Sunday, May 22, 2004 a group of 11 vehicles met at Mustang Corners Texaco for a run through the beautiful Patagonia Mountains and across San Rafael Valley. Keith passed around doughnuts to go with our coffee and the general air of sociability. There was an equal proportion of longer term members and newer members in a variety of vehicles with an assortment of playful canines including Buster, a tiny little Yorkie who thinks he’s as big as any of the dogs. Jim Van Dyke led us in his Suburban; Jerry Dunbar rode with Jim–his TJ is down again with Engine woes. John Winters left his Jeep home to drive in favor of a pickup. Tom Parcenue and Mona were in the trusty Mudrunner, a transmuted Toy Truck. Roger Pluta drove his CJ I and Paul were in Lady Freedom, a YJ. Keith and Mara’s Jeep sported a new Tire Carrier and Rack designed by Troy. Glen Grey and Bob Keen were also in a YJ, Leon’s beautiful yellow CJ fooled me with its Rubicon sticker, Scott McDonald with Amanda in their Jeep and two young men whose names I don’t have rounded out the group with a toy truck. (Please forgive any mix up in who drove what. I’m still trying to capture everyone’s names and associate them with their vehicles.)

Marty Sindelar and Troy Allshouse both stopped by to say hello but were unable to join us for the run, nor was Dave Harker. They and all others who stayed home missed out on a special day, filled with beautiful scenery, enough challenge to keep it interesting and a fine time of comradery and a couple of eventful incidents.

I have long talked of doing the Flux Canyon Trail, intrigued by my guidebook’s description and wondering if it was suitable for Paul and I to take on solo. To my surprise that’s the trail we started with as we turned onto FS Rd 812. This trail passes through serene ranch land, a green canopy of Oak trees and Cottonwoods well watered by several washes. It begins smooth and well graded but soon develops into a rougher formed trail that gradually climbs up the side of Alum Canyon winding its way to the saddle between Alum and Flux Canyons. The higher we traveled on the comparatively wide shelf road the more beautiful the vistas looking toward Red Mountain in the north. As we neared the top, the road steepened and traction lessened. Although 4WD wasn’t strictly necessary at this point I found it helpful. The view as we rounded the curve approaching the top is breathtaking taking in the canyon, mountain ridges of Patagonia Mountains, the valley and Red Mountain in a spectacular sweep.

John may have let his eyes linger too long on the view. As he passed through a group of sharp edged rocks, one reached out to stab his right front tire flattening it. The Range Riders’s maintenance crew went to work and had it changed soon enough with a spare that needed airing up. Jim had the on board air to do the job. I understood then that traveling even this relatively mild road alone was not a good idea. It’s nice to be accompanied with a traveling maintenance crew. The descent was uneventful with a side trip to visit what I believe is the Blue Eagle Mine ruins. It was once a large operation as can be judged by the masonry remains. Entrance required a sharp three point turn. There is a nice little sharp incline just right for play.

With a right turn off the main trail we rode a narrow rocky track beneath unusual rock formations that rose over the Oak woodland that caressed the sides of our rigs until we arrived at a shady glen of Oaks where a capped Spring with a faucet provides clear water. For obvious reasons it has been dubbed “The Car Wash”. There we enjoyed our lunches, good conversation, and watched our dogs at play.

Leaving this restful spot we arrived at civilized Harshaw Road and followed it to FS Rd. 134 to turn left and inspect a broad grassy plain bordered by a tree shaded wash that we plan to use for our annual Summer weekend camp-out. If you haven’t been there you are going to like it.

