Payson Ride 4/10/2010 - Page 3

AZGary · #31 03/07/10, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by D two

Thats a fun little trail,I use it to get from beaver valley to the control rd all the time. On the beaver valley end theres a place that goes down to the river and theres some short trails down there that I ride with my nieces and nephews.Thats only about a 15 to 20 min. ride on a quad one way, but its cool ride.Up that control road is hours of riding,you can take that out to the 260,we always go to some little town up there to a bar and grill called the double d.good times.

What I was targeting for my group from work is about a 2 hour round trip from staging area (mostly non-technical) but some of the guys want to try to hurt themselves. I think the trip up FR144 on top of the rest would work for the non-techies. Plenty of other trails for guys who want to run while we take a break.

I also notice a trail that looks like it overlooks Hellsgate Canyon. Is that the case or is it an optical illusion?

D two · #32 03/07/10, 10:48 PM

I don't have a FR map and I've never paid much attention to the trail signs so I dont know names of places but i've rode that area a lot and could reconize trails on a map.I do believe that 144 trail starts by a creek bottom and comes out up where the 198 meets the rd from whispering pines that goes out to the 260.We usually take that on our way up to the double d. Its about a two hour ride if you stretch it.

AZGary · #33 03/07/10, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by D two

I don't have a FR map and I've never paid much attention to the trail signs so I dont know names of places but i've rode that area a lot and could reconize trails on a map.I do believe that 144 trail starts by a creek bottom and comes out up where the 198 meets the rd from whispering pines that goes out to the 260.We usually take that on our way up to the double d. Its about a two hour ride if you stretch it.

here is the trail from google earth I am referring to. I PIN'd Whispering Pines for reference for you.

David Vaughn · #34 03/08/10, 8:04 AM

AZGary - We live in west Payson, just minutes from Green Valley Park. Don't have a dirt rider, but spent 8 years working with the local Sheriff's Office as a Range Deputy. I got to know lots of the backwoods areas of Northern Gila County, even though it was roughly 15 years ago.

Control Road (FR64) runs east/west from Hwy's 87 & 260. The community mentioned by D two is Tonto Village; and the Double D Bar and Cafe is up for sale.

There are several trails which runs south from the Tonto Village area down to the Hellsgate area.

Reference camping in Tonto National Forest on the Payson Ranger District, at present it is wide open for camping. No rules about camping only within 50 yards of NFS sigange. Find an open spot deep in the woods, set up camp.

Regarding FR144, I can't speak to how it is now, but it used to be a good road before the Dude Fire took out most trails in 1990.

As already mentioned, there are hundreds of miles in rarely used quad trails in Northern Gila County.

- David

D two · #35 03/08/10, 8:32 AM

That is not the trail I was thinking of and I'm not sure if Ive ever been on that.I'll try to check it out on google earth and see if I reconize it.

AZGary · #36 03/08/10, 9:17 AM

Originally Posted by David Vaughn

AZGary - We live in west Payson, just minutes from Green Valley Park. Don't have a dirt rider, but spent 8 years working with the local Sheriff's Office as a Range Deputy. I got to know lots of the backwoods areas of Northern Gila County, even though it was roughly 15 years ago.

Control Road (FR64) runs east/west from Hwy's 87 & 260. The community mentioned by D two is Tonto Village; and the Double D Bar and Cafe is up for sale.

There are several trails which runs south from the Tonto Village area down to the Hellsgate area.

Reference camping in Tonto National Forest on the Payson Ranger District, at present it is wide open for camping. No rules about camping only within 50 yards of NFS sigange. Find an open spot deep in the woods, set up camp.

Regarding FR144, I can't speak to how it is now, but it used to be a good road before the Dude Fire took out most trails in 1990.

As already mentioned, there are hundreds of miles in rarely used quad trails in Northern Gila County.

- David

David,

Thanks, I am in you neck of Payson almost every weekend eating at Macky's. I love that place. :-)

I know where Tonto Vliiage is although I have never been there. It comes up as a common starting point for lost of people since it is very easy to access from 260. I am going to take a trip up 144 this weekend and check it out. I noticed Saturday the lack of trees up there, is that a result of the fire you were talking about? I just figured it was a terrain thing.

The good thing is regardless of where we take off from, we know there are multitudes of trails in the area. Which of course leads me to wonder how the USFS is planning on enforcing the shutdown of trails in Tonto in the next few months.

I hope the have a good budget to hire lots more deputies. You might be getting a call.

