Extreme Rock Crawling

The W.E. Rock Western Pro Series Round 1 rock crawling event is being held this week-end at the Thunder Rock Off Road Ranch north of Congress, AZ.  It was my first experience watching the pros and they were impressive!  These are definitely not your father's rock crawlers...

Click on photos to enlarge

Happy Hour

The campground had a Happy Hour with live music by the pool this afternoon and Gary, one of the guys I ride with, was playing in the band.

Our resident "rock star"

The band (a/k/a The Lazy Boy Rockers)

Assorted groupies

More Photos

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High Five

Buried with his boots on

Desert Photos

Death Defying Feats

What a cactus does when no one is watching

Rock Crawling Video

Adventure Riding

What "baby boomers" do for fun...

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Booty Hill & Martinez Mines

Another beautiful day ATVing in the desert.  I am getting use to waking up in the morning and just assuming it will be warm and sunny.  Arizona has almost as many mines as Washington has lawyers.

Gypsum Mine & Elephant Butte

Jimmy led us on a fun ride to a couple of unique areas in the desert.  Next to the gypsum mine is a steep, rocky trail that takes you up to the top of the mountain where you have a magnificent 360 degree view to the distant horizon.  Click on photos to enlarge.

Jimmy, Ellen, Gail, Terry

Elephant Butte is a rock formation that from the right angle looks exactly like an elephant's head.

Back To Box & Martinez Canyons

As fate would have it, I rode with another group that went back to canyons.  However, we took a different route most of the way so it was like a new ride.

Box & Martinez Canyons

Another great ride in the Arizona desert.

Keith & Jane - who I first met in SD and who recommended the Arizonian RV park

Old stagecoach depot

Start of Box Canyon

Challenging ride

Meteor Crater

50,000 years ago, a meteor estimated to be 150 feet across and weighing several hundred thousand tons hit the earth west of Winslow, AZ at about 26,000 miles per hour.  What was left was a crater 700 feet deep and over 4,000 feet across.

Here's a photo from 1986 at the same crater.  It's good to see that I have not changed much. <grin>

Jerome & Sedona, AZ

Jerome is an old mining town that was built on the side of a mountain.  Today, it has restaurants, boutiques, and other specialty stores which makes it a good day trip from the Phoenix area.

Just my luck

Sedona is an upscale community (read "big bucks") with a touch of bohemian lifestyle located in an area known for its beautiful red rocks.

Superstition Mountains Ride

Jimmy led us over to the base of the Superstition Mountains and back.  It was a scenic and at times, challenging 28.4 mile ride.

Montana Mountain Ride

This morning 20 ATVers met at the back gate, divided into 2 groups of 10, and rode 61 miles to Montana Mountain and back.  The Arizonian is the most ATV oriented campground I have ever visited.  It's a great way to be introduced to desert riding.

Off The Road Again

There are so many places to ride an ATV off-road in the western states that I traded my Gold Wing motorcycle for a Polaris Rzr 800 side-by-side.  Today, I went for my first ride with a group from the campground and I must say that I was impressed with both the comfort and the capability of the machine.  And there is no better way to see the back country.

The cleanest my UTV will ever be 

Those daring young men and their flying machines 

Great desert view 

Chiricahua National Monument

The Chiricahua National Monument located in southeast Arizona is known for its vertical rock formations.  It has an 8-mile scenic drive and 17-miles of hiking trails.  In my opinion, this is one of those parks that is best viewed from the hiking trails so allow plenty of time for your visit.