10/2017 Trails & Tanks near Devils Hwy on BMG Military Range

[dzJeepChic 2,516]

This weekend we had a fun little trip into the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range. We went south from Tacna and followed the west side of the Copper Mountains to the northern border of the Cabeza Prieta NWR where we camped. From there we found our way to the Mohawk Drag and took it east to Papago Road that runs between the Mohawk Dunes and the Mohawk Mountains, and we followed it north until we got back to county roads back to Tacna.

 

Here's a picture to get this thread started. I tried out the panoramic function on my camera from a hill near our campsite. I think it portrays the landscape well.

 

 

I'll post more pictures and a little trip report asap. Everybody please feel free to post your pictures here too.

 

Thanks everybody who came out on this hot weekend to spend some time exploring one of my favorite areas.

[Goose 6]

Here's a Photo Sphere from the top of the little mountain next to our camp site.

 

Click on the pic and it should load it into Photo Sphere mode, then you can pan and zoom with your mouse.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HsYBZ3WP3wvg5x3u2

 

There's a lot of space out there!

[reybie 70]

That's a cool pic! Thanks for sharing.

 

Was it really an easy trail? Maybe we'll do it next time when it gets set up again

[Curly 946]

I'd been looking around on Google earth before the trip and saw this airstrip. It's from the WW2 era when pilots were trained out of Yuma. Anyway, we drove right through it on the way out. You can see county road 9 cuts right through it. That's the road we took out. I saw the runways as we passed, didn't realize what they were.

[dzJeepChic 2,516]

That's a cool pic! Thanks for sharing.

 

Was it really an easy trail? Maybe we'll do it next time when it gets set up again

 

Yes, it was an easy trail. A few patches of deep sand and minor divots in a wash we drove in were the only 'obstacles'.

[JeepUniq 8]

Here's a Photo Sphere from the top of the little mountain next to our camp site.

 

Click on the pic and it should load it into Photo Sphere mode, then you can pan and zoom with your mouse.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HsYBZ3WP3wvg5x3u2

 

There's a lot of space out there!

 

Really cool! Thanks for sharing.

[dzJeepChic 2,516]

We met up in Tacna, AZ Saturday afternoon. We had 7 vehicles altogether that included me & G in our blue Dodge Smurftruck, hurricane in his yellow TJ, team Curly in their blue TJ, MsPrizz and guest in her grey KJ, Bradywgn71 in his silver WJ, JeepUniq in his Red JKUR, and Goose in his new Tacoma.

 

A free permit from the Barry M. Goldwater Range was required for this adventure, and I called the group in. The person who took the call was super friendly and helpful on the phone. (We had a not-so-great connection that made it difficult to understand each other at times, but we remained upbeat and cordial ). The range is used by the U.S. Air Force for air-to-ground bombing practice, and so recreational users are required to obtain the permit and call in their planned route. The permit application is mostly a 'hold harmless' agreement and acknowledgment of range regulations such as stay on designated routes and beware of un-exploded munitions. They include a map with your permit, which is way cool.

 

From the Chevron in Tacna, we went a couple blocks west before going south on Ave 36 E all the way into the bombing range and immediately aired down.

 

Entering the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range

 



Airing down at the beginning of the trail going into the practice range

 

We didn't have to go very far to reach our first stop to check out Baker Tanks; a rock formation that has formed several pools (tanks). Nearby is an old Boy Scouts camp with this unusual structure.

 

Our rigs lined up near the rotunda at Baker Tanks

 



The official Drivers Meeting in the rotunda at Baker Tanks

 



Baker Tanks located next to an old Boy Scout camp near Tacna, AZ

 



Checking out Baker Tanks

 



Unusual rock formations at Baker Tanks

 



The group leaving Baker Tanks

 

After leaving Baker Tanks we followed Military Drag over to the 'D' trail along the west side of the Copper Mountains. One of the best things about wheeling in the Barry Goldwater Range is how well most of the trails are marked. The main trails are labeled A, B, C, D, ect, and numbered points on the map correspond with wooden posts making it easy (easier) to find your way. Halfway across the Military Drag we stopped at our first military tank sighting.

 

Stopped to check out a tank along Military Drag

 

We started south on the 'D' trail and stopped to check out the emergency beacon.