From there we hit what I am told is the “Easy” way into Guajalote Flats. And the first part of it is relatively easy with a comparatively gentle grade up hill, manageable traction areas and rocks, pleasant landscape, enough trees to cast shade, although they drop enough dead limbs to provide small obstacles. Tom’s Mudrunner just barely cleared a limb leaning across the trail as an overpass. Here as on the Flux Canyon Trail one or two boulders had to be pushed off the trail. I was feeling pretty satisfied with this trail. It gave Lady Freedom enough obstacle for me to have more of an idea of how she handles rougher stuff, but not so much as to challenge her–or me. At the flats we stopped to stretch our legs and find the necessary bushes when Jerry called my name. He said he had something to show me. Curious I walked forward and Jerry with a broad grin led me to the top of a rock staircase of ledges that led to a curve edged with a steep drop off. All I could say was “Sh–t! And I kept saying it in between threatening to turn around and head for home. This was definitely going to advance my learning curve. Everyone promised that it was going to be easier than it looked so I took courage and poised The Lady at the top of the staircase comforted to see most of the group standing along that curve and its drop off. Tom spotted me most precisely and professionally. I was thrilled and proud to have successfully descended the ledges. It was easier than it looked, especially with Tom’s excellent guidance. I was touched by the warm and proud welcome of my fellow Rangers and pleased to be back on “good” road, however steep.

“Good” road didn’t last very long! I have never, since childhood, had a good feeling about narrow, high shelf roads, paved or unpaved, wide or narrow. This one is certainly not paved or wide but is very high above the canyon floor. And some mythic being has scattered what seems like ball bearings here and there. I had been advised earlier to slow way down to handle obstacles. This I was more than willing to do here. Indeed my inner soul wished there was something slower than slow, especially as the road seems to continually head towards what to me is a most fearsome void. However, apparently where there are “ball bearings” a little more speed is needed. Paul urged me to give it gas, as the rear had slid and later the right front had slid slightly. I was at an outside curve, eyeing that damnable drop off with a wash-out to that edge and an embankment to my side when I did indeed with great difficulty take my foot off the brake and let the vehicle get a bit more speed with the intention of putting my driver side wheels just over the lower edge of the embankment. Just then the rear swung to the edge, the front raced up the embankment, I turned the wheel to the right and Lady Freedom for a moment gripped the soil, but then let go to balance on her right rear wheel. For what seemed like an interminable time we were balanced at an impossible cant that would soon lay us down on the passenger side and I fervently hoped not slide over that edge. Immediately prior to this rise into the air, I heard Jim say “get a strap on Trilby”. I said to my self “Its too late for that”, Paul reported he thought “ you’ll have to catch us first”. Just after I breathed “Sh–t” with fear, I got really scared when I heard Tom’s “Oh God–“ with a tone that said I was really in deep peril here. Just then the rear tire slid off a rock and we tilted back to earth with all four wheels again on the ground. All my extra weight in spare gas and water was on the Driver’s side and may have provided the needed edge to help tip fate in my favor. Talk about pucker factor! I needed a moment or three to stop shaking and to resume breathing before guiding The Lady on down that interminably long and steep road. The seat was dry and there was no brown stuff but my mouth had no saliva. A little air can be exhilarating but this was a good deal more air than I want to experience again. My heart lightened and my breathing eased the lower we got. It was not until later that I learned a dead wreck of a pick up lay on the canyon slopes below that particular spot.

Again on genuinely good road we took a needed break and I was grateful for warm hugs, and comforting banter, gentle critique and the concern of all. Jerry informed me I had lost my novice status and was now an intermediate. I guess, since all came out well, that may be true, but this descent on what is only my ninth 4WD run really pushed my envelope to its outer limit and I may miss being a novice. It will be interesting to see what the next nine runs teach. If this was the “easy” route, I can only imagine the hard route, however, I’m told that although its obstacles are more challenging (there is more rock crawling and off camber sections– though I can’‘t see how I could get more off camber) it is a safer trail.

The remainder of the trip was on the main roads through the beauty of San Rafael Valley to end at Coronado Monument.

The first thing I did when we arrived at Paul’s was down a cold beer. Nonetheless, this was a truly great run filled with beauty, friendship, love of our sport, for some, only mild challenges, for others a new plateau. And I thank both Jim and God for leading us through a grand day.

Note: All vehicles as well as drivers performed well on this run. While the vehicles listed in the article may not be completely accurate, I did my best in remembering what was there. Hope you enjoy the article!