Offroad Passport Community Forum

Rental Hunting Cabin

HEMI Kyle — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:45:36 GMT

My wife and I are planning on buying about 40 acres or so in northern AZ this year. We are hoping to purchase a plot that borders or is at least close to a large area of State Trust Land or BLM Land. We are currently looking in Heber, Ash Fork, St Johns and a few other areas. We will use this land for hunting and camping and maybe in the future build an off the grid style home. I would at first build a small, self sufficient cabin with solar power and well water. We were talking about this and thought it would be a shame to leave it vacant for so much of the year. So, we talked about renting the cabin out as a hunting/camping cabin for others. I figured asking you all would be a good start to our research. I am sure out of state hunters/campers would make up a majority of the "customer base" as well though. Here are my questions for you:

Would you pay to rent a cabin in any of those areas?
How much would you expect to pay?
What amenities would be a must?
What amenities would be very desirable?

Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks all!

Volunteer opportunity way out west

ehall — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:42:01 GMT

Hi everyone. The Gila Bend-Buckeye Sportsman Club, in cooperation with AZGFD, is doing a waterhole rehab project on June 29th and 30th. The location is off of the Agua Caliente road between Arlington and Hyder. We will only be working a few hours each morning. ( maybe some air conditioned exploring afterward) If anyone is interested in helping either one or both days PM me and I can fill you in on the details.
Thanks, Ed

June OHV Newsletter - AZ State Parks

dzJeepChic — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:13:41 GMT

Statewide OHV Program Update
May rocked for the Arizona State Parks OHV Program. Some of the great things we accomplished:

Visited Buckskin Mountain State Park to discuss improving one of the OHV trails that passes through our park property and connects to a route leading to the Desert Bar
Attended the Copperstate 4 Wheelers monthly meeting to share what our program is all about
Met with Arizona State Land Department and members of Off Camber MC to discuss race permits
Met with OHV Ambassador leadership to develop our annual conference
Visited with Arizona Trail Riders at their club meeting
Attended Overland Expo to share information with the public, passing out over 400 Coconino MVUMs.
Our Recreational Trails Grants Coordinator held a workshop for OHV grant applicants
Traveled to Springerville to attend the Apache County ATV Rough Riders monthly meeting and inspect trails in the area
Held Trail Talks 5 & 6 at Redington Pass with the Coronado NF to discuss the region and its recreational needs. Followed them up by inspecting 2 different trails with members of the public. Check out day 1.
Interviewed applicants for our vacant Planner II position - good news, we hired someone that will help our OHV efforts!

Riding with the Apache County ATV Rough Riders, identifying opportunities for future OHV Trails

Make sure you wear a helmet when enjoying your OHV!

It's the law if you are under 18, and safe for all ages.

Near Buckskin Mountain State Park, on the way to the Desert Bar.

We need you to join the OHV Ambassadors to help keep Kiosks like this in good shape.

Great training opportunities at Overland Expo

Marge Dwyer of the OHV Ambassadors at Overland Expo showing the public how to read a MVUM

Some of the action at Trail Talk #6. Click this to read about it.

Robert Walter from the Coronado N.F. presenting at the Redington Pass Trail Talk

We really appreciate our partners like Robert Walter for presenting at our Trail Talks and speaking about the Coronado National Forest's challenges and responsibilities with managing recreation. Robert came out on a Saturday, during the Memorial Day weekend, to connect with responsible OHV enthusiasts. Building relationships with our land managing partners is critical to getting on the ground work done.

Alex stepping up in a big way, hauling trash off of Redington Pass

I would like to thank Jim and his sidekick Mr. Spock from AZFJ.org for setting up the Chimney Rock Trail Talk on Saturday. The group had a special surprise for me about midway through the ride. Like many of our responsible OHV groups, these fine folks did a trash cleanup at Chimney Rock. By the end of the day, Alex's Tacoma had a full load to removed from the Redington Pass area. It is important to note, while the trash removed did not appear to be OHV related, the OHV community hauled it out for the benefit of all people who enjoy the area. Thanks to everyone who attended the Trail Talks at Redington Pass and provided me with important insights about your recreational needs.

