Sept 15 – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC “Sunset and Space Station Night Ride” – Carefree to Humboldt Mtn  

Thursday Sept 15, 2022 – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC “Sunset and Space Station Night Ride” – Carefree to Humboldt Mtn  

The member ride sign-ups have been low this past month due to the heat and weekend monsoon activity so I am opening this NIGHT RIDE to the general public and our PAUC Facebook Followers (ATVs, UTVs, and SxSs only).  I will only take a total of 15 vehicles as the staging area parking lots can only hold 15 vehicles and recovery trailers.

FYI – only the names of PAUC members will show up on the attendees list.  The ride leader will see everyone’s names including the passengers to make Name Tags.

 

Register for the ride on our Event Calendar on our internet website (https://phoenixatvutvclub.org/event/sept-15-pauc-sunset-and-space-station-night-ride-for-beginners-ride-carefree-to-humboldt-mtn/)  and not on our Facebook Group.

Looking for a fun family outing of pizza, mountain sunsets, starry nights, and a chance to see the International Space Station from the top of a mountain?  Then we have a local North Scottsdale/Carefree area NIGHT RIDE for you!   A majority of OHV riders have never been on a night ride so let’s introduce you to a beginner’s version of a night ride.  We did this ride twice last year and it was a lot of fun!  Timing of this night ride only occurs a few times of the year with the International Space Station Flyover at a specific inclination just after sunset.

The ride was highlighted in the June 2021 issue of our Happy Trails and Dusty Roads newsletter (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dQ75L0r7iARJTaxQBHHfFZ4duivkQMq8/view?usp=sharing).

 

Staging area parking spaces will limit this to 15 vehicles.  Join us for a short easy non-technical Thursday night ride in the nearby North Scottsdale/Carefree area on level terrain with some easy dirt road hill climbs during that Thursday’s overhead flyover of the International Space Station. After watching the sunset from the top of Humboldt Mtn FAA Radar Installation at 5150’, the dark night sky should make for great viewing of the space station.  The ride’s close proximity to Phoenix will also allow people to get home at a reasonable hour. This is a great ride for a FIRST-TIME NIGHT RIDER.  We are going to ride up to Humboldt Mtn in daylight to view the surrounding terrain before the sunset.  Views of Horseshoe Lake, Bartlett Lake, Four Peaks, and the surrounding Cave Creek Mining District generate one of those “Wow!” Kodak moments.  It is extremely enjoyable and scenic!

I usually get a few inquiries from members and friends that like to go on my rides.  If you have an EXTRA OPEN SEAT in your SxS or UTV or want to volunteer as a tailgunner or a flight leader, let me know.  Send me an email (bob.maitzen@gmail.com).   Open seat offers get to move to the front of the pack. 🙂

 

Group photos from the May 2021 night ride

 

 

 

Bring a flashlight and/or headlamps for walking around and reloading your vehicle after the ride.  Stock headlights on your vehicle should suffice. There is no need to have an LED lightbar on your vehicle for this easy night ride but it is always nice to team up with someone on the return to the staging area. This is not a fast ride nor a long ride at 24 miles roundtrip.

 

RIDE HIGHLIGHTS

• A short 0.5 mile NE ride from the Blue Wash Trailhead parking area will be a meet-and-greet PIZZA PARTY under one of the gazebos in the Tonto NFS Sears-Kay Hohokam Indian Ruins (Hohokam village 1050-1200AD).  The park entrance is at Mile Marker 2.9 on the Seven Springs/Cave Creek Road.  If you would like to walk up to the Indian Ruins on the hill, please arrive early and allow yourself at least 45-minutes BEFORE the Pizza Party do the 1/2 mile loop hillside trail walk. There will be a Sign-In roster sheet at one of the gazebo tables.

• The ride will officially start and depart from the Sears-Kay Indian Ruins parking lot (N33° 53.150′ W111° 48.968′) at 5:30PM.  The PIZZA PARTY will start at 4:30PM.  It is a 2-minute ride from the nearby Blue Wash Trailhead parking area (recovery vehicles) to the Indian Ruins parking lot.  You CANNOT stage or park your recovery vehicles in the Indian Ruins parking lot.

• Destination highlight of the ride is to the top of Humboldt Mtn to see the FAA radar installation at 5150′ at sunset via the Seven Springs/Cave Creek Road [FR24] north of Scottsdale/Carefree AZ.  It is a two-lane passenger car smooth dirt road for 8 miles with an easy 4-mile ascent to the top of Humboldt via the SR562 asphalt maintenance road which takes about 45-60 minutes to get there from the staging area. There are two vaulted toilet stops along this ride.  One is at the Sears-Kay Hohokam Indian Ruins staging area parking lot and the other is at the Bronco Trailhead parking area on the way to/from the Humboldt Mtn FAA Radar Installation.

• On Thursday, Sept 15, 2022, the Sunset is at 6:34PM so we will try to get up to Humboldt Mtn by 6:15PM to view the surrounding terrain and mountain shadows before the sunset.  Bring a camp chair or stool to relax and watch the sunset anf ISS Flyover.  Views of Horseshoe Lake, Bartlett Lake, Four Peaks, and the surrounding Cave Creek Mining District generate one of those “Wow!” Kodak moments.

