Skip to main content

69 replies

AZ Run XVI

Desert RatDesert RatAdministrator N4W Card Holder

Yes, the XV run just wrapped up, but a meeting of the minds last night had an epiphany.  Do the run at the end of the summer in 2016.   Destination:  NORTH RIM!

 

I've got ideas.  Tenetively looking at the week before Labor day to give most of us that one additional day off.   

 

Destinations:

 

Mile 0 of AZ leg of Great Western Trail

Toroweap

Point Sublime

East Rim Trail

FR250

Parasawampitts, Locust, Shoshone Points

Additional points on the east side of the national park

 

This will be mild wheeling, but oh so scenic.  Positioning this at the end of the summer means the possiblilities of monsoons and rain/mud, along with spectacular sunsets.

 

So my question to our regular AZ Run participants - is this something you'd attend?  It's a pretty good drive up there....having the labor day holiday at the end should give most of us a full 10 days off.  Head up Saturday, have a night minus one camp, rendezvous with everyone near Kanab, UT on Sunday, and then camp on the AZ/UT line that night and start mile zero of the AZ trail to kick off the run.   Toroweap on day 2, then head down to the overlooks on Weds-Sat, and come out the east rim road at the end of it all.

 

There is gas available at 3 different places up there so while we'll probably have to carry some fuel, we should be able to space fuel stops so it's not excessive.

 

Looking for feedback.

 

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

DementiaDementiaOverlander

Our dates for Blazer Bash are currently set to September 5-14.  We could potentially just go straight from one event to the other, but we'd have to have somewhere to leave the Silverado and trailer.  Trailering up there could be an option for everyone with tow vehicles (Like andy and Jesse) if we have somewhere to leave our crap.

 

And then I realized I'm dumb... need the camping trailer too.  Please ignore me.

 

Last edited by Dementia
reddogreddogUltimate N4Wheeler
Originally Posted by Desert Rat:
Originally Posted by reddog:

That would be the same week as Blazer Bash so we'd be out most likely.

 

 

Crap.  How far out (+/-) would you need in order for that to work?

 

Ignore what Amber said, dates for 2016 have not been set yet but usually they are the same week as Labor Day.  Unfortunately we won't know for sure when Blazer Bash 2016 is for 10-12 months.

 

I have no idea what I'll be doing in 18 months, but if everything goes as planned I won't have an issue with doing 2 consecutive weeks.  If Amber is still at the job she's at she won't have an issue with that either.

Desert RatDesert RatAdministrator N4W Card Holder

We won't have the detailed trail guide we've had over the past few years because it's not practical for me to get up there and prerun everything.  That said, on the couple weeks I've spent up there in the past, I think between maps and google earth, I can put together some pretty awesome routes.  Most of it will be 2wd fire roads, but then again, we'll be up there during monsoon, so we may see muck, and there are a couple 4wd trails we've done that will also be included.

 

Pretty excited for this.  For those of you who haven't been to the Arizona strip, this will be a real treat.  It's amazing up there.

 

Desert RatDesert RatAdministrator N4W Card Holder

I spent an hour on google earth yesterday starting to lay out routes.   This will be a cool run. 

 

Kanab Sunday,  We'll actually start wheeling on day zero, and for those wanting to go up on day minus one, I have a surprise - Saturday night on Alstrom Point overlooking Lake Powell.

 

Toroweap on Monday, camp monday night

Back down the west side of the plateau on Tuesday, Camp possibly on Locust Point

Weds- FR250 and all the west end points, and go down to Point Sublime.  Camsite TBD.

Thursday head over to the east side of the park and hit a couple of the points over there.

Friday - come back out the east plateau road, do some exploring in that area, camp somewhere near US89A

Saturday - back to Phoenix.

MudMudUltimate N4Wheeler

This is the one.  FOCUS.  North Rim.  Your truck.   I could take either of my Sentras and bypass the technical stuff down at the (only) convenience store coffee machine and window fan equipped restroom and be back to camp with fresh ice. Except for Toroweap, that's a haul worth hauling.  Epic. Got the sticker.  Don't be square. Be there or be somewhere else.  Avery should be there Mike.

 

OnlyOneDROnlyOneDRNISSAN4WHEELER
System-F posted:

Like Andy said, I am in. Already dumping a crap-ton into the caR50.  

Nice.  I am wondering from the comments above how "built" a vehicle needs to be to handle the trip?  Mine is nice and all but I am wondering if something more tame like a mildly-built Xterra could manage.  It's quite a trip towing the Frontier out and back if I don't need the monster truck features when I am out there.  Cool, yes, but wondering if somewhat unnecessary.  Of course, mine is built decently for the long-haul stuff so maybe in the end it would be worth it.

