April  2000 ARR Club Run - Copper Creek

Trail Rating - 3.5

Trip Leader: Ken Blaisdell

Photos submitted by Jim & Donna Wells

Ken & Diane Blaisdell

The gremlins struck early.  First with some hub related problems then a few miles down the trail the entire ignition system died on Tom's Jeep.  

Group shot near a bridge that crosses Copper Creek.  We had 13 vehicles, an excellent turnout.  To add to the fun the trip leader, Ken Blaisdell, wrote a small novel titled "The Legend of the Sibley Curse".  It was filled with an interesting story, some fact, some fiction from the depths of the authors warped mind.  Oh, there were also a bunch of questions to test your grasp of historical facts, physics, trivia and guessing skills.  The winner (or best guesser) took home the pot, which in this case was the $2 entry fee from all the drivers.

As customary the trip leader must try all the hard obstacles first, test the depth of water crossings and in this case inspect any rickety bridges.

The trail starts out slow with a winding drive down a long dirt road.  After the bridge it gets interesting real quick as the trail snakes it's way between the rocks and trees along Copper Creek, actually crossing the creek many times.

It's also the trip leaders responsibility to order up good weather the day before the run.  Ken must have remembered because the day was perfect.  Nice cool breeze and plenty of sun.

The Rough Riders put their backs into it and help a hi-centered vehicle over an obstacle.

The rest of the group made it by without incident.

The ruins of Sibley Mansion.  The group had lunch down in the shade just below the mansion.

This was the first run for the Blaisdell's new Jeep.

After lunch I led a small group of people down the wash that runs past the ruins.

  While navigating the boulders Jimmy Hopper managed to snap his tie rod in two.  After a little vehicle positioning the group rigged up a welder and set to work fixing the break.  A few burnt fingers and leaves later we were moving again.

Here's the finished weld.

When the group go back to the trailhead I decided to try climbing one of the hills while everyone loaded up and said their goodbyes.  Only later did a passing native to the area inform me of the hills name "Widow Maker".  After stalling I got into this precarious position.  Steve Willoughby tried to get above me to hook a strap to my vehicle but the dirt proved two loose even with both lockers engaged.  I got out of this predicament by having his co-pilot, Kirt Rollins do some Samurai surfing.  He added his weight to the passenger side allowing me to back down safely.

Doug and Shar watching the rescue from the bottom of the hill.

I'll be adding more pictures as they come in.