Arizona Chapter Inaugural Run!

[azdesertrhino]

The Arizona Chapter is now an official Chapter.

We have been planning a run for 01-20-07 for Box Canyon and Coke Ovens in the Florence area..

This will be the Inaugural run for the Arizona Chapter of NAXJA.

We would like to invite all Arizona XJ owners to join us on our Inaugural Run.

The trail is rated a 2.5 and stock XJ should not have any problems running this trail.

I'm not familiar with the area so I'll leave to Steve or someone to post up the meeting place.

Bring lunch and your other necessities!

Come out and join us!:yelclap:

Below is the link to the original thread discussing the run:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=902592

Here is some information regarding the run area:

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2005/Coke_ovens/index.html

[CommandoXJ96]

I'll do my best to be there. Sounds like it will be a fun run.

[1toughxj]

I'm planning on making it.

[AZRockRunner]

Jim, you know you can count on me to be there. And my radio will NOT be broken this time...... LOL

[azdesertrhino]

Map to the general area of the run. (I think.)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Tucson,+AZ&daddr=florence+az&ie=UTF8&sll=32.62649,-111.154293&sspn=1.251414,2.098389&z=8&ll=32.62649,-111.1542&spn=2.502707,4.196777&om=1

[XJ20]

That'll work.
Meet Florence, Az 01-20-07
Leave mcd's 8:30am for Price rd.
Return Florence 5:00pm

There’s a mcd’s at 801 North Highway 79 Florence, AZ 85232
(highway 79 near gila river)
Here’s a map.
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=801+North+Highway+79+Florence,+AZ +85232&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=12&ll=33.062486,-111.384544&spn=0.098979,0.278091&iwloc=addr (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=801+North+Highway+79+Florence,+AZ+85232&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=12&ll=33.062486,-111.384544&spn=0.098979,0.278091&iwloc=addr)

[cw50must]

Ah shoot, I'll be at Glamis that weekend. I'll have to catch up at the next one.

[azdesertrhino]

I received a PM regarding potential need for State Trust land permits for this area. I'm not familiar with the area. Does anyone know if this is state trust land or not?


Also, kind of off topic!

Nev and I are considering trying out the new toy hauler for this trip and spending the night, coming back Sunday morning. It's close enough for me to get a feel for the new rig towing etc.

Anyone know of a hotel up there that has a parking lot big enough for the truck and a trailer?

Thanks,

[gllemley]

That'll work.
Meet Florence, Az 01-20-07
Leave mcd's 8:30am for Price rd.
Return Florence 5:00pm

There’s a mcd’s at 801 North Highway 79 Florence, AZ 85232
(highway 79 near gila river)
Here’s a map.
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=801+North+Highway+79+Florence,+AZ +85232&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=12&ll=33.062486,-111.384544&spn=0.098979,0.278091&iwloc=addr (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=801+North+Highway+79+Florence,+AZ+85232&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=12&ll=33.062486,-111.384544&spn=0.098979,0.278091&iwloc=addr)

[gllemley]

Steve,
I will be there with my grandson. It is just the right event for both of us.
George Lemley
xj97gll@cox.net
AZVJC
ArizonaXJ

[rockwerks]

I will try to get down to it.....after all its my Birthday. It will have to be in Ali's XJ if I can get the new TC in, intime. mine wont be ready

[TUFFXJ]

Ill do my best but thats a CRAZY weekend to try and get away for...birthdays and kids!!!:jester:

[rockwerks]

Ill do my best but thats a CRAZY weekend to try and get away for...birthdays and kids!!!:jester:

Bring em with we can have cake on the trail!

[XJ20]

Well I just read this about the coke ovens. I’ll try and affirm this from someone.

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3823 (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3823)

That doesn’t mean we can’t go there but we would have to look from the trail whereas you could drive right up to the ovens and go inside them as it has been the last few years. Before that they were closed for a period of time.

As far as needing a permit some say yes, I say no. State trust has acquired land along the gila river but I don’t see it on their own map being at the coke ovens. Plus the closing of the coke ovens by the owner as mentioned above means the state doesn’t own the land there. The area you need the permit for is mostly along the cottonwood canyon rd and hwy 79. You can’t even park there while waiting for your group to arrive without a permit. However I was told by an agent that if you drive through there and don’t stop you don’t need the permit. They also said that if you park outside the fence along the hwy you don’t need a permit. I have been checked by agents many times on cottonwood canyon rd.

That said I have my permit. That way I don’t have to worry about what I think. They can not be obtained in Tucson any longer. You have to mail in the permit printed from their website and mailed to phx. Phx people can go in person. Here is the url for the permit. Print out the form from the link near the bottom of the page that says permit application.

http://www.land.state.az.us/programs/natural/rec_offroad_permit.htm (http://www.land.state.az.us/programs/natural/rec_offroad_permit.htm)

Here is the url for the map. Click the interactive or the large static map and you will see how the trust land breaks up. You can see a small white spots representing private land along the gila. That’s Cochran and the coke ovens. There’s no state land surrounding those places.
http://www.dakotacom.net/~jeepster/tipshades.gif

http://www.land.state.az.us/maps/server_help_swsmr/online_maps.htm (http://www.land.state.az.us/maps/server_help_swsmr/online_maps.htm)

[LiquidOps]

I'd love more than anything to go and meet all you guys....

