Four Peaks Pickup 2010 Updates!

For more info see: www.fourpeakspickup.blogspot.com

Four Peaks Pickup, Saturday. February 7th, 2010.

This year we will be cleaning both Four Peaks AND Sycamore! Both of these areas see a lot of responsible use and along with it, a lot of irresponsible use. So lets get out there and change public opinion to help everyone realize that there is a responsible majority in the outdoor user community!

Get your official "Four Peaks Pickup" stickers here: http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=982


We also have a "Paypal" donation link set up here at the top of this page! Every little bit helps us cover the costs of the cleanup from a free lunch for the volunteers to the trash bags we use. Thank you! http://fourpeakspickup.blogspot.com/

Ignore the DATE on the below map. It's from last year! This year its February 6th, Saturday. 2010



Great thanks needs to be given to Blue Sky Sanitation. This is their second year enthusiastically supporting the cleanup.
I recommend using them for ALL of you cleanup needs!
11029 N Indian Wells Dr
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
Phone: (480) 837-3860



Keep this link handy to report anyone you see dumping trash in area in Arizona!!
http://www.arizonacleanandbeautiful.org/LitterForm/LitterForm_page.html

The offending person will get a letter like this at the very LEAST.

A classic motorcycle finds it way into my garage.

I went on a little ride around town before our friends Graham and Connie came into town on their way from a week long trip in Baja.
This site just encompasses so many holiday feelings for me:


They've taken this uber rare Land Rover Defender 110 all over the world. Including the Sahara via a trip from London to Cape Town.
And the Jacksons set up:



ON TO THE BIKE!

So this little fella was on craigslist and after having to sell my last bike after being unemployed for the better part of the last year I had to have something with two wheels and a motor!

Here is her story as I know it, if you care about that sort of thing.
So there was a guy bidding on a storage unit site unseen. He put in his silent auction bid and actually one. He was only interested in the cargo container itself to use as a storage shed. He was stoked when he found a Chevy small block inside, but not so much when he saw an dusty greasy old jap bike in milk crates.
He called his friend and asked if he was interested in a project. Being a bit of a bike addict he was happy to oblige. After getting a new title he decided it was worth rebuilding the motor and making her whole again. Once he saw she ran, he painted her up. After a while he became bored and put her up for sale.
That's where I came in. This 4 Cylinder, 4 Carb, inline cylinder 8 valve fella was a bit of a racer in its day. 72 HP aint bad for 1978.
She pulls strong, strong enough to get me into trouble.

Here she is. I was going to go cafe etc etc. After a freezing cold ride tonight where I couldn't wipe the smile from my face, I may just leave her alone in all her glory. We'll see.








Now its time for a well balanced meal with lots of color.

Four Peaks Pickup 2010, STICKERS and DONATIONS!

Get your official "Four Peaks Pickup" stickers here: http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=982


We also have a "Paypal" donation link set up here at the top of this page! Every little bit helps us cover the costs of the cleanup from a free lunch for the volunteers to the trash bags we use. Thank you! http://fourpeakspickup.blogspot.com/

Montana Mountain, AZ

Be careful out there and use common sense. I was sad to read about a group of people that went over a cliff just south of Crown King a couple days ago.

Montana Mountain is a trail that I've been wanting to do for a while. It's just outside of Superior, AZ not far from Florence Junction. I sometimes use Charles A. Wells books to get ideas on where to explore. If you want the book, get it here and trust me, pay for for the spiral bound version.
Here is some additional info on the trail.
This trail was perfect since we only had a half day. We left Phoenix at 8:15 and by 9:15 we were on the dirt. Even after having lunch in Superior we made it back to Phoenix by 2:30pm.

First off, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I enjoy putting out my wooden friends. You CAN buy class like this:


I was pleasantly surprised at the amazing views within the first few miles of the highway. (US60)


The road is good to start with. We chose not to air down, but it would make for a nice and smooth ride.

The views just keep hitting you around every corner.




This has to be my favorite picture from the trip:




I'm naming this one Porcupine Hill.

Along the route are a couple of mines and corrals.




The trucks




The trail constantly increases in elevation. At this point the views become distant. about 3800 feet here.

Although dangerous, I would love to see some of these waterfalls during a good rain.

There was quite a dust storm going on in the valley. It almost looks fake!


As we progressed above 4200 feet the Saguaros disappear.

After a bit of high desert the trail starts to get nice and green. We saw a lot of deer hunters, but the trail was otherwise nice and quiet so far.




At the top of the mountain, 5500 feet, the weather was frigid! By this point the trail was challenging enough to stop anything that wasn't four wheel drive which was nice to keep the traffic down.


There is a bit of tight shelf road. If you've done a lot of wheeling in Colorado it's no big deal, but if its wet be careful!






There are lots of side trails to explore in this area!


Slober monster.

The trail is full of switchbacks on the way down!



Even with the lack of rain the riverbed is nice and green.


Towards the bottom of the trail it gets nice and smooth again.

We headed into Superior for lunch. The old smoke stack of a forgotten mine looms in the distance.

The new mining operations outside Superior, AZ.




The green chili bacon cheeseburger was good!


Be safe out there!
Tim