Do you want to be part of the action at Arizona State Parks? Attend my Trail Talks to learn about the program. Better yet, contact me about doing one in your area. Consider joining our OHV Ambassador Program, our next training is on August 3 in Prescott. It's going to be a blast! While I can't disclose all the details yet, the venues will be exciting for OHV users, we are offering free camping for trainees, and we are following it all up with an optional trail run! Email me for an application.

The Arizona State Parks OHV Program is dedicated to creating and helping manage responsible OHV recreational opportunities on all public land throughout Arizona. Since starting in October, I've been working hard for our OHV community and land managing partners. Invite me to your club or organization's next meeting and put us to work for you!

happy trails,
Jeff Prince
OHV Program Coordinator
Arizona State Parks
jprince@azstateparks.gov

Trail Talk
The purpose of the Arizona State Park Trail Talk program is to get our motorized public connected to the various agencies and people who have a stake in OHV recreation while promoting riding opportunities funded by the Arizona State Parks Statewide OHV Fund.

Trail Talk #7 - June 22, 2013 at 8:00am
See map and directions, meeting location is in the forest

This month, we are visiting the Kelly Canyon Motorized Project in conjunction with Coconino Trail Riders trail building event. Come out and learn about the Arizona State Parks OHV program and how we are funding the Coconino National Forest's efforts and clubs like CTR.

There will be maps of the project area, agency staff to answer questions, and an opportunity for you to help build trails. If you would like to work the trail, please bring the following:
sturdy closed-toe shoes, long pants, gloves, head protection, sunscreen, water, and head protection(hard hat or bike helmet if you have one) are required. Tools and hardhats will be provided if you can't bring your own.

Event is located off of Lake Mary Road and FR 867 (Faye Canyon)
Turn off is located approximately 3.2 miles from I-17

Watch the event sign on Lake Mary Road and then follow them to the event, as the exact meeting location may vary slightly from the map shown below.

Map to Event

Upcoming Events
June 21 OHVAG meeting in Flagstaff

June 22 CTR Trail Day (refer to Trail Talk above)

August 3 OHV Ambassador Training in Prescott

October 13-17 NOHVCC/INOHVAA Annual Conference Orlando, FL

Would you like to promote your OHV event open to the public?
Email jprince@azstateparks.gov to make it happen!
Club Spotlight

San Manuel Copper Classic

The Trail Riders of Southern Arizona (TRS) hosted the San Manuel Copper Classic Hare Scramble on March 9, 2013. You may not have heard of our dirt bike motorcycle club, but we have been around since 2004 and represent off-road trail-riding enthusiasts in Southern Arizona. Our club belongs to the Arizona Motorcycle Riders Association (AMRA) which is a non-profit, volunteer-run association made up of eight statewide off-road motorcycle clubs. Like AMRA, TRS�s intent is to promote a positive off-road motorcycling experience.

Each year the AMRA organizes Arizona's premier off-road motorcycle championship series (which includes the San Manuel Copper Classic), intent on providing high quality, fun and safe off-road racing for the whole family. In addition to racing, AMRA and TRS promote non-competitive events and fundraisers that contribute to the health of our sport.

So just what is a Hare Scramble race you may ask? Per the American Motorcyclist Association�s rulebook, a Hare Scramble is a race conducted on a closed course, using trails and paths over natural terrain. The course can be between 2 1/2 and 40 miles in length. In the Copper Classic�s case, the distance was just over 27 miles. Course markings are used to aid the riders determine the proper route when the terrain does not clearly dictate direction.