RZR60 · #37 03/08/10, 11:30 AM

Guy's, I'm interested in this ride but have no idea where you're talking about. I've camped at some of the improved campgrounds off 260 (Houston Mesa, Ponderosa, Canyon Point). Over the past 2 years I've been dry camping off FSR 237. As this ride gets closer, do you plan on publishing the GPS coordinates for the staging and camping area? That would help out the planning/locating process. Thanks and hope to see you up there.

bigbadjon · #38 03/08/10, 11:33 AM

im sure it will all be posted. if you have any specific questions feel free to pm me.

AZGary · #39 03/08/10, 4:42 PM

Originally Posted by RZR60

Guy's, I'm interested in this ride but have no idea where you're talking about. I've camped at some of the improved campgrounds off 260 (Houston Mesa, Ponderosa, Canyon Point). Over the past 2 years I've been dry camping off FSR 237. As this ride gets closer, do you plan on publishing the GPS coordinates for the staging and camping area? That would help out the planning/locating process. Thanks and hope to see you up there.

Absolutely. I have pretty much locked down the staging point, it will be at about 1/4 mile in on FR198 off of Houston Mesa Rd. To get to Houston Mesa Rd continue on HWY 87 past HWY260 for about 2 miles. It is the first right turn past the Home Depot (traffic circle) on Hwy 87 on the north end of Payson. The split of FR198 is about 5 miles up Houston Mesa.

SPLIT OF H-M RD AND FR 198:
34°18'53.40"N 111°17'26.45"W

STAGE AROUND:
34°18'56.91"N 111°17'5.96"W

Date is Saturday April 10th. I am going to be there about 10am and figure we will take off about 11am. The main route is primarily non-technical. But I know some of the guys from my work group want to break some things and several of us plan on hanging out all day. I live in Payson so I wont be over nighting at the camping area but I know this is all open camping and great riding so I am sure people will be trucking in and out all day. More than the organized run, I am looking to just have some fun. I am pretty sure at least one of my co-workers is talking about setting up and bbq'ing also.

Jon was talking about doing a run on sunday to try to hurt people. Right Jon?

Jon showed me a trail about 100 yards from the staging area that runs up to the East Verde River that looks like fun and I may do that later Saturday or come back sunday morning. My wife is planning on coming but she is probably crazier than me.

I will collect the "track" on my GPS Saturday and try to post the ".gpb" or ".gpx" file so everyone has the route as well. If someone decides to leave the group, I am not responsible for their well being.

bigbadjon · #40 03/08/10, 4:58 PM

Jon was talking about doing a run on sunday to try to hurt people. Right Jon?

it wont be that bad.....but dont forget your magic unerwear!

David Vaughn · #41 03/09/10, 6:51 AM

AZGary, the lack of trees is a direct result of the Dude Fire. The heat from that fire was intense to say the least. Scorched the earth for some time afterwards.

Payson Flycasters has adopted the East Verde as their home waters, and will be working with many differing entities in an effort to both clean and improve this stream as a blue water fishery.

I'm in the book if you would like to call and discuss Rim Country.

- David

bigbadjon · #42 03/09/10, 8:59 AM

Originally Posted by David Vaughn

AZGary, the lack of trees is a direct result of the Dude Fire. The heat from that fire was intense to say the least. Scorched the earth for some time afterwards.

Payson Flycasters has adopted the East Verde as their home waters, and will be working with many differing entities in an effort to both clean and improve this stream as a blue water fishery.

I'm in the book if you would like to call and discuss Rim Country.

- David

hey david,
small world.

gary,

i have personally spent some time with david. he does know his stuff about the area.

AZGary · #43 03/09/10, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by David Vaughn

AZGary, the lack of trees is a direct result of the Dude Fire. The heat from that fire was intense to say the least. Scorched the earth for some time afterwards.

Payson Flycasters has adopted the East Verde as their home waters, and will be working with many differing entities in an effort to both clean and improve this stream as a blue water fishery.

I'm in the book if you would like to call and discuss Rim Country.

- David

I'll have to do that. Maybe we can meet at Macky's one day. Like I said I eat there all the time (and of course me and Doug talk Cardinal football)

Gary

David Vaughn · #44 03/10/10, 7:44 AM

Macky's Grill...yup, we eat there a lot as well. A couple of us were talking about ditching school for an extended "business lunch" in the patio area. Perhaps once we return from spring break we'll just have to do that.

- David

bigbadjon · #45 03/10/10, 2:13 PM

adding to this trying not to steal garys thunder.....saturday is going to be tough for me although ill be there in part when things are more finalized. my dad wants to go to the civil war reinactment at green valley park from 12-4 on the 10th. sooooo..................................ahhhhhh
sunday there will be a dual sport offered. will be under 100 miles. mesa del to crackerjack to doll baby to rye to jakes to gisiela to gunrange to reservation to lunch.

55 miles
add 16 more

there will also be several "get out of it and go home" points along the way.