Northern AZ Camping Trip

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

It is time to dig out that av tent (or rv) and camping gear to go up north for a weekend to cool off.

Is anyone interested in going camping the weekend of June 28/29th or July 19/20th? Maybe some camping/hiking or camping/quading or camping/off-roading or just some camping/relaxing in the cooler weather.

Next available weekend attempt:
Weekend of Aug 9/10. (possibly the 8th also)
Where: White Horse Lake area (south of williams, az)
Activities available: camping, hiking, fishing, quading, off-roading, relaxing.

Here are some links to white horse lake:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/recreation/fishing/whitehorse.shtml
http://www.go-arizona.com/White-Horse-Lake-Campground

Here is the link to the az game & fish for info on licenses:

http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml
http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/documents/LicenseDealerListMay2008.pdf

List of people confirmed:

ghostwheel & az-spoiled-wife (#26, 2 people)
aussie red (#31, 4)

Non-AV friends of ours:
Ken, Nary, Bianca (#35, 3)
Cat & Paul (#44, 2)
Keith, Trina & Jimmy (#33, 3)

eeaton5
rangercliff

more possible friends of ours (?)

Anybody else interested?

[rangercliff]

Sounds good! We are going to CA the 4th, but I'll talk to Eric about it and see what he says! I'm ready to get out of this heat for sure!

[chAVey]

How about a little bit farther north?

Klamath Falls, Oregon - Wild West 2008!!   It's much cooler up here - even still some snow on the ground around Crater Lake!








(Yes, I know I'm completely shameless!)

[rangercliff]

We would love to come to Wild West, but it is just too expensive! I am soooo bummed that we aren't gonna be able to make it, so the next best thing is camping in the mountains near home!

[chAVey]

Okay, seriously, looking for some honest feedback now:  Too Expensive GTG Registration?  Too Expensive Fuel?  Too Expensive Hotel?

 (We've had a couple cancellations and lots of people who said they were coming, aren't.  Trying to figure out why.)

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Okay, seriously, looking for some honest feedback now:  Too Expensive GTG Registration?  Too Expensive Fuel?  Too Expensive Hotel?

 (We've had a couple cancellations and lots of people who said they were coming, aren't.  Trying to figure out why.)

 

Please don't take this the wrong way.  I think it is a very good question to ask or even make a poll for it. I don't mind answering why we could not make it. But, I would like to make a recommendation to start a new topic for these questions so that it does not take over the original planning for this gtg. Thank you in advance for understanding.
 

[chAVey]

Yep, you are absolutely right.  Sorry for the 

[rangercliff]

Hey Donna, where were you planning to have this camping trip? Flagstaff, Prescott, etc.? I still don't know yet if we can do it, but I'm liking the idea a lot. We decided not to go to CA for the fourth because our friends are still working on their house and aren't ready for company, so I'm hoping to talk Eric into camping instead.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

It is open for options as long as it is cooler and camping is allowed. Is there anywhere you guys have been wanting to go?

Here are some estimated forecasted high/low temps with distance from phoenix and flagstaff.

Prescott 85/55 (100 miles northwest of phoenix, 95 miles southwest of flagstaff)
Munds Park 80/45 (125 miles north of phoenix, 20 miles south of flagstaff)
Flagstaff 80/45 (145 miles north of phoenix)
Bellemont, 80/40 (155 miles northwest of phoenix, 10 miles west of flagstaff)
Mormon Lake 85/45 (140 miles northeast of phoenix, 30 miles southeast of flagstaff)
Stoneman Lake 90/55 (120 miles northeast of phoenix, 45 miles southeast of flagstaff)
Pine 85/55 (120 miles northeast of phoenix, 90 miles southeast of flagstaff)
Payson 90/55 (90 miles northeast of phoenix, 115 miles southeast of flagstaff)

90's is still pretty hot for a day temp even though it is cooler then our 113 degree days. But I still put it out there to compare areas/temps. The only other cool area I can think of is over in the white mountain area which is far eastern arizona closer to the new mexico border. That area might be kind of far to drive for a one nighter.

We are flexible to locations. Let me know what you guys think.

Anybody else have any interest in camping?

[DESERTAV]

Cori and I are in as long as we can bring the dogs and quads. Those two thing just seem to go together.

Fun in the AZ Sun. Well maybe a little cooler sun up in the high country.

[DESERTAV]

Cori and I are in as long as we can bring the dogs and quads. Those two thing just seem to go together.

