Harquahala Peak Smithsonian Observatory trip

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:18 am

Harquahala Peak Smithsonian Observatory trip Sunday 2/18/07.
Trip details to follow, mark your calendar.

http://www.blm.gov/az/pfo/harqc.htm

dynamike · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:38 pm

hhmmmmm, sounds very cool

I think we should TRY and make this.....
any camping near by????

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:06 pm

According to my brand new AZ backroads and 4wd trails book I won at the Fun in the Sun Run 2 Harquahala peak is a moderate trail.

To quote Mr. Wells excellent book- "... upper parts of the road are narrow, steep and rocky. Suitable for SUV's with 4wd". "Camping and picnicing places are provided along the road". Access is from I-10 via Salome road and Eagle Eye Rd.
This is a short trail so start time will be later in the morning.

sponger · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:29 pm

Count the Grand Cherokee in, just let me know where we will meet. I will be camping as well.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:03 am

Vern, are we planning on meeting at the turn off to Harquahala Peak from Eagle Eye rd? If so then that puts it at 103 miles from my front door (just so people are aware that this one is a bit further out). I'm in the process of downloading maps and aerial images for the USA Photo Maps software I have on my laptop. Looking at the Terraserver images it doesn't look too bad, although there appear to be some nice switchbacks. Like Sponger said, just let me know when and where...

Renstock · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:37 pm

I've had this date listed on my calendar as TBD for months, but something has come up at work and now I won't be able to make it. If only I didn't have all those bills to pay. - Tom

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:21 pm

Who- AZLOST club
What- Harquahala Mountain Trail Run
When- Sunday, February 18, 2007, 10:00 AM
Where- Meet at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sign for the Harquahala mountain byway on Eagle Eye Road
Directions-
Follow Interstate 10 to the Buckey-Salome Road exit. Follow Salome road west approximately 9.8 miles to the paved Eagle Eye Road. Turn right and travel approximately 8 miles to the BLM sign for the Harquahala mountain byway.
Or
Follow US60 west from Wickenburg to the small town of Aguila. Turn left on Eagle Eye Road and drive 18 miles south. Watch for the BLM sign for Harquahala mountain byway.

Trail Description (From the Wells book)-
“Moderate. Easy at the bottom, but the upper parts of the road are narrow, steep and rocky. Suitable for all SUV’s with four-wheel drive and low-range gears”. At 5681 ft. At the top is an observatory built by the Smithsonian Institute in 1920. There are picnic tables at the top of the mountain, bring lunch and water.

Driving time- About 1.5 hours driving time one way

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:30 pm

This is the Presidents Day Holiday weekend. I'm thinking about camping this weekend. Anyone know anything about this area? Three camping areas look promising- Brown canyon area, sunset canyon area, and Harquahala mountain byway off eagle eye road

The weather looks good, here is the Updated 10 day weather forecast-

http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreati ... topnav_ski

corwyyn · **Posted:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:34 am

For anyone who is interested, I am planning on being at the Rip Griffin truck stop at the 339th Ave. exit around 8:30, top off the tank and grab some stuff for the trail, should be leaving at about 9:00. For those coming from the east valley, its 60 miles form my apartment to the truck stop (Univ./Gilbert), then another 40 to the Harquahala Byway exit off of Eagle Eye rd. so getting gas is probably a good idea. There is another truck stop 10 miles further west but I have not been to it so can't say what it is like.

broncsrule · **Posted:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:08 pm

Have fun guys! I can't make this one.

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:42 pm

Sponger-
Are you still planning on camping?
Looks like it's you and me camping.
I'm planning on getting up there Sat afternoon. I might camp along the road to the top, or I might try to camp up the road a ways near brown canyon.
Let's hook up to coordinate.

Roachman3700 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:47 pm

Vern,

What type of camping? Trailer or Tent? What time are you leaving on Sat?

Later,
Dan

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:27 pm

Trailer camping, not sure what time I'm leaving saturday, probably in the afternoon, 1-2 ish probably.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:01 am

Well it was a very nice day for a trip. Had a high overcast layer with some rain trying to come down in the distance, but nice temps and a great trail. Vern, JimJ and myself drove up to the top of Harquahala Peak and were rewarded with a fantastic view of SW Arizona. After we got down we went exploring another area that Vern was interested in, then Jim and I came on back to Phoenix leaving Vern to fend for himself in the wilds (which means he had to go into the camp trailer, heat something up and pop the top on a cold one

). Pics later this evening or tomorrow, depending on when I get around to downloading them. Oh, and we actually saw a Subaru wagon come up to the top

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:40 pm

Beautiful area, and great camping!
Thanks Kevin and Jim, I had a great time. We'll have to do that one again.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:28 am

Finally got some pics from the trip:

Vern and Jim heading up

A little rough, nothing the Jeeps couldn't handle

A section of concrete paving for no apparent reason

A view out my passenger window

Looking SW from the top, California off in the distance

The road that runs south from Aguila to the Harquahalas is named Eagle Eye road, and here's the Eagle Eye

Here's a shot of the old observatory building with a bit more dynamic range

Harquahala Peak Smithsonian Observatory trip

Who is online