Ironwood National Monument

Looking to see if anyone would be interested in running Ironwood National Forest the weekend of the 13th of Oct.? 

 Is anyone interested in running this?  From AZtacoma's post about it, it looks interesting and historical as well as scenic.  Post up if you have some other ideas.  I am open for that weekend, and the weather should be cooler than now and very tolerable.

I'm in Peoria and am not familiar with the trail. Could you tell me the starting point? I am available to go just need to get an idea of the time required.

Todd

It's a long day trip Todd. If you leave at 6am expect to be home about 5-6pm, depending on how often you stop and snoop around. The starting point is the I-10 Red Rock exit (exit226), about 30 miles north of Tucson.

I think Ryan expressed interest in this trip for the weekend of the 13th.

Well it sounds like a bit of a drive to get to the starting point but count me in for the 13th. Is there a camping spot close, I may run down the night before. What rating would you give the route 1-10? Not that it matters just helps with packing up the jeep.

Difficulty? 90% is easy, graded road. But you might find some offshoots to explore where you'll need to 4-low crawl. I took one spur to a small mine that many people probably wouldn't dare.... very dangerous, narrow shelf road in poor condition.

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Ok, cannot get my passport in time so if I have to remain here for my vacation I couldn't think of a better place to start off my vacation than the Ironwood national forest. I am down for camping as well.

Is everyone still up for this one? Maybe leave Saturday Oct 11th or 12th and stay the night???

Ryan

 Ryan and all,

We (Lisa, myself and other friends and family are camping in Gardner canyon starting Friday the 10th thru the weekend.  You are all welcome to join the group and we can hit trails from the camping area as a staging point.  This is a way we could kill two birds with one stone and explore Ironwood national monument one day and Gardner canyon and/ or Chimney  rock the next.  They may be a little bit of a drive from there, but it wouldn't be too bad.  Give me a call at 520-245-2295 for anyone wanting info or wanting to join the group for a camping fiesta!  I know it's a bit short on notice, but everything is possible. 

Craig

Sounds like a plan! Olny problem is I cannot be there on the 10th, but any day after that would work. What day's were you thinking for each point of interest?

Ryan

 We were planning on camping the whole weekend, so what ever day works for everybody works for me.  We were just planning on riding the trails in the area by Jeep or quads and then I was planning on meeting up with whomever to explore Ironwwod NM and or hit other trails in the area.  You can show up later and we can go from there.  Call me and let me know what you are thinking.

Craig

520-245-2295

 We are camping starting friday, but you are welcome to show anytime you can.  I can give you another Google earth map showing where we will be incase phone servic is not there.

Craig

 I will have the CB on and scanning channels, unless you have a specific one you will be on.

 Anyone,

We are leaving in the morning for Gardner canyon.  You and anyone else are still welcome to join the group when you can.  I tried getting a coordinate off of Google earth for you as to where we will be, but that portion of the map is obscured by clouds.  So, her is the simple basic directions.  From Pheonix, take I-10 East towards El Paso.  Drive thru Tucson on I-10 to the south/East.  Stay on I-10E towards El Paso to the Sonoita/Patagonia exit and head south on highway 83.  Stay on this Highway for 20+ miles pass thru the borderpatrol check point on the highway and then turn right just past mile post 38 a mile or two (not sure the exact distance) past the check point.  The road is Gardner Canyon rd and an arrow pointing to the right.  This road is now dirt, but a fairly well maintained road.  Follow this road for several miles or use the wells book for directions to Kentucky camp.  Do not turn towards Kentucky camp stay straight and follow the road until you come to a large ranch on the left.  Shortly after this ranch on the left is a flowing small creek.  Cross the creek and head up the hill on the road almost exactly a mile.  Lisa is putting some blue ribbon with small ballons on trees and posts or whatever, indicating the turn off to the camp area.  I will be on channel 17 on the CB. 

Craig

Can't make this one. Jeep is to be out of the body shop by next wed. hope to be ready to go following weekend. Thanks to those who checked in I appreciate it. Ended up with very little damage to the rest of the hand and only lost a pinky and some skin grafts to replace the skin on my forearm.

Todd

 Todd,

What happened that required skin grafting and the lose of your pinky?  Sorry to here that!

Craig