Desert RatDesert RatAdministrator N4W Card Holder

Dates are firm - Sunday, 8/28- Saturday, 9/3.  Those able to get to the area on Saturday 8/27 can enjoy a bonus campout on night Minus 1 at Alstrom Point overlooking Lake Powell.  This camp will actually be in Utah.  Directions will be provided to participants in the itinerary (still under development)

We'll officially start the run on the 28th at high noon in the parking lot of the only grocery store in town in Kanab, UT.   Itinerary to follow.

What kind of rig?  A stock rig should be able to do pretty much everything unless we get some very inclement weather, which is entirely likely during Arizona's Monsoon season.  Come prepared for rain.  We'll almost certainly see some.  Mud is our most likely challenge from a wheeling perspective.



Highlights to look forward to:  Mile Zero of the Arizona Trail, Toroweap, Locust Point, Point Sublime, East Rim Trail, etc.   We'll get a great tour of the area.  Bring gas.  10-15 gallons extra minimum.  Services available on the route will be minimal with Kanab being the closest town of any size that might have a parts store.

OnlyOneDROnlyOneDRNISSAN4WHEELER

Andy,

Awesome, thanks!  I am thinking that because the trip starts and ends so far removed from all of y'all down there that I would not have a place to store a truck and trailer for a week so it may be best to come in something else altogether.  I am actually going to look at an Xterra later this week.

What do y'all think?

OnlyOneDROnlyOneDRNISSAN4WHEELER
Desert Rat posted:

true...Brent and I were thinking about checking into truck / trailer storage in Page or Kanab.....I'd rather tow the meany up there than drive it.....but will see.

Let me know if you guys figure something out!  That drive is actually slightly shorter than when I drove to Brent's house for AZ IX.  Still about 33 hours one-way.

Last edited by OnlyOneDR
YotaBoyYotaBoyThe Yota with the Mostest
Desert Rat posted:

true...Brent and I were thinking about checking into truck / trailer storage in Page or Kanab.....I'd rather tow the meany up there than drive it.....but will see.

I would like to tow my truck there also.  The Dodge is much better for a long drive up hills than the Toyota.  I would have to leave Saturday night to make it to the meeting spot at noon on Sunday in the Toyota. haha

OnlyOneDROnlyOneDRNISSAN4WHEELER

Well, I just bought a truck for this trip.  I now have a Black 2001 Xterra SE-V6 Auto 4x4 that I will take out there.  It's getting the lockers, manual hubs, and skids I have laying around and I will make sliders for it.  I will see about doing something to stretch the fuel capacity as well to heed Andy's warning.

Getting in this deep already I guess I will go ahead and block out my vacation!!!!  I look forward to seeing y'all again!

Last edited by OnlyOneDR
reddogreddogUltimate N4Wheeler

I won't be towing my rig up there, it's just not going to work with my plans.

 

I'll have a new overland trailer built by then and there's no way to get my truck and trailer onto my trailer...  I'm also planning on leaving from Kanab after the run and heading to Moab for Blazer Bash right after the AZ run.  If everything works out as it's planned I'll be taking dirt roads as much as possible on the way there to extend my overlanding all the way to Moab.

reddogreddogUltimate N4Wheeler

No, we decided to go with a CVT rooftop tent.  It's currently mounted on a "test bed" trailer and we've already spent 15 or so nights in it.  We've got a few things to figure out still, but I've been using the S-10 bed trailer to test different setups.

We'll also be running 12 volt Whynter fridge/freezers.  No more ice!

 

Attachments

Hide
Images (1)
  • IMG_20151231_083803042: Thanksgiving camping
OnlyOneDROnlyOneDRNISSAN4WHEELER
reddog posted:

No, we decided to go with a CVT rooftop tent.  It's currently mounted on a "test bed" trailer and we've already spent 15 or so nights in it.  We've got a few things to figure out still, but I've been using the S-10 bed trailer to test different setups.

We'll also be running 12 volt Whynter fridge/freezers.  No more ice!

 

My brother has one of those CVT tents mounted on his trailer and loves it.

I am thinking pretty seriously about getting a Dometic fridge/freezer for this trip.  The Xterra already has a power outlet in the back and I could always use it with the Frontier as well.  Their CFX-35 would fit under my tonneau cover.

Last edited by OnlyOneDR
Next

Add Reply

Post

Nissan4wheelers - Home of SWANKy and the AZ Runs. Your #1 source of Nissan Offroad Tech on the web. All site content is copyrighted by the owners of Nissan4wheelers.com. All rights reserved.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×