The latest Copper Classic marks the seventh race held in San Manuel since 2006. This year�s race is certainly one for the record books! For years we have talked about what it would be like to hold the Copper Classic the day after a rain. Well that is exactly what happened. On the Friday before the race, the weather made things rather difficult getting the course marked and setting up registration, scoring and tech inspection. The winds just would not let up. They seemed to blow constantly at about 20 mph. Intermittently we would be working in a rain cloudburst followed by periods of clear sky and warm temps. By the end of the day, I lost track on how many times our work crew went back on the course to replace ribbon and markers.

As the day went on we realized it would be best to wait until the morning to redo the course marking in the hours before the big bike race start. As the sun started going down the weather actually got worse. Now the rain was more constant and the temps started to drop. Conversations could be overheard discussing the potential for snow!

We shut down registration and tech at 8:00 PM, and gathered under the ez-ups to eat our pizza and hold a planning meeting for Saturday; then we dismantled the registration set-up and then off to bed.

It rained on and off most of the night and 5:00AM came quickly. We reset registration and tech just in time to greet racers by 6:00AM. Many of the racers arriving early to the camp area spoke of snowplows and white out conditions on the roads leading into San Manuel!

This year we started the three mini races ahead of the big bikes and this format worked great for us. By 7:00AM there were fifty-four (54) mini racers signed up for three separate races. The kids had a blast on their courses and as usual looked faster and had better riding form than the rest of us.

While the mini race was underway, a team of TRS members was back on the big bike course making the necessary repairs caused by the weather to markers and ribbon. The Course Workers huddled to confirm assignments and communication system, and then they headed out to make ready for the racers. The riders meeting went off at 11:30 and we were ready to get the big bikes on the course.

By noon we had over one hundred and fifty (150) big bike racers on the course. Due to the heavy rains the evening before, the course conditions were excellent. There was absolutely no dust and traction was outstanding. Couple this with overcast skies and temperatures in the low 50�s, these conditions made for a racer�s dream come true!

At end of the race I had the opportunity to hand out finisher pins and race towels. Although some of the riders looked exhausted, they all said the racecourse was outstanding and had a great time. A few of the racers need to recalculate their bike�s gas range as we had five or six of them run out of gas on laps two and three!

But the San Manuel Copper Classic is not just about racing. TRS host this event as a fundraiser for the local school board. After each race, TRS donates $1,000 to the school board to support extracurricular activities. An additional financial benefit of this race is the amount of business the racers and spectators bring to the shops in San Manuel.

In closing I must make mention of all the TRS volunteers who make this race the success is it is and has been. It takes many, many hours of hard work to successfully pull this event off. This amount of effort is a great demonstration of their love for this sport.

Best Regards,
George Wysopal
President
Trail Riders of Southern Arizona

BRC: National Land Use & Legislation Update

dzJeepChic — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:09:42 GMT

Greetings BRC Action Alert Subscribers!

Today's Land Use Update was a blast to write. There are a lot of really great things happening to protect your recreational access.

Among the items is news that the House passed the provision offered by Congressman Paul Cook that would save the Johnson Valley OHV Area (A.K.A the Hammers). The provision now moves to the Senate. (Cook served as an Marine infantry officer, and during his time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts)

Also in this update are two items of legal sweetness. Sweetness in the form of a federal court slap-down of foundation funded anti-recreation lawyers! Love it!! We also have an update on our lawsuit challenging the U.S. Forest Service's new planning regulations. DO NOT miss those items.

We also have news that the notorious anti-recreation activists at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) have decided to participate in a collaborative effort to formulate a federal land bill for eastern Utah. We speculate below that SUWA might well play the role of the spoiler, participating only long enough to find a reason to bolt from the process and then appeal to President Obama to unilaterally impose SUWA's long sought plans for a Greater Canyonlands National Monument. With OHV trails near Moab and the San Rafael Swell in the cross-hairs, you won't want to miss this important update!

And finally, we've included a bit of Shameless Self Promotion via CNN's Anderson Cooper.