 

Stopping to check out an emergency beacon

 

Further down the 'D' trail we stopped to check out some more (military) tanks. These are the ones we visited on another adventure, and found out many of them still have working turret and gun moving parts. While we were there a Border Patrol truck came in hot, stopped and asked us if we had stopped at the emergency beacon? Yup, that was us. He was nice about it though and asked if we needed anything and left. He was the only BP we had contact with on this trip.

 

G checking out a military tank

 



Curly demonstrated this tank's turret going around but I missed the video opp

 

We kept going south alongside the Copper Mountains until we got to a lesser trail along the upper boundary of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. It was along that lesser trail that we found a great place to camp and stopped for the night.

 

Southbound on 'D' trail alongside the Copper Mountains

 



Cabeza Prieta NWR sign is visible in front of Cabeza Prieta Mountains

 

We found a large flat area near a small hill where we all spread out and set up camp. The views from there were amazing; barren land for as far as the eye can see, dotted with rugged mountains and hills. As the sun went down the mountains and the sky changed colors as only sunset in Arizona can. I loved the stark beauty of this place.

 

We camped in a large flat near a small hill with incredible views

 



Rugged mountains dot the horizon in this barren desert

 

It was warm and slightly breezy that evening, and we ended up without a campfire at all. Everyone ended up gathered at the Bradywgn71 camp where we talked and looked at stars. The dark sky was just filled with stars! Mrs. Curly whipped out with her cell phone app called Sky Guide and passed it around. It was amazing, and the sky was chock full of stars and planets.

 

Continued

[dzJeepChic 2,516]

While we were packing up in the morning, George and I had a visitor. This little bird suddenly appeared, and it was either under the truck or at our heels as we walked around. We had to be careful not to step on it, and I had to give G the all clear when it was time to move the truck since the little guy seemed to really like the space near the tires. As we pulled away from camp, the bird began to run/fly after us, and caught up to us when we stopped to reorient ourselves to get back on the trail. It hung out under Bradywgn71's Jeep until we were underway again. Further along the trail there were several little birds like this that flew alongside the truck for a while; such people-friendly little critters!!

 

Friendly little bird visiting our camp

 



George wanted to name him Hans, I wanted to name him Petey, because birds should be named Petey

 

Reminded us of this little bird!

 

 

Hans/Petey was especially intrigued with ice

 

Finally underway after finding the trail again and shaking Hans/Petey

Are You My Mother?

 

Now we were on the 'F' trail going northeast to get to the Mohawk Drag. We passed this dandy little set of mountains and took our first break when we saw this apparatus alongside the road.

 

A handsome set of mountains along the 'F' trail in Barry M. Goldwater Range

 



A bomb along the 'F' trail at bombing range

 



Checking out the debris

 



The group stopped along 'F' trail in Barry Goldwater Range

 



Another One!!!!!

 

The Mohawk Drag is LONG - it crosses a vast flat plane from the Copper Mountains on the west side to the Mohawk Dunes on the east. Like all military drags it is flat and smooth and DUSTY; our crossing was likely visible for miles! At the end of Mohawk Drag lays the Mohawk Mountains, where we took a left turn, and went north between the Mohawk Dunes and the Mohawk Mountains.

 

Stopped at the end of Mohawk Drag at the base of Mohawk Mountains

 



Smooth sand at the end of Mohawk Drag

 

So now we were on the 'H' trail going northwest, between the dunes and the mountains. The dunes were actually too far away to see very well. The Mohawks are indeed a beautiful little mountain range. Turns out the 'H' trail follows a narrow wash; very slow going, windy, brushy, bumpy, over-hanging tree limbs, and deep sand in places, DID I SAY BRUSHY in many places. It was my least favorite part of the trip. We've always wanted to go this way, and it looks great on paper, but we'll never do it again.

 

The Mohawk Mountains up close

 

It took us what seemed like forever to get to post H1, where we stopped to eat lunch. Thankfully our hunch that H1 would be a better trail than 'H' trail was correct, and we quickly made our way to county roads alongside I-8. We went back to the same (read only) gas station in Tacna, fueled up, aired up, and said our good-byes.

 

Thanks everybody who came out to explore with us. Like I said, we've wanted to take that Mohawk route for the longest time, who knew how slow, bumpy and bushy it would be! You all are troopers! My favorite part was the campsite; I thought it was very peaceful and pretty there, and the friendly little bird was a cherry on top.

 

See you on the next one!

[Curly 946]

Agree on the H trail being a PITA, but the Yellow wildflowers were a nice surprise, esp. for the Yuma area.

[DGR61 2]

Looks like a great trip hopefully next time I will be able to make it out.