Eastern AZ/NM in April ?

[slomove]

Oh my....just returned fom CO/WY I am already wondering about the next tour.

Since it will be early April and only one week (i.e. Spring Break) it can not be that far from SoCal. So I was considering to trailer to a place like Prescott, AZ and go on a 7-day loop from there along the Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, Gila NF, Coronado Trail, Fort Apache, Salt River and back to Prescott. Something like that, but just a first rough idea:

Prescott-Show Low (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=E+AZ-69%2FE+State+Route+69&daddr=AZ-89A%2FHampshire+Ave+to:AZ-89A+to:Mormon+Lake+Rd+West+Side+to:AZ-487%2FFR3%2FFS+3+Rd+to:AZ-260%2FAZ-87+to:S+Clark+Rd&geocode=FcQ5DwIdlqZM-Q%3BFWBFEgIdBmlR-Q%3BFZrcEwIdnLpV-Q%3BFRiAFQIdiOxa-Q%3BFRybEgIdyaFb-Q%3BFUydCgIdIlpd-Q%3BFeyECgIdlpFw-Q&hl=en&mra=mr&via=1,2,3,4&sll=34.115216,-109.837189&sspn=0.756073,1.223602&ie=UTF8&ll=34.671617,-111.242065&spn=1.502%20099,2.447205&z=9)

Show Low-Silver City (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=W+Deuce+of+Clubs&daddr=AZ-260+to:Bursum+Rd%2FNM-159%2FNM-78+to:32.682152,-108.961029+to:US-180&geocode=FdKFCgIdHrRw-Q%3BFRaaBwIdcAp4-Q%3BFWiT_QEdmNaD-Q%3B%3BFSwu9AEdcNiL-Q&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=1&mrsp=3&sz=10&via=1,3&sll=32.649782,-108.724823&sspn=0.768924,1.223602&ie=UTF8&ll=33.300691,-109.239807&spn=1.526525,2.447205&z=9)

Silver City-Gila (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-180&daddr=NM-15+to:NM-152+to:NM-211+to:32.958554,-108.579254&geocode=FUI79AEdSv6L-Q%3BFVBt-gEdSNyM-Q%3BFTRH9gEdVo-U-Q%3BFWPl9gEdhziH-Q%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=11&via=1,2,3&sll=32.88766,-108.535995&sspn=0.383438,0.611801&ie=UTF8&ll=32.976412,-108.091736&spn=0.766103,1.223602&z=10)

Gila-White River (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=NM-211&daddr=Coronado+Trail%2FUS-191+to:Forest+Service+Rd+249+to:F+R+249+to:F+R+249 +to:AZ-273+to:34.048108,-109.90448&geocode=FfoC9wEdEjGH-Q%3BFaAy-QEdMAt7-Q%3BFYW1BAIdO2V9-Q%3BFViyBAId8aB8-Q%3BFdedBAIdcGN7-Q%3BFSa1BQIdhXh5-Q%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=6&sz=9&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=33.500179,-109.822083&sspn=1.523025,2.447205&ie=UTF8&ll=33.555129,-109.476013&spn=1.522057,2.447205&z=9)

White River-Punkin Center (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=AZ-188&daddr=33.801974,-110.143433+to:AZ-73&geocode=Fd7KBAIdQHhd-Q%3B%3BFRrcBwIdFuxy-Q&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1&sll=33.911454,-110.832825&sspn=1.51575,2.447205&ie=UTF8&ll=33.998027,-110.621338&spn=1.514209,2.447205&z=9)

Punkin Center-Prescott (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=AZ-188&daddr=E+Camino+del+Santo+to:AZ-74%2FE+Carefree+Hwy+to:Grand+Ave%2FUS-60+to:34.56821,-112.438889&geocode=Fd7KBAIdQHhd-Q%3BFWbOAAIdgCxV-Q%3BFVy8AwIdhthS-Q%3BFeFgBQIdub1I-Q%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=11&via=1,2,3&sll=34.427868,-112.453308&sspn=0.376636,0.611801&ie=UTF8&ll=34.118626,-112.104492&spn=1.512056,2.447205&z=9)



Now my question for the Locals (Lowflyer comes to mind).....

Does that sound reasonable with a Seven? Or is it just too friggin' cold and risking snowing in at that time of the year? I don't mind packing a down jacket but I was not really planning to suffer.

Thanks,

Gert

P.S.: By the way....would anybody be interested?

[scannon]

How much of that is dirt, Gert?

I'm interested.

[lowflyer]

Depends... April is a little early, I think, but ya' never know.

Right now I'm looking at a couple of days in early October for my "annual" run from Prescott, through Jerome to Sedona, and then on to Flagstaff - lunch - then return. I also spend some time in the Prescott area which has some "dandy" roads. I normally try to make my trips during the week, which limits the amount of tourist traffic I have to deal with.

Being an old codger, I try to limit my trips to around 100 miles, one way.

I think if I spent as much time in the car as your suggesting, I'd need an engine hoist to get me out!!

Getting back to April, the altitude of most of the places you're talking about is around 5-7000 feet. Most of the time that would give you temps of 60-70 during the day and 35-40 at night. I've also seen snow in Prescott in April, having lived there for 10 years.

A couple of years ago we went to Prescott in March and ended up being quite bundled up for our rides.

I would say, make your plans but keep a sharp eye on the weather before you set out.

Keep me advised as your plans get closer, I may join you for a leg or two.

Ken

[Taber10]

Guys,
When I used to live in Albuquerque, I did the "Tour of the Inner Loop" in the Gila Forrest, a two day bicycle ride sponsored by Twin Sisters in Silver City. Wonderful road for USA7s, and none of our route was dirt. Some loose gravel, some horses, but really overall great riding.
Taber

[slomove]

How much of that is dirt, Gert?

