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PAUC EXPLORATORY TABLE MESA OHV AREA RIDE
April 18, 2020 @ 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
April 18, 2020 – PAUC EXPLORATORY TABLE MESA OHV AREA RIDE
On Saturday April 18th, at 9:00AM, Bill Poppo and I will lead an exploratory PAUC CLUB RIDE in the Table Mesa OHV Recreation Area. This is a desert and mountain hills ride through some varied and beautiful desert / mountain scenery. Bring a camera for those Kodak moments. Our plan is to explore some of the OHV trails to obtain GPS coordinates to lay out a FUTURE Geocache / Treasure Hunt event ride.
SOCIAL DISTANCING BETWEEN MEMBERS AND VEHICLES: Please observe public health directives of 6’-8’ between people and gatherings of <10 people. No handshaking or high-fives or hugging. Try to exercise caution and stay off to the side of individuals instead of being downwind of them when talking. All vehicles will maintain adequate spacing to limit dust conditions and social distancing. All participants must wear a mask or dust mask or kerchief, bandana, scarf, or other means of protective personal equipment for their personal safety as well as for the safety of other participants.
RIDE DESCRIPTION
The general riding area is northwest out of the Table Mesa OHV Recreation Area. We will plan out the adventure route at the staging area. Sometime during the day, we hope to ride northwest down to the Aqua Fria River water crossing #2 which is usually a shallow stream at this time of year. We don’t know the water levels at this time or if it is crossable. On the other side of the stream crossing, we will take trail 9999 towards the Indian Fort. Our destination highlight stop will be at the Indian Fort [N34° 01.198′ W112° 10.757′] at approximately 5.5 miles. You will be able to climb to the top of the Indian Fort via a narrow steep slot crevasse about 20’ up with handholds and solid rock step ledges. It’s worth the climb for the Kodak moment and views over the river canyon and gold panning claims.
Another meet-and-greet stop is on trail 9959 at the mountaintop viewpoint looking back over the whole Table Mesa OHV Area. We may descend into Cottonwood Creek Wash and stay on 9959 which follows a rocky and sandy wash and canyon with a narrow mining trail. A local rancher has installed and locked a gate preventing access to the Tip Top mining district.
POST-RIDE DESERT DESSERT BAR
Our club will be providing Costco apple pie, cookies, sodas, and lemon/brownie bites for a post-ride social event Desert Dessert Bar after the ride to top off the ride. Hang around for a little while to socialize and decompress after re-trailering your vehicles.
STAGING AREA AND START TIME
The ride will start from the Little Pan Staging and Campground Area site which is 3.4 miles (15 min) from the freeway into the Table Mesa OHV Recreation Area at 9:00AM.
You can view the staging area on the Google Maps Satellite view at N34°00’14.4″W 112°09’41.5″ (or enter the Google map coordinates 34.004001, -112.161515). You can also print out a Table Mesa Route Map from the following BLM URL address:
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/camping/dev_camps/table-mesa.html
Directions to the Little Pan Staging Area: Take I-17 to the Table Mesa exit 236. Turn west (left) over the freeway and take the first right (north) two-lane frontage road on the west side of I-17 onto W Table Mesa Road. Do not miss this turn or you will get back on the freeway. Proceed 1.7 miles NW on W Table Mesa Road (dirt road) past the pipeline to the first intersection and take the right fork NNW onto the AZCO Mine Road (trail 9999). Go on this right fork “pot-holed” road for 0.7 miles and turn left (west) onto the Little Pan Mine Road (trail 9998). Continue west on Little Pan Mine Road for 1.0 mile over a small rise and turn right into the Little Pan Staging and Campground Area lot & vaulted toilet by trail 9998B.
Get there early by 8:00AM to unload your quad, sign-in, and meet-and-greet the riders. The SAFETY MEETING will be at 8:45AM. The ride will depart at 9:00AM. Depending on the sign-up response, we may go out in multiple flights.
TRAIL RATING
Overall, the Table Mesa OHV Area is usually rated an Easy-to-Moderate (Level 1-2; Green-Blue) trail rating but some trails may have washouts from recent rains or may have degraded to an occasional Difficult (Level 3; Red) rating. DEFINITION: Will have some spots that are off-camber; some hilly/rocky spots and steep slopes; recommended for experienced drivers with ability to ride at medium to high speeds on rocky uneven terrain. Parts of the trail follows washes, which can change after heavy rains and flooding. UTVs / SxSs / ROVs are okay on this trail. Low range gear recommended for a few rocky and steep areas. Not recommended for sports quads or three-wheelers.
REFERENCE SCALE FOR DIFFERENT TRAIL BOOK RATINGS
Easy / Moderate / Difficult / Extreme = Green / Blue / Red / Black = Levels 1 / 2 / 3 / 4.
COMMUNICATION
Flight leaders, mid-pack wingmen, and tailgunners will be on GMRS/FRS Channel 5 (sub-channel 0) in case you want to bring your walkie-talkies or CB / HAM radios. The corresponding UHF channel frequency is 462.6625 MHz depending on your radio. I highly recommend bringing a walkie-talkie to listen to approaching traffic, turns, and trail conditions.
VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
All ATVs, UTVs, & SxSs should be street-legal and have the Arizona Off Highway Vehicle Decal sticker. Dress appropriately and keep hydrated. Bring a lunch, snacks, and beverages. Bring a camera for those Kodak moments. Extra fuel is usually not required but each driver should know their vehicle’s gas consumption and plan accordingly.
Helmet that is properly fitted, fastened, and has a USDOT safety rating for those 18 years of age and younger who ride on an OHV. Riders in an OHV such as a ROV / UTV / SxS or similar vehicle, while recommended for safety, do not require a helmet unless a rider is under 18 years of age. The Phoenix ATV/UTV Club promotes the use of helmets on all its rides. Eye protection is required for operators of vehicles not equipped with a windshield. You should use common sense for eye protection, bandanas, scarves, and dust masks for large group riding due to the dust conditions anyway.
SAFE, ETHICAL and RESPONSIBLE OPERATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
All Phoenix ATV/UTV Club members, visitors, and guests are expected to have appropriate vehicle registration, license, and personal insurance and to operate their vehicles in a responsible manner. The Phoenix ATV/UTV Club is a responsible member of the OHV riding community. As such the Club promotes safe and responsible operation of OHVs during club rides. Arizona Revised Statute 28-1381 prohibits the operation of motorized vehicles, including OHVs, while under the influence of any substance that may impair the operator’s judgment or ability. Therefore, the Club prohibits the consumption or use of any substance during a club ride that has the potential to impair the operator’s judgment or ability.
TAIL GUNNER
If my usual outstanding wingman can’t make it, I will need a tail gunner for the ride if any PAUC member wants to volunteer. Otherwise, a responsible rider will be appointed at the staging area.
“You can always go on a ride with people. It’s best to go on a ride with friends.” Come join a few of us for a fun ride!
Live to Ride… Ride to Live! Happy Trails To You… Until We Meet Again…
Bob Maitzen, President
Phoenix ATV/UTV Club
(480) 363-7723
Bob.Maitzen@gmail.com
Steve Block planning on attending Table Mesa RideNow