[dzJeepChic]

Here's something to get the picture thread started. Post your pictures from the Tucson Trails here!

More Pictures to follow! d

[klaykrusher]

Teaser pics, have a lot more tomorrow. Had a great time!!!

[scottL]

wow. these expeditions get better and better everytime! thanks for the good times. here are my favorite photos. i like the one of dave going down the steep hill because you can see dirt falling out of his bumper.

[theksmith]

[stockjeep]

wish we could have went, looks like you had serious fun. the cot / tent in the pic is awesome. who makes it? does it sleep two?

[dzJeepChic]

Here's a little recap on the trip:

Saturday morning Number 7, dzJeepchic, theksmith, scottl & Klaykrusher met at the Gold Canyon Shell station, caravanned from there through Florence to Oracle where we stopped for gas, ice, and any other last minute items you can get at Circle K. From there we took a long short-cut to River Road, and then south along the San Pedro River to Reddington where Reddington Road forks off from River Road, and we took Reddington Road southwest toward Tucson through Tanque Verde Canyon.

Our first trail of the day was Chiva Falls. We got to the trailhead at about noon, and set off to find a place to stop for lunch. We missed a turn and had to retrace our tracks, but soon we were on the bumpy road that branches off to the falls. When we were almost to the falls we caught up with another group of 2 Jeeps and a Toyota:

A little trickle was flowing from the waterfall; it was a hot day and it felt really good to stand under it as the breeze blew the water into a fine mist.

Our Jeeps parked at Chiva Falls:

Buds:



After leaving the falls it wasn’t very long before we got to 3 Feathers, the play area near the start of the trail at the opposite end from where we started. 3 Feathers has multiple routes ranging from very challenging to a little challenging that climb up a rocky slope. George successfully took the route to the far right – his nemesis, ‘The Notch’, which had tried to swallow Number 7 the last time we were there. Scott, Dave and Kris each took the ‘just right of the middle’ route.

Continued
V
V
V

[dzJeepChic]

After running Chiva Falls trail, we went back northeast on Reddington Road to the Chimney Rock Trail. Shortly before getting to camp Kris discovered he had a flat, so he and George plugged it and we gathered firewood.

We got to our camp at Chimney Rock just as the sun was setting, set up our gear and made a fire for hotdogs.

I took this picture from in front of Number 7 in the morning:

Kris surprised George with a Six-Shooter full of tequila for his birthday.

After we broke camp George suggested an impromptu technical-driving course on the sandstone:

Continued
V
V
V

[dzJeepChic]

Everyone especially liked driving off the wedged fin:

It was a long way to the end of the Chimney Rock Trail, which winds along Chimney Rock Creek and climbs up and down hills through many gates! I lost count of how many gates we opened and closed. I didn’t get many pictures through here because we got kind of spread out, not to mention we ran the A/C the whole way, so the windows were up. We reached Reddington Road again at mid-morning.

We headed northeast back the way we’d come the day before. Our objective was to go back to Oracle to top off our fuel tanks and get more ice & water before starting the Charouleau Gap Trail. We got to the gate at the trailhead at noon and found a shady spot to have lunch at, and then got going again. The Charouleau Gap Trail is like a roller-coaster; you’re almost constantly climbing or descending a hill.

The cacti along the trail were in bloom and all the different colors were neat to look at.

We came to a ridge that provided a perfect view of Biosphere II

And MORE GATES!

Continued
V
V
V

[dzJeepChic]

With all the gates we opened and closed, these were a few of the only cattle we saw

The road got pretty rocky in places as we got closer to the creek

We found an awesome campsite as soon as we reached the creek, and after a little debate about whether we should stay near the trail or try to get further in, we ended up right across the creek from the trail. The few rigs that went past didn’t create too much dust in the air, so it turned out to be okay, and the camping was excellent. Some of us hiked downstream to a pool and took baths in the stream after getting set up.

I told thekdude he looked like ‘Adventure Man’ so he showed me his best ‘Wild Man’ face.

Scott getting into the camping mood

George did our cooking for me!

AND the cleaning up! I knew you guys wouldn’t believe me so I took pictures.

Hanging out

Continued
V
V
V

[dzJeepChic]

Monday morning we broke camp and continued on the Charouleau Gap. We crossed the creek many times as the trail criss-crossed La Canada Wash and went up and down the hills.

We stopped at an old mining camp that had disintegrated a lot since the last time we were there 2 years ago.

We got to play in the stream one more time before doing a little rock crawling through it.

Suddenly we began descending toward Catalina

The trail was rocky in places and washed out in others.

We reached the end of the trail at 2 PM, aired up, went into Catalina for gas and then headed for home.

Click here to see my slideshow! http://picasaweb.google.com/dzcarchi...98249112601986

It was a fun trip with a fun group. Even though it got a little hot during the day, we had perfect camping weather every night. Camping by the stream in Charouleau Gap was the best camping we’ve done in a while. I’d be willing to do that trail over 2 days again sometime.

Thanks everyone for making this a wonderful trip and for sharing your pictures! I’m already looking forward to next time!

d