Backway to Crown King... Nov 27, 2009

AZKJ · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:06 pm

I'm running the Backway to Crown King. It's rated difficult and a stock height KJ will most likely need to take a strap in a couple of places.

When: Nov 27, '09

Time: : I'm leaving at 0900 sharp

Meet: NE corner of Hwy 74 and Castle Hot Springs Road

Good A/T tires, skids and tow hooks required on this run. If you're interest, post up....

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:37 pm

OH NO!!!

A Phoenix west side run!!

Black Friday is a good day to get out of town!!

Count me in.

Silverdiesel +0

Roland

AZKJ · **Posted:** Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:30 pm

One week to go, bumping this back to the top....

Oh, and did I mention the free drawing for a secret prize at the end of the trail??

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

I am probably going to be out of town.

. If not I will respond the day before to let you know I can go.

eyehatetofu · **Posted:** Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:16 pm

You can put me down as a very strong maybe. I was going to find a new TV, but really hate lines, mass hysteria, and people running on 3hrs of sleep. I guess I'll spend my TV money on fudge up in CK!

AZKJ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:00 pm

Anyone else interested??

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

I'm in. Out of town trip fell through.

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:51 pm

Here come us oil burners!!

Glad to see Pablo planning to make it and look forward to seeing everyone else there!!

Get away from that Black Friday mess!!!

See you Friday !!!

Roland

Neatus · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:51 pm

I don't have a Jeep and I will be hosting family at my house for the weekend. Have fun.

eyehatetofu · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:37 am

Is this still going to happen? I have been following that accident that happened yesterday and they still haven't removed the bodies from the ravine off the trail. I heard that the trail was closed at the top. Does anyone know anything?

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

As far as I know it is still on. Did not know about the accident. I am sure if we have to we will do something else.

eyehatetofu · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:57 am

Yeah, it was pretty bad, 4 people died. I guess it was on a side trail right before the final big climb into CK. They fell about 100 feet down, and from what the news said at 9pm the bodies are still down there, the terrain was to tough to easily get to them.

But if its still on, I'll be there.

AZKJ · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:21 am

According to a post on AZVJC, the main road from Bumble Bee to CK was closed yesterday, not the back way. So, as far as I'm concerned, we're still on. Worst case is we have to backtrack, or take the Senator Highway into Prescott, then home.

(Paul, thanks for the phone call, see ya at 0730 at the ARCO station)

eyehatetofu · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:46 am

Made it home in one piece. Hope you east side guys make it home before sun-up

I had a blast today and can't wait to do it again. Thanks errbody!

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

I am home, minus one swaybar disconnect. I should have disconnected them when I aired down. The clip pin broke and shot the disconnect off and into something. Probably when going over an obstacle. So I will have to hook the swaybar up some other way.

Signcutter21 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:29 pm

Wow, sounds like an interesting Turkey Day After Run. Broke windows, broke sway bars, a long day? Can't wait to see the pics and trail report from AJ. He's probably still on the phone w/ ins company from yesterday.

glad to see that the after thanksgiving day tradition continues. if you all head out soon, you can still make the Douglas parade. haha.

later,mike

AZKJ · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 3:48 pm

Okay Mike!! We'll head right down to Douglas, let me see if I can round up some of the crew, starting with Roland... he'll go anywhere!!

As usual, another fun trip. We started at 0900 and after burgers in Crown King, and a stop in Rock Springs for some pie, we called the run complete 2115 and we all took off for home.

The Crown King Trail never ceases to amaze me. It changes so drastically from year to year. Vern and I ran it last year and it was like a completely different trail this time. Rock gardens with basketball sized rocks with deep ruts etc in between the rocks. Easily a 3.25 not including some of the optional obtacles.

Speaking of obstacles. Tim making his first run with AZ LOST, was a terror on the trail. He tackled everything the trail had to throw at us and took on all the hard stuff.

Paul, wins the prize for taking the hardest obstacle. He made it just a few feet from the top, but ended up having to take a strap from me. All he needed was a slight tug to get out from behind a large rock and he made it.

Now what can I say about Roland in that shiny red silverdiesl?? The man continues to amaze me. There where quite a few ledges and rock gardenes that I thought he wouldn't be able to get through without dragging bottom and tearing something up. Other than a slightly bent rock rail he made it all the way through AND spoiled my day because I didn't get to strap him over a ledge or something.

I guess I get the dumb stupid award for the day. I got a little too far to the left of a tight spot and caught a tree limb that shattered my driver's side rear window. I guess that's why they have no deductible glass coverage here in Arizona. Oh, and Mike... I was on the phone last night when we got home at 2230 and made my insurance claim.

Here are a few pics (sorry I don't have any from the rock gardens and ledges, I was too busy trying not to rip something out of my under carriage....

The 'way to CK rock' keeps getting more artistic looking with each passing year...

Here's Paul on his way up...

Me following Paul up the hill taking a different line...

Roland leading Paul up another optional hill climb...

Tim was the only one to try this hill...

Up and over!!

Roland cruising along without a care in the world...

Paul making his assault on this difficult hill, pictures don't do it justice...

Roland and Tim spotting a zig-zag line for Paul through the sharp rocks and ledges...

Roland trying to help get Paul over one last rock...

Thanks to everyone for coming out!! As usual, Beth and I really enjoyed being on the trail with the folks from AZ LOST JEEPS!!!

AJ

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 4:54 pm

Wow--Sooo this is the famous CK trail- First time running and one I'll be back to again!!

Ran that thing, bump skids pretty hard maybe 1/2 dozen times and took two pretty hard hits on my passenger rail (Mopar sheet steel) and now I find out this is a 3.25!!!
Yikes!!! But man what fun!!!

Being a holiday there were numerous other vehicles on the trail making traffic jams but giving me a chance to see what other types of 4WD's were making it and ones that were failing (losing gearing, serious underbody carnage). There was a pair of lifted TJ's right ahead that communicated to us if we need winch, strap help they would oblige. I just chuckled to myself- those guys only saw a bunch of Liberties- man, little do they know--!! To keep it friendly, PM me to know the models of trucks we saw that just flat out failed (HaHa).

Great time, good folks to run with, but most importantly a bunch of capable KJ's running and keeping up with other able Jeep TJ's YJ's and such. No AJ I did not forget about your JK.

Did I mention this was about a 3.2 rating???

Roland

Signcutter21 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:54 pm

Man thanks guys for spoiling an other wise great day for me with those pics and write ups. lol. The trail does look amazingly rough this time. Most of those pics were from the bottom half of the trail too, correct?

Paul I love the pic of you going up the hill. I wish I was there to see it and follow you up.

awesome trip again guys, thanks for sharing w/ all us flatlanders.

AZKJ · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:26 pm

Mike... you're very welcome for spoiling your day!!

Yeah, all the pics are from the bottom 1/3 of the trail. It just got too rocky and a lot harder than in years past to stop and take pics farther up... too busy spotting etc. getting everyone up and over.

I think i'm gonna try and make the CK trip into a yearly Black Friday run. Now if you decide to take up residence in Douglas again, I'll be more than happy to canx it and make your Turkey Day Boarder runs!! Still miss the hot chocolate and the Douglas Christmas Parade!!

AJ

Backway to Crown King... Nov 27, 2009

Who is online