• The International Space Station will pass directly overhead at 7:16PM for 7 minutes rising from 10° above SW to 87° and setting 10° above NE.  Flying overhead at 254 miles at 4.76 miles/sec = 17,227 MPH, it will look like the planet Venus in brightness and size.  We will head home after the fly over.

• The route is 24 miles roundtrip and should take about 3 hours which includes the hour-long sunset photo stop and International Space Station sighting at the top of Humboldt Mtn.  We should be back at the Blue Wash Trailhead parking area around 8:30PM.

 

STAGING AREA AND START TIME
Here are the directions to the staging area.  After unloading your vehicle at the Blue Wash Trailhead parking area, drive 0.5 miles NE on the paved Cave Creek Road to the Sears-Kay Hohokam Indian Ruins park entrance at Mile Marker 2.9.  There is park signage at the entrance.   Inside the park, there will be the Meet-and-Greet PIZZA PARTY and sign-in table under one of the gazebos.  You can also park along both sides of the road but give enough space for someone to retrailer their quad.

The ride will depart at 5:30PM from the nearby Sears-Kay Hohokam Indian Ruins (0.5 miles NE of parking area) after the 5:15PM safety meeting.  Get there EARLY to unload, sign-in, and meet-and-greet other riders and have a slice of Costco pizza.  YOU CANNOT UNLOAD YOUR QUAD IN THE INDIAN RUINS PARKING LOT.

 

Directions from East Valley / Scottsdale by I-101 & Pima Rd

Take Pima Rd exit 36 on the I-101 and head north on Pima Rd 11.8 miles to Cave Creek Rd.  Turn right (east) at the stop sign and go 6.6 miles to the staging area.  You will pass the Bartlett Lake Rd turnoff at 4.2 miles.  Continue straight on Cave Creek Rd towards the Seven Springs area.  The parking area is at Mile Marker 2.3 on the right side of the road at N33° 52.622′ W111° 49.019′ (33.877033, -111.816983) at the Blue Wash Trailhead parking lot.

 

Directions from West Valley or North Phoenix Area.

Take Carefree Hwy east to Scottsdale Rd (7200E).  Scottsdale Rd becomes Tom Darlington Dr north of Carefree Hwy.  Turn north on Tom Darlington Dr and go 0.9 miles north to Stagecoach Pass Rd.  Turn right (east) on Stagecoach Rd and go 2.0 miles (third stopsign) to Pima Rd.  Turn left (north) on Pima Rd and go 0.3 miles to Cave Creek Rd.  Turn right (east) at the stopsign and go 6.6 miles to the staging area.  You will pass the Bartlett Lake Rd turnoff at 4.2 miles.  Continue straight on Cave Creek Rd towards the Seven Springs area.  The parking area is at Mile Marker 2.3 on the right side of the road at N33° 52.622′ W111° 49.019′ (33.877033, -111.816983) at the Blue Wash Trailhead parking lot.

 

Overflow Parking Area

An overflow parking/staging area is 0.2 miles further around curve at the bottom of hill on the west side of the Blue Wash [N33° 52.695′ W111° 48.935′  (33.878250, -111.815583)] at Mile Marker 2.5.

 

TRAIL RATING

This 3-hr night ride has an Easy-level trail rating [Level 1; Green] on a 2-lane graded dirt road with some asphalt road.  ATVs / UTVs / SxSs / ROVs / sport quads are okay on this trail.  Two-Up ATVs okay for passengers.

REFERENCE SCALE FOR DIFFERENT TRAIL BOOK RATINGS

Easy / Moderate / Difficult / Extreme = Green / Blue / Red / Black = Levels 1 / 2 / 3 / 4.

 

SOCIAL DISTANCING BETWEEN MEMBERS AND VEHICLES

Please observe public health directives of 6’-8’ between people and gatherings of <10 people.  If necessary, we will go out on multiple flights to adhere to the public health guidelines.  No handshaking or high-fives or hugging.  Try to exercise caution and stay apart and 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. If you don’t feel well or have not practiced self-quarantine for the past two weeks, DO NOT come on this ride and put others at risk!  All vehicles will maintain adequate spacing to limit dust conditions and social distancing.  All participants MUST wear a mask or dust mask, kerchief, bandana, scarf, or other means of protective personal equipment for their personal safety as well as for the safety of other participants.

COMMUNICATION
Leader, mid-pack wingmen, and tailgunner 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.  We highly recommend bringing a walkie-talkie to listen to approaching traffic, turns, trail conditions, and vehicle breakdowns.

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 snacks and beverages and a light jacket in case it gets windy. Bring a camera for those Kodak moments.  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

The Phoenix ATV / UTV Club is a responsible member of the OHV riding community.  As such, the Club promotes safe, ethical, and responsible operation of OHVs during club rides in accordance with ARIZONA REVISED STATUTE 28-1174A-D SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE OPERATION OF YOUR OHV VEHICLE and in accordance with ARIZONA REVISED STATUTE 28-1381 DRIVING OR ACTUAL PHYSICAL CONTROL WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE, which 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 & MID-PACK WINGMEN NEEDED
We need tailunners for the ride if any member with a radio wants to volunteer. Otherwise, a responsible rider will be appointed at the staging area.  You can also volunteer to be a mid-pack wingmen if you have a radio.

“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 beginner’s night ride and make some new friends!

Happy Trails… Live to Ride… Ride to Live!

Bob Maitzen
(480) 363-7723
bob.maitzen@gmail.com