As always, please feel free to call or email if you have any questions or comments.
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102

Ric Foster
Public Lands Dept. Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
BRC and California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs represent recreation in key lawsuit challenging new USFS planning rules

NOTE: We wouldn't be able to do this sort of thing without your support. Please check the �Shameless Self Promotion� item below. (Learn more about BRC's Legal Action Program here.)

Last August, BRC and the California Association of 4Wheel Drive Clubs (Cal 4 Wheel) joined forces with the other forest product and multiple use groups in filing a lawsuit to require the Forest Service to modify its new planning rule to avoid its devastating impacts on the health of National Forests, recreational uses of the forests and communities located nearby.

Earlier this month our opening brief was filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. The brief outlines the specifics in our case against the Forest Service for elevating such things as species viability, ecological sustainability, and ecosystem services over the five statutorily prescribed multiple uses: outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, and wildlife and fish purposes. You can read a copy of the brief here.

In the meantime, the USFS has proceeded on its merry way developing directives to guide each individual forest in implementing this lousy Planning Rule. The agency calls it a Planning Handbook and, as you might expect, it makes the situation even worse. You could say they have regulated forestry out of the U.S. Forest Service. And as we note in our analysis, it is perhaps the most anti-recreation management guidance we have ever reviewed. It is that bad.

In a recent blurb we posted, we wonder if the USFS hasn't lost its purpose. You can read that here. (Let's hope not.)
House Passes Provision to Save Johnson Valley (A.K.A. the Hammers)

A plan promoted by U.S. Representative Paul Cook (CA) to save Johnson Valley from the expansion of the 29 Palms Marine Corps base passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The provision was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The plan, originally introduced earlier this year as a stand-alone bill co-sponsored by Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (CA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, will now move to the Senate. If passed by the Senate, it will move to the President�s desk for his signature. The NDAA is legislation that authorizes the budget authority for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.

Cook�s proposal would officially establish the Johnson Valley OHV area for the purposes of recreation and designate it as the Johnson Valley National OHV Recreation Area. The withdrawn area would be designated specifically for recreational uses, however, the U.S. Marines Corps would be able to train within the OHV area twice per year. (And be prohibited from using any explosives that could be left behind!!)

Representative Cook stated; �This balanced approach, which has bipartisan support, puts public safety first while also allowing for recreational use. The Johnson Valley is essential to the off-highway recreational vehicle community. The end goal is to ensure that the NDAA still has this Johnson Valley language in it when it reaches the President�s desk later this year.�

Cook noted that a lot can happen as the NDAA moves through the Senate, so it�s essential for supporters of his proposal let Senators know how important it is to protect Johnson Valley for recreational use.

Cook is a member of the House Armed Services and Veterans� Affairs Committees. He served as an infantry officer and retired after 26 years as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

Keep updated on this important issue by bookmarking the Save the Hammers.org website.
Bill to save the last remaining vehicle access to Outer Bank Beaches faces opposition from anti-access groups

Several anti-recreation groups are designating some of their foundation lobbying dollars in a all-out advertising campaign effort to oppose legislation that would restore vehicle access to North Carolina's Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

The legislation at issue is called the Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act (H.R. 819 and S. 486). The bill was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate after the National Park Service (NPS) eliminated most of the last remaining vehicle access to Outer Bank Beaches. The bill is being pushed by the Outer Banks Preservation Association (OBPA).

Check OBPA's Action Alert on the issue here.

With a key �mark-up� hearing scheduled Tuesday, June 18, 2013, the Defenders of Wildlife, the Audubon Society of North Carolina and the Southern Environmental Law Center will be running expensive radio and newspaper advertising in North Carolina. The new ad campaign will supplement print ads that ran last week in the Indy Week newspaper, which circulates in the Durham-Raleigh-Chapel Hill region.

Naturally, the radical anti-access perspective is, well, a bit skewed. The bill would simply restore existing restrictions implemented in 2007. But the uber-radical Defenders of Wildlife said it would �turn this great national park back into a parking lot."

Never missing the opportunity to demonize citizens who choose or are required to use vehicles for recreation, the radio ads claim "a small group of off-road vehicle owners" are putting "their special interests above the public good." Sheesh...