However... that drive from Peoria is gonna kill me...

Maybe next time, when it's a little closer...

Tread lightly and have fun!

Steven

[Sc00by]

UGH I have to work the next 2 weekends... AND I also read that the Coke Ovens are now closed :(

[rockwerks]

I'd love more than anything to go and meet all you guys....

However... that drive from Peoria is gonna kill me...

Maybe next time, when it's a little closer...

Tread lightly and have fun!

Steven

drive from Peoria to FJ? Hell If I go i will be traveling 120 miles farther than that LOL, my closest trail iis 110 miles away....

[azdesertrhino]

There is a report out that the Coke Ovens are closed. May Wind up doing another trail there that's a little more technical.

Steve (XJ20) is doing a little more checking!!

More news to come!:patriot:

[Fergie]

Locker is goin in today, and the bigger MTs go on this weekend.

I'll be set!

[1toughxj]

How about a trip out to the Martinez Cabins?? That shouldn't be too bad for all.

[XJ20]

Folks, some changes are being planned for the NAXJA arizona chapter’s inaugural run. The day, location, meeting time, and finishing time will remain the same.

Our final destination for the run will be lower ajax trail, located along the ajax mine rd at the intersection of mineral mtn rd. The morning portion of our trip will be through box canyon, a very scenic, moderate run that can be accomplished with a stock xj.

From there we would continue north to the ajax/woodpecker mining area via mineral mtn rd for lunch. After lunch anyone who wants to run lower ajax, a 3.5 rated trail will have the opportunity to do so. Anyone who wants to follow this trail via the main ajax road to watch some of our well-built xj’s do some rock crawling can do so. There will be some opportunities for the stock xj’s to flex out, too. Ajax and woodpecker mines are also in the immediate area for viewing.

The return trip will be through box canyon back to florence, az.

These changes are being planned due to the coke ovens closure controversy and to allow members with well-built 4wd’s an opportunity to attend this event with something a little more challenging than was previously arranged.

Your thoughts on these changes are welcome. http://www.dakotacom.net/~jeepster/tipshades.gif

[rockwerks]

Folks, some changes are being planned for the NAXJA arizona chapter’s inaugural run. The day, location, meeting time, and finishing time will remain the same.

Our final destination for the run will be lower ajax trail, located along the ajax mine rd at the intersection of mineral mtn rd. The morning portion of our trip will be through box canyon, a very scenic, moderate run that can be accomplished with a stock xj.

From there we would continue north to the ajax/woodpecker mining area via mineral mtn rd for lunch. After lunch anyone who wants to run lower ajax, a 3.5 rated trail will have the opportunity to do so. Anyone who wants to follow this trail via the main ajax road to watch some of our well-built xj’s do some rock crawling can do so. There will be some opportunities for the stock xj’s to flex out, too. Ajax and woodpecker mines are also in the immediate area for viewing.

The return trip will be through box canyon back to florence, az.

These changes are being planned due to the coke ovens closure controversy and to allow members with well-built 4wd’s an opportunity to attend this event with something a little more challenging than was previously arranged.

Your thoughts on these changes are welcome. http://www.dakotacom.net/~jeepster/tipshades.gif

if ya put it off till the first week of FEB, I will be able to make it LOL

This came up too quick for me to schedule. the run sounds great, and saturday runs are usually out....sundays are open

[XJSROCK]

From there we would continue north to the ajax/woodpecker mining area via mineral mtn rd for lunch. After lunch anyone who wants to run lower ajax, a 3.5 rated trail will have the opportunity to do so.

http://www.dakotacom.net/~jeepster/tipshades.gif

Thanks for adding AJAX!!!! :yelclap:

Sandy

[gllemley]

There is a report out that the Coke Ovens are closed. May Wind up doing another trail there that's a little more technical.

Steve (XJ20) is doing a little more checking!!

More news to come!:patriot:

[gllemley]

Jim,
It was good meeting you yesterday. After the the group stopped for repairs, I continued on to the Coke Ovens. A couple of the hills on the way were fun as I only have 32s. My grandson and I both enjoyed the day.
Sincerely,
George Lemley
XJ97GLL@cox.net

[azdesertrhino]

Jim,
It was good meeting you yesterday. After the the group stopped for repairs, I continued on to the Coke Ovens. A couple of the hills on the way were fun as I only have 32s. My grandson and I both enjoyed the day.
Sincerely,
George Lemley
XJ97GLL@cox.net


We were concerned you had disappeared. It took quite a bit of conversation with the group to realize at what point you had left.

Hope to have you hook up with us again. Glad y'all enjoyed the day.