Fun in the AZ Sun. Well maybe a little cooler sun up in the high country.

maybe a sticky will be needed here also.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Sharon, what did Eric say?

[DESERTAV]

Cori has to work now is there another day maybe in July???

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Cori has to work now is there another day maybe in July???

Thats a bummer. We are still going this weekend. We always try to go at least once a month. So maybe you guys can make another one.

The next ones are July 19th and Aug 9th. All other weekends between now and then have something going on at least on day of the weekend that doesn't allow enough time for camping.

Sharon, what did Eric say?

Sharon, Let us know if you guys can make camping next weekend since we are still going.

 

[rangercliff]

Have you decided where you are going yet?  Eric hasn't really said much yet! Maybe if we do the Williams area we can come! I'll let you know later in the week! Let us know where you decide to go! Is anyone else going?

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Like we previously mentioned, we are flexible to location. Do you know of places to camp near williams? We can go in that area if you guys are going. The only place closest to williams we know is the bellemont location, which is about 23 miles away from williams. But if you guys know of places closer to williams, we can meet up somewhere in williams and follow you there.

[rangercliff]

I know there is a place that is good for camping, riding, etc. in Williams, but not sure exactly where. I can try to find out where the good camping areas are.  I'm still not sure yet if we can go. This heat is killing me. I'll let you know!

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

It is not definate yet but we may have to postpone this anyway. We just found out today that it looks like we may be taking a last minute trip up to st george utah for the weekend to see family. We are waiting for a phone call back on the final plans.

Sharon, if you can still find out about the williams area if you would like to go there sometime. If we don't make it next weekend. We would still be trying to go camping again in july and aug on the previous mentioned dates.

 

 

[rangercliff]

O.K., I will do that! It's not looking real promising for us to make it either! We would love to hook up with you guys this summer for camping! Maybe August we will be able to do it!

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Utah is definate. So, I updated the 1st thread to the weekend of July 19/20 th for now. That is the next available weekend for us to try and go camping. If anybody else is interested in going then, let us know.
 

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

We are back from utah. We saw and heard about some possible camping/riding areas in southern utah and northern arizona. We would love to check them out sometime.

We now found out that we might have family visiting in a few weeks. We are waiting for them to tell us what weekend. If it falls under the 19/20th, then we will need to move camping to the next available weekend of august 9/10. We will post here as soon as we find out.

 

[Aussie Red]

If you are doing one in or around the Williams area and don't mind an out of stater coming along maybe we can roll in with you guys. Sounds like it could be a great time.

[Ghostwheel]

If you are doing one in or around the Williams area and don't mind an out of stater coming along maybe we can roll in with you guys. Sounds like it could be a great time.

You are always welcome. 

[Aussie Red]

Eric that means a lot. I will darn sure see after the damages are taken care of from Wild West if I can make it.  It was so so good to see Glen again up there.  Wait until he tells you about the work we gave him 

[rangercliff]

We sold our house (our rental) and it is supposed to close on the 30th, so we may be able to go in Aug. Cross your fingers and pray it all goes well. 

[Aussie Red]

Congrats on the sale of the house. I sure hope you are rolling would not be the same without you. Besides you have a great lift to show off and I have not seen the steps up close and personal ! 

[rangercliff]

Can't make any promises, but I think we might be able to go. I asked my Mom about some places in Williams good for camping and riding, and she mentioned a place called White Horse Lake. I will check it out and see where it is! They own a house up in Williams, so I figured she would know.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Here is the links to the white horse lake that I found:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/recreation/fishing/whitehorse.shtml

http://www.go-arizona.com/White-Horse-Lake-Campground

[Aussie Red]

ok that is too irresisting I will have to get a couple day fishing license.
I am so going to fish those waters !

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

ok that is too irresisting I will have to get a couple day fishing license.
I am so going to fish those waters !

I haven't fished since I was a little kid and went to cast my line and ended up casting my entire pole/rod off the dock into the long island sound. 

We have polls but need the accessories and the license to fish too. Here is the link to the az game & fish for info on licenses:

http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml

[Aussie Red]

Thanks for the linky I actually do a lot of fishing.
Yup am bring my poles and going to do both trout in the day and Chanels cats at night lol.
This is looking great !

[rangercliff]

Thanks Donna for checking that out! Looks like a pretty nice place to camp. I'm not sure if Eric will want to bring the quad or not, but I didn't see anything about riding there! Let's keep looking around though,O.K.?

