On Saturday morning we gathered at McDonalds on Deer Valley Road, near I -17, before heading out toward Lake Pleasant to hit the Back Way To Crown King trail. One very nice looking bronze Bronco came to the meeting, but did not go on the trip. The owner, Vince, said he wasn't sure if his rig was ready and didn't want to be a burden on the group, but wanted to see us off anyway. We look forward to running with this guy in the future.

Doug Schulz showed up last but not least with his new 5.0 Explorer/Cobra motor to give us eight trucks actually hitting the trail. The impressive motor, and the work Doug did on his engine bay to make it worthy of this stormer, caught everyone's eye. We had a hard time getting started since everyone spent so much time checking out the installation and BSing in general.

Aside from Doug and his daughter, we had trip leader Joe Cayer and his daughter, Todd Zuercher, Dale Bergersen, David Kight, Brad Ellsworth, a new guy named A.C. Larsen and a rider he had, plus my wife, Bonnie Hathaway, and myself. The back way to Crown King from Phoenix starts with freeway, then paved roads, then graded gravel roads, then trails that get fairly rough due to runoff, a fair amount of traffic, and no maintenance. We aired down as soon as we left pavement, to make the gravel roads and washboard easier to take. After taking our usual long interlude to air down, gossip, etc. we became aware that a huge column of Jeeps was coming up behind us, so we got moving quickly.

This trail can take a LONG time if you're behind a sizable column of people and some of them are in stock height trucks. Somewhere along the road I jokingly asked over the CB if our resident historian, Todd Z., could tell us the history of a shot up, rusted out, VW bus carcass we passed by. Todd reported that he didn't really know much about it, but then proceeded to detail how long it had been there, what condition it was in at various points in time, and what other vehicles had been known to exist in that same area in the past!

Soon we came to an optional hillclimb that nearly everyone chose to try. It starts with a steep little ascent and then levels off into a wide, uneven ditch on top, anything but a perfect straddling of the holes leaves you with wheels in the air, tires grinding into wheel fares, etc.

Most made it through with the help of some extra (human) weight distribution at the top

While this was going on, Todd picked up trash. What a guy!

David Kight blew something out in the rearend of his truck though. After turning around with some effort, he started back home in front wheel drive only.

On we marched, and again most of us tried the optional steep climbs, and rough patches all along the route.

An unusual looking Sahuaro Cactus with 2 heads

Around 1 P.M. we reached a clearing where we traditionally have lunch on this run, and did so again. Dale was bothered by some strange noises he's been hearing when doing steep climbs and Doug helped him narrow it down to something coming from down around the Bell housing. This did not lead to a breakdown, fortunately. The new guy with the group noted that his rear differential seemed to be overheating and threatening to lock up. After discussing what a tow truck would cost at this remote location he decided to drive it, carefully, out if at all possible.

Here Todd and a few others picked up trash again. Way to go!

Meeting Quad riders on the trail

There is one obstacle on the trail that is not optional. Near the old Oro Bell mine and townsite there is a rugged stone obstruction shaped like it was designed by nature to snag differentials. On my last trip up this trail a couple of years ago I mounted this rock and thought I had done everything right when I suddenly slid around and heard a hellish bang as my rear-end slammed into the highest part of the rock. The marks are still plain to see in the cast iron today. Before we actually reached it we were stalled at the tail end of another column of vehicles who had arrived before us. I walked up the hill past Jeeps, a dual cab, long bed fullsize pickup, and a couple of stock SUV's. I figured this was going to be a long wait. As I got to the rock I saw that it now has it's own signpost reading "J.D. Rock" and that a Jeep Cherokee was high-centered hard on it with a large crowd gathered around. Maybe that means "Jeep Detaining Rock", I don't know. They eventually Hi-Lifted it and stuffed rocks and boards under the tires, and manually heaved it over the rock.

The meaning of this remnant of a broken tow strap clinging to a Jeep's front bumper eluded us, even though we puzzled over it during CB chat for miles down the road. We concluded it must be a "Jeep Thing" we wouldn't understand. With a little road-building with rocks and boards and spotting the rest of their group over an easier line, they were able to get everyone over it in pretty good order.

As our trip leader, Joe Cayer, went down the hill to get his rig I threw all the road building supplies out of the way and then shot pics as all our group went over with out a problem.

Joe and the new guy even took a more adventurous line to the right side that I hadn't seen any of the earlier group use.

Brad Ellsworth

Dale Bergersen Finally my truck was the next one that needed to go and it was way down the hill. I stepped down the rock to go after it and fell on my backside. I managed to dislocate the little finger on my right hand on impact with the rock, leaving it sticking out at a strange and unnatural angle. It was also bleeding and I thought I saw bone shards sticking out of the wound at first. Fortunately it wasn't that bad after all, and after being reseated (thanks Brad), it was crooked, but close enough to be taped to the next finger. Bonnie had brought our Bronco up by that time (More thanks) and I drove it over the rock with no problems (other than a smarting hand). Another thanks to Joe Cayer for distributing those trail first aid kits sometime way back so I had bandage materials etc.

Bonnie Hathaway takes up the slack while I get my hand put back together after falling over "Joint Damage" Rock. The rest of the trip into Crown King seemed to consist of switchbacks up steep grades with LOOONG dropoffs at the edge of the narrow roadbed. Every once in a while Todd would regale us with stories of the people who died and vehicles that had been lost at various turns in the road. I paid attention to my driving and did not look down, but Bonnie mentioned several times that she could see car bodies down the hill from us.

The old mining town of Crown King has a lot of history and is a favorite destination for off-roaders, so it always seems busy when I've been there.

We visited all the usual spots, starting with the Crown King Saloon and the outhouse in back.

We had a late lunch or early dinner at the Switchback Saloon across the street

and made the absolutely necessary trip to the General Store for homemade fudge from their large selection.

The trip out is a lot faster since you can take the winding, graded gravel road out through Cleator to the freeway.

(postscript: I went to the doctor on Monday and x-rays confirmed no bone damage and the joint is correctly aligned. A couple weeks in a finger splint should return it to normal)

-deano