all the 'wheeling trips you are posting up, you must really be liking that 4speed Atlas huh? Yep, I knew it!

[78 Arizona Chief]

Mike,
yup. It was re-bladed shortly before Thanksgiving. Not sure how that is 'green' since they took a D9 Cat through and just made a new road. The number of Saguaro cacti that were just knocked over is crazy. When you get to pull the 1800's mining card, a lot gets done. I don't get that pissed since it was mining that created most of our really good trails out there anyway. Once they are done, mother nature will straighten the trail back out in a couple of rainy seasons.
Kevin

[will e]

ok, good to know.

TAD, are you still in for Saturday? Do you want to try something else?

[Tad]

...TAD, are you still in for Saturday? Do you want to try something else?

Yup, just got done going over the rig.
I'm game for just about anything as long as I can have a decent breakfast in Florence (meaning no more McDonalds) and be home before dark.

Kevin's wording sounds like what I was reading around the time we first started talking about this trip.
Although I did find that video from Dec 8th that showed there is still some stuff.

[rstep]

I'm in Breakfast in Florence . What time Tad?

[Tad]

6:00 my house.
7:20ish Florence.
Old Pueblo restaurant opens at 7am.
Cottonwood Rd staging area at 8:30.

[Locked and Loaded]

Not the trail for my J10. But if you don't mind a CJ tagging along I'll join you. I'll try and stay out of the pictures. Can't say the same thing for Jeeper.

[will e]

Cool, we have at least 4 jeeps. Let's give the trail a try. If we get through quickly we can go find some other place to play.

I'll meet you guys for breakfast.

[TUDrewser]

I'm so jealous. Have a great time!

Sent from Tapatalk

[will e]

Good news! The wife is coming with me but that means I won't be making breakfast.

[Gumby]

I'm calling "shot gun" on this trip.

[Locked and Loaded]

I will meet you guys at the flagpole. Just so I'm straight on this. We are not stopping on the trail for lunch? Either way is alright with me. Just want to know what I should bring.

[will e]

We will stop for lunch, I just won't break out the grill to help keep the time down.

[Locked and Loaded]

Thanks Mike. I'll bring something light.