Hualapai Mountains (Wells #13) ~ 2nd Attempt

AZKJ · **Posted:** Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:32 am

I have an extra day off this week so Beth and I decided to pack up the Jeep and head up to Kingman for a couple of days. We started to do Hualapai Mountains (Wells #13) last fall, but had to turn around because of a large fallen tree across the trail. We wanted to run it again, so off we go.

I pulled out the maps tonight to see what trails we could run on the way up to Kingman. I found one that goes west out of Wikieup across the very southern end of the Hualapai Mountains. It's a 47 mile trail that ends in Yucca, AZ on I-40, southwest of Kingman.

I'll post up some pics when we get home later this weekend. Here is a map of the two trails we're going to run. Both trails end in Yucca....

SNAFU · **Posted:** Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:42 am

Let me know if you ever go out for a day outting on a friday, for now thats my day off and i'd love to take the jeep out to play a bit and test it. Bad thing is it's stock but has full skids ( minus sliders). But wouldn't mind taking it out a few hours on a friday

AZKJ · **Posted:** Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:00 am

SNAFU... First, welcome to the forum!!

I'm always off Friday too. Anytime you want to run a trail, just post up.

As for a stock Jeep, I presume you're speaking of a Liberty. Don't worry about it being stock height. As long as you have some good A/T tires and full skids, you can go "almost" anywhere a lifted Liberty can go. You just have to watch what you're doing, drive a little slower than the lifted guys and you'll be fine.... :wink:

OT: Was Sgt 1st Class Smith a friend or family member of yours?

AZKJ · **Posted:** Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:40 pm

Mark the Haulapai Mountains (Wells #13) as done on the second attempt!! We were turned back last Nov because of a fallen tree that blocked our way about 5 miles into the trail. This time we were almost forced to turn back 20 miles into the trail because a large rock blocked the trail. But, with expert spotting by Beth, I was able to squeeze by with a foot to spare from the edge and a steep drop off.

All in all I would recommend this trail and say the drive up to Kingman to run it is worthwhile. I would rate it a scenic 2.5+ trail because of all the rocks, many very sharp that could easily take out a tire. It is a narrow mountain trail with some steep drop offs and switchbacks. The trail is very slow going because of the rocks. It took almost 6 hours to run 37 miles. We reached an altitude of 7,034 feet.

If anyone is interested, let us know and we could head up to Kingman over a three day weekend to run it and another trail I know.

The trail is suitable for stock height Liberty with full skids and good A/T tires. Here are some pics and as usual. they don't do the trail justice....

The begining of the trail...

The trail quickly gets rocky...

This is the fallen tree which forced us to turn around last Nov...

A rocky switchback...

A steep downhill section...

Rocky and narrow...

A large rock blocking the trail...

Squeezing by the rock...

More rocks and a narrow trail with a steep drop off...

Rocks, rocks and more rock with 10 miles to go to the valley floor...

Inc · **Posted:** Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:03 pm

Beautiful scenery. I'm jealous.

nosnorb_808 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:32 am

Beautiful

Signcutter21 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:49 pm

great pics and trail report AJ. That looks like a pretty tight squeeze. Good spotting Madam Secretary. Thanks for not letting AJ fall off the mountain. I'll have to put this on my wanna do list too.

Mrs AZKJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:26 pm

Thanks Mike. We can't let anything happen to him. After 14 years I finally have him trained.
:lol:

Beth

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:28 pm

Iam from Vegas and my relatives live in kingman and I always wanted to check out what was going on up in that area. Next time you plan something out I will deff be as long as its on a sunday or I get enough time in advance to take the sat off.

Hualapai Mountains (Wells #13) ~ 2nd Attempt

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