The advertising is apparently designed to convince key Senators to oppose the bill. No such advertising campaign is needed for Colorado's Senator Mark Udall, who chairs the National Parks Subcommittee. Udall supports the NPS closure. However, West Virginia's Joe Manchin has previously expressed strong support for the measure.

BRC's Greg Mumm is working with the OPBA on this issue and said it is distressing to see the wealthy foundations treat both visitors and local recreational users in such a shabby way. Mumm noted; �When the Cape Hatteras National Seashore was created, it was intended to protect and preserve recreational access to the beaches.� Mumm recently visited the area, met with the OBPA, folks and saw first hand what is really at stake. �The real issues and the needs of the local communities don't seem to matter to the Park Service. They seem to care more about the wishes of the extreme environmental groups than Congressional intent.� Mumm added.

The OBPA is doing yeoman�s on this issue. Please support their efforts.
Utah Congressmen begin talks on Wilderness

All three of Utah's U.S. House representatives, led by Rep. Rob Bishop (UT), Chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, are initiating a process to develop federal legislation aimed at addressing many of the contentious issues plaguing public lands management in six eastern Utah counties (Carbon, Emery, Grand, Uintah and Wayne).

It seems logical to assume that the effort was motivated by a letter sent to President Obama requesting yet another massive National Monument be designated near Moab, Utah. That request, signed by over 100 outdoor business members of the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), has been criticized by the entire Utah Congressional delegation, Utah's Governor Herbert and the affected counties. Indeed, Grand County (Moab) sent a letter to President Obama asking the he NOT designate a monument!

The big news here is that the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) has agreed to participate. This is big news because in such previous efforts, SUWA has been unwilling to even consider any proposal other than their gargantuan 10 million acre Wilderness proposal.

It is reasonable to assume that SUWA will play the role of the spoiler, participating only long enough to find a reason to bolt from the process and then appealing to President Obama to unilaterally impose SUWA's long sought plans for a Greater Canyonlands National Park.

While that may be a reasonable assumption, we should note that high level staffers from the Pew Foundation are participating, and when you have the people who fund a huge percentage of the anti-access efforts at the table, who knows what can happen.

State and local OHV groups are also participating in the effort, as well as BRC's Brian Hawthorne. Hawthorne wrote in a initial response to Congressman Bishop; �The latest [OIA} request for the President to designate a Greater Canyonlands monument has, perhaps unwittingly, brought attention to the fact that it is wildly out of line with what the people who live there want. Your work to bring together the knowledge of all of the state and national groups involved, as well as the local counties, is a welcome breath of fresh air.�

Stay tuned via BRC's Action Alert list to keep tabs on this important issue. Subscribe here.
The Wilderness Society and the Center for Biological Diversity slapped down by (GASP!) 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Recently a federal appeals court gave The Wilderness Society (TWS) and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) a sweet, sweet slap-down on their attempt to close the few remaining roads on two northern Arizona National Monuments.

On May 28, 2013, a three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a rare �Memorandum� in an appeal of a case originally filed in the U.S. District Court in Arizona. The case challenged the new Monument Management Plans developed by the Bureau of Land Management for the Grand Canyon-Parashant and Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments. Those plans closed hundreds of miles of roads previously open to the public (and eliminated all motorized trail use for good measure).

Of course, that wasn't enough for the TWS and CDB, so they marched into federal court seeking even more closures. Thankfully, the U.S. District Court, and now the Court of Appeals, denied their claims.

BRC's attorney, Paul Turcke, noted that the situation is noteworthy on several key points, especially since the court issued a �memorandum disposition,� which basically means the panel was so unimpressed by the appellants� claims that it did not even merit a published decision. The memo is short and to the point, dispatching some key arguments such as definition of �road� in a monument proclamation.

Read and enjoy!
Will EPA's new 15% ethanol mandate ruin your engine?

