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By request since a few people were not able to make the Gala Cinders run, here is another chance for you to bag the high altitude awesome views and have a little fun in Double Crater. The Cinders OHV is a wide area of "crushed" volcanic rock with a wide range of elevation with many opportunities for vehicular recreation and awesome 360 degree views of the Arizona high country. Our route will provide some time for optional playing in the Double Bowl Crater. When & Where: Saturday: October 25, 2025 @ 9:30 am Depart for the Cinders OHV no later than 10:00 am Location: Flagstaff Chevron at 11230 US-89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (Google Maps Link) Trail Rating: Moderate Moderate mostly because of the soft surface and steep inclines that are not optional. Vehicle Requirements: High clearance, 4x4 with low range Lockers optional Depending on moisture level in the Cinders, lockers might be helpful for open diff vehicles who want to climb the fun way out of the bowl Aggressive A/T or M/T tires are required At least 33", 35 or larger recommended Means to deflate and reinflate your tires Front and rear recovery rated tow points Communications: GMRS Channel 17 (462.600mhz). We may change GMRS channels as needed to avoid busy local repeaters or other nearby groups. Additional Considerations: Dress for the weather, Flagstaff in late October can be chilly Bring a chair! Bring a lunch, snacks, and plenty of water Recovery gear / traction aids Emergency supplies / Med kit Sunscreen! Don't forget that camera - you're going to want it Bring a positive attitude! Sign-Up/RSVP: There is a limit of 8 vehicles. Don't worry if you end up on standby; people drop out as plans change and you may end up getting a spot! Attending: 1 @SonoranWanderer 2 @Mick Bowers 3 Mick's guest 4 @David P 5 @Dan.K 6 @Our Time to Explore 7 8 Standby: 1 2 3

As a few others have done so I'll do as well... Originally joined back in the early 2000's. Did the Devils Highway with the group back in 2010, useless fact I was born in Ajo. 🤪 Use to rock a 93XJ (miss that heap sometimes) switched over to an 07 FJ, but life happens, job stuff, family stuff, divorce add in some self destruction and it was time to reboot - start over. While I don't really wheel I do still enjoy the outdoors and get out as much as possible. current rig is a 2011 Toyota Sequoia Limited, 2" lift with 33" tires and Tundra rims, Someone backed into the front end a couple years ago a few days after it was paid off (the ole no good dead goes unpunished) So upgraded the grill, headlights and added in the MOVE weld "yourself" bumper, yes it was tested against a Lincoln sedan that couldn't maintain its lane in a double left turn... yes I won 🤭 in 2020 we got a 30' travel trailer that suited us well for many years, we towed it to Navajo Lake UT summer of 24 for a family vacation and that was our sign that we needed a bigger tow rig, so later that year we got a 2018 Ram 2500. Very capable of pulling that camper... Then the wife spotted a 2025 Keystone Cougar Hero Edition and yeah... We now have a new 5th wheel. (Green is our favorite color) As mentioned we don't really wheel now, but do get out as much as we can to enjoy the outdoors, We'll be headed up to the Rim country tomorrow as we're assisting on the Mogollon Monster 100 mile foot race, we're both HAM's and are volunteering to support this event. (I'm also a tower climber for the ARA) If were not doing that were at Apache Lake on our jet skis (or I'm racing my ski in Parker with the ADBA)

Diane!!! hope you & George are doing well! Yes the profile pic from that trip haha, I still employ the "butt coals" that I learned about on that trip.

I've been pondering how I might have managed the situation better. While I was in the middle of it, I thought of how traction boards might have helped had I deployed them before my rear wheel slide to the lower edge. Bridging the two deepest parts of the washout might have stabilized the off-camber and likely prevented some of the rear end sideways slide. By the time I thought about the traction boards, it was too late. I needed to back up to put them where they needed to be, but due to the rear end sideways slide I couldn't back up/out. My rear tire was pointed off the trail, into the significantly deeper wash. It was a situation where the more you squirm the tighter the trap gets. This is admittedly the second time in my history of off-roading I can remember doing that to myself. The first time was during the climb on Moab Rim. The other thing I should have done was deflated my tires more. I've been getting lazy lately an only dropping to 19-20 PSI (comfort level, not really traction boosting level). More tire surface area should have reduced the amount of push in and down of the soft dirt of the crumbling lower road bed and therefore reduced the sideways sliding. My ultimate solution was to lock the front and rear, forcing distribution of traction and preventing the right rear from getting too much power alone due to the open diff.

What an awesome day run. So glad to meet all of you. Let's do it again!

Welcome home... ;)

Welcome back!