I'm interested.

Well, I was not really planning to do dirt roads (although somehow I always end up on one or the other...). While not sure about the quality of the pavement of all of the highways, I have been through Globe, Alpine and Silver City before and these roads were actually quite good.

There is a piece west of Alpine that is a Forest Road and was recommended somewhere as one of the nicer Arizona Byways but that needs a bit more research if it is really suitable for a Seven.

[slomove]

Keep me advised as your plans get closer, I may join you for a leg or two.

Ken

Thanks for the info. I will keep updates posted here.

[pierats]

I can vouch for the roads around Silver City. They are quite fun, very little traffic and very scenic. The only issue is that gas can be a problem...especially if you are running a car with a limited range. I ended up coasting down the pass on 152 into Hillsboro - where we found a single station (YAY).

[scannon]

I asked a friend who is a native of the area his opinion on the route, here are his comments:

89A, 191 and 60 are fine roads, definitely in the top 5 Arizona roads. Depending on where you are from, you will be variously impressed. Sedona is interesting to people who have not seen it. Strip mines are visible from 191. Traffic and enforcement are usually light on 191 and 60. Of course Colorado US 550 is better.

The route is generally on the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. Expect low of 30-40F in Show Low and high of 60-70F. At lower elevation Punkin Center about 50-60 low and 70-80 high (although 90 F is possible in April). Snow anywhere on this route in April would be totally freak.

[lowflyer]

Total agreement with "scannon's" opinion.

If you are not already familiar, try checking out www.motorcycleroads.us for a listing of their favorite roads.

One note I would offer, going through Sedona on 89A on a Saturday/Sunday can be a challenge to both the driver's patience, and the car's cooling system. The traffic can be a nightmare with tour buses, "Wally Trolleys", and tourists trying to park so they can get a deal on the spiritual crystals!

Also, not sure if you're planning on overnighting at the spots you mentioned, but some of them are only a wide spot in the road.

One other thing you might want to add is the road from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flats (don't remember the route number off hand). It's about 10-12 miles of twisty-twists with nice scenery of the lake in places. Just watch out for the crotch rocket crowd on the weekends. Good restaruant at Tortilla Flats. The pavement runs out about 5 miles beyond TF, so I normally just go back the way I came in.

BTW, Colorado Rt 550 is the most incredible, challenging, scenic and scary road I've ever been on, but that may be because I was driving my wife's Chevy Trailblazer at the time. On the way out of Silverton, the road has a white stripe on the right side to demark the edge of the road - and the end of the world! There is no shoulder, no guard rail and a drop of about 1500 feet with nothing to stop you if you go off! I asked my wife, who was in the passenger's seat to take a picture of it, she only could say, " I can't even look out the window!".

[scannon]

I agree on the Colorado 550. It is a fantastic road, I've had a few fun dices with sport bikes on that road in my Miata. None of them could keep up.

If it would work with the rest of the trip, I'd vote for it's inclusion

[slomove]

One more endorsement for Hwy550; I drove part of it on USA2005.

However.....it is a bridge (or more) too far for me on a one week trip.

But Hwy 550 would be an excellent road to get to Arizona ;-)

I am not sure about the actual overnight stops yet, but one place in the middle of nowhere is the Hon-Dah casino and another one is Casitas de Gila (nothing special, just found it by coincidence).

After all, the feedback tells me it is doable :)

Right now I am planning for the week of 4/3/2010 through 4/10/2010

Gert

[scannon]

Here's another suggestion from my friend in Arizona:

By the way, it is not clear on the last leg of the trip back into Prescott the planned route. It looks like 169, but I'd bear a little to the south across the top of Phoenix, Wickenberg, and north into Prescott on White Spar Road.

Another relatively worthless 'by the way': There is essentially no 'real' town called Pumkin Center. There might be one building with a sign on it or something, but it nothing more than a cute bumpkin sounding name.

[slomove]

Here's another suggestion from my friend in Arizona:

.... There is essentially no 'real' town called Pumkin Center.....



Bear with me....I am still in the research phase. There were 2 questionable motels in town but maybe the route will go somewhere else, anyway.

[MoPho]

My folks live in Prescott, I know that area reasonably well. My father terrorizes those roads with his supercharged Elise.
Would love to join you, but it's probably unlikely I would be able to now that I have this screaming anchor.

Actually, my bigger hurdle would be getting my car out there

[slomove]

Morgan, I bet your folks would LOVE a tour of anchor watch duty for a few days.

While I am so far planning to trailer out, the thought of driving the Seven to Arizona crossed my mind. I have done it for the USA tour in 2005 before and it wasn't that bad (only 105 degrees in September). Would save the hassle of finding a trailer parking spot, too.

Gert

[MoPho]

They can't be trusted with the anchor :p

You can drive the Seven, and I will take your car/trailer out there :D

That's a drive I wouldn't want to do, too much time on the freeway (especially with the 6-speed box), I dislike making that drive in my regular car

[lowflyer]

Not wishing to hijack the thread, but..... I've just booked two nights in Prescott, Oct 5 & 6 for my annual backroad run, stuff yourself with good food, play blackjack, visit friends trip.

Anyone that is interested in joining me, give me a holler at lowflyer1@cox.net.

Ken Edney
Chandler, AZ

[slomove]

With regret I have to cancel the plans for Arizona. Turns out the furlough days last year drained my Paid Time Off account too much (not to mention the checking account).

Oh well, maybe next year.

Gert