We wanted to pass along the latest Action Alert from our partners over at the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). AMA is fighting the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to approve �E-15� gasoline for use in 2007 and newer vehicles.

The new E15 gasoline formulation may appear at a nearby fueling station and OHV, snowmobile and powerboat enthusiasts need to be careful to avoid using this new fuel blend in their machines.

AMA and other groups are supporting legislation that would require EPA to reconsider their decision. Check out AMA's action alert here and please take action today!
Key Senators warn President Obama not to designate National Monuments for political gain

Citizens across public lands states are holding their breath as the 2014 midterm elections approach. Their access to scenic public lands could be jeopardized by a desire to influence voters in urban areas via the designation of new National Monuments.

Reacting to a statement by the Sierra Club that the president's designation of a National Monument near Browns Canyon in Colorado would help the re-election of Sen. Mark Udall (CO), key Senators sent a letter to President Obama opposing any unilateral designation of new National Monuments for political gain.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ranking member David Vitter of Louisiana was joined by eight other key Senators including John Barrasso and Mike Enzi (WY), Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch (UT), Mike Crapo (ID), James Inhofe (OK) and Dean Heller (NV).

Using public lands for political gain is, sadly, all too common, and recently released White House documents show the Obama administration is considering how monument designation could potentially influence the 2014 midterms. (It has actually been a long term plan.)
http://www.sharetrails.org/public-la...ape-initiative

BRC members know that the Washington D.C. Wilderness lobbyists have recently pushed hard for new National Monuments near Moab, Utah, in the Boulder-White Clouds in Idaho and in New Mexico's Organ Mountains.

Read the letter here.
Help mandate public involvement in any future National Monument designation. Click here.
Learn about plans to designate a massive new National Monument near Moab, Utah. Click here.
Shameless Self Promotion via CNN's Anderson Cooper

Fundraising is a necessary evil. Like it or not, there aren't any wealthy trusts and foundations funding efforts to protect OHV and snowmobile access. Groups like BRC depend on memberships and donations from our members to fund our work.

Over the weekend I saw a report on CNN on the worst charities. CNN's Anderson Cooper and Drew Griffin note that CNN and its partners have been reporting on this for more than a year, and yet the IRS doesn�t seem terribly interested in investigating their tax-exempt status.

Above the law: America's worst charities

BRC is a tax-exempt charitable organization. That means that any donation over and above membership dues are tax deductible. According to charity watchdog groups, no more than 35% of donations should go to fundraising costs. BRC spends just 7% of our budget on fundraising and 14% on administration.

Everyone at BRC is committed to making sure we have the funds needed to protect your recreational access. But we can only accomplish as much as funding allows. Please donate today!

Another record set today...

SSRx7 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:07:55 GMT

At 1pm today this site had the most people on at one time: 220 people. Cool!!

Modified pics

SSRx7 — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:26:34 GMT

So I have been playing around with some apps I have on my phone, and modified some of my pictures. It is really interesting how they come out..

Here is one where we met up for the trail run to the steps on Ft Huachuca:

This one is from a trail ride I did back in Feburary, also on Ft Huachuca, when it had snowed...

And a third one of my jeep, topless in front of my fire station:

Here is one from a snow ride on Mt Lemmon in my wife's ZJ:

Hope you like.

Other: "Super" Supermoon Night Run -- 06/22/2013

LO PHAT — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:22:42 GMT

...

This year's "super" supermoon occurs on Sunday, June 23, 2013. Since most of us have to go to work Monday morning, however, a Sunday night run wouldn't be all that ideal. Fortunately the moon is expected to appear almost as large, full, and bright on Saturday, June 22, 2013.

CLICK HERE for more information on the "super" supermoon.

...

What:

This will be another one of LO PHAT's crazy night runs.* That means you must come with a great attitude, be willing to try various challenges and obstacles, and plan for the possibility of the unexpected.