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

We will go either way, with or without quads. Whatever will help bring more people out camping. The last time we did this we had about 12 people interested and everyone backed out at the last minute for different reasons and only 2 of us went.

I don't know how people that don't have quads feel about going with people with quads if we are bringing them. I don't want anyone to feel left behind if some go riding. When we go riding with our friends that don't have quads, we try to share riding time with them and always try to make sure people are not back at camp alone.

I will dig out my campground books and see if they say anything about the williams area.

[Aussie Red]

We will go either way, with or without quads. Whatever will help bring more people out camping. The last time we did this we had about 12 people interested and everyone backed out at the last minute for different reasons and only 2 of us went.

I don't know how people that don't have quads feel about going with people with quads if we are bringing them. I don't want anyone to feel left behind if some go riding. When we go riding with our friends that don't have quads, we try to share riding time with them and always try to make sure people are not back at camp alone.

I will dig out my campground books and see if they say anything about the williams area.

Quads are cool but lol me I like to be in the quiet thought and active prusuit of catching that big boy so I will be fishing 
I need to check this place out and might think about towing the boat to get out and do some serious fishing.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Here is a link to the kaibab national forest service website. There are four developed campgrounds in the williams ranger district including white horse lake. These 4 are the same ones listed in my az campground book. The links to the other 3 (all lakes also: kaibab lake, dogtown lake & cataract lake) are listed on the lower right side of the webpage. It says there are also many undeveloped campsites in the region.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/recreation/campgrounds/

Note: under restrictions for each of the 4 campgrounds, they all say: Motorbikes may be used only to enter and leave the area. So, it looks like any of them could be possibilities for both riding and fishing.

Cataract lake might be to small, with under 20 sites. The other 3 have 50-60+, & 90+ campsites. The group rates look pretty costly. If we go undeveloped campsites we probably do not have any overnight fees but we do not know where they are located and how big they are.
 

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

I searched "williams" on : http://www.ridingarizona.com/forum/default.asp website and read through some of the threads. It sounds like there are a lot of dispersed camping and good riding in the area.

Does anybody have a preference between developed campground or dispersed camping?

If we stay in one of the developed campgrounds, would we try for group site (vs cost) or regular sites where we may not be able to camp next to each other, depending on how many are already taken.

Maybe if we are still able to go in july we can do a scout trip to the area to check it out for the august trip. We did that for the trip last august to the lava tube area. We marked a few dispersed campsites with Eric's gps when we were up there to get a variety in case some were taken when we went back.

We are still waiting on status of family coming to town this month &  don't know if we can go yet this month.

Aussie, I noticed if we are going to make this for Aug 9th weekend, that you guys have another gtg in your area. I did not know if you realized it overlapped yet or not.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Here is the link to the az game & fish for info on licenses:

http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml

I also found this list by town that are authorized arizona dealers to buy fishing licenses from:

http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/documents/LicenseDealerListMay2008.pdf

[Aussie Red]

yikes I did not notice that either. But I am still going camping I think the gang will understand. I need a camping trip badly.  Besides Dennis will not let me shoot his duck lol . Hey if you guys do bump this up for July I am still able to roll.
As for the campsites even if we are scattered we can group up. You do what you can and we just roll lol.

[Aussie Red]

I also found this list by town that are authorized arizona dealers to buy fishing licenses from:

http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/documents/LicenseDealerListMay2008.pdf

Awesome thank you.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

If we stay in the campground, there is the following site that we can reserve our spots:

http://www.recreation.gov/

Search by:
looking for: all sites
state: arizona
near: flagstaff
park or facility: white horse lake
dates: specific
arrival date: august 9th
length of stay: 1 night

Click see details for white horse lake campground and check out the different tabs of info.

If we do a group spot it needs to be for 2 nights (fri & sat) at $126 per night. If we have at least 5 avalanches, that would be approx $25 per night per person.

If we do single spots, they look like they are $18 per a night. There is more of a chance to get close together if we coordinate reserving close to each other.

So, our choices are:

2 nights & go for a group spot
1 night and go for single spots
1 night with trying to find a dispersed spot

Which does one does everyone prefer?

[Aussie Red]

we would need to roll in Friday and leave Sunday AM so that would be two nights. Maybe we can do tent set up accompannied by Tequila ?

[rangercliff]

Boy Donna, you sure have been a busy little bee haven't you? Anything will work for us! We may