* OK ... Don't expect too much craziness. This will actually be more of a social gathering with some mild wheeling and lots of picture taking opportunities. Vehicle requirements are minimal. If your vehicle has four wheel drive and decent ground clearance you should be fine.

Where:

The Rolls Off-Highway Vehicle Area

When:

Saturday, June 22, 2013

We will meet as a group at the Kwik Trip gas station on the south east corner of Ellsworth and University at 7:20 pm. From there we will caravan to the Butcher Jones recreation site at Saguaro Lake and pass through the "brown monster" to access the Rolls area.

Why:

The "super" supermoon only happens once a year. This will be a great opportunity to take pictures of the moon over the lake, wheel along some of the trails and washes, play on a few of the hills, and socialize with friends.

Who:

The "confirmed" list:

Jeepindad -- green TJ
LO PHAT -- green XJ -- LEADER
scottL -- blue XJ
sunroom2004 -- black TJ

The "maybe" list:

bcinaz (from VJC) -- white TJ
David (from VJC) -- black TJ
dzJeepChic and Number7 -- ???
theksmith -- black WJ

** If you sign up for this run, make sure you read and understand post #2 and post #3. **

...

What type of trails do you like to run?

Number7 — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:49:23 GMT

I'd like to know what kind of trails people here like to run.

Does a difficult trail with challenging obstacles appeal to you, or do you want to stay on easy trails? Or maybe something in between?

George :cool:

Pun for the day...

ob1jeeper — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:55:56 GMT

King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan.

Croesus said, "I'll give you 100,000 dinars for it."

"But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested. "Don't you know who I am? I am the king!"

Croesus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."

:p:p:p:D;)

Trail Report: Kinder Crossing Hike (Northeast Arizona)

matt@expaz — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:11:44 GMT

Trail Report: Kinder Crossing (Northeast AZ)

A new adventure has been added to Experience Arizona!

Kinder Crossing

Type: Hike

Region: Northeast Arizona

Difficulty: 2.5 out of 5

Time: 2 - 3 hours

An awesome hike into a rocky canyon and the cool water of East Clear Creek.

Click here for the full trail report, including maps, area history, GPS coordinates, photos and videos...

__________________

June 2013 Photography Contest - Vote Here!

Offroad Passport — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:44:14 GMT

Welcome to the Offroad Passport monthly photo contest. Entries from Premium Club and Advanced Members are submitted the 1st through the 15th every month, and now it's up to ALL Offroad Passport members to determine the winner. Place your vote now through the end of the month.

Every month the winning photo is entered in the Annual Shoot-Out for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Offroad Passport Tee-Shirt! Click here for rules and how to enter: Photo Contest Rules.

Here are the entries for June 2013. Vote for the one you like the most.

1. Double arch:

2. Centuries old:

3. Remnants of a storm

4. On the edge:

5. Wheeling amongst giants:

5. Proud to be a Jeep:

WTB: Full Metal Doors For 1998 Moss Green Pearl Coat Wrangler

rubicontrail.net — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 22:39:27 GMT

I am looking for a set of functioning full doors for my Moss Green Pearlcoat-colored 1998 Sahara with the Saddle Interior.

The glass and interior should be in good condition (no cracks).

What's the one piece of equipment that you never leave home without?

matt@expaz — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:07:36 GMT

If you could only take one piece of equipement, tool or electronic gizmo with you (to get you out of a tough situation), what would it be? I was thinking about this because I just pulled some stuff out of a corner in my garage and found my high-lift jack. Obviously, I don't take it with me much anymore. There's not a lot of places on new vehicles to use one, with all the rounded corners and plastic bumpers, etc. That USED to be my favorite piece of equipment (a long time ago), but not any more. So I started trying to decide what IS my favorite piece of equipment now? If I could only choose one thing, would I go out with my winch, my GPS, my SPOT or something else?

I haven't decided yet.

What's yours?

Engineers Explained

ob1jeeper — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:51:44 GMT

AKA... The Dreaded "Knack"...

test

LO PHAT — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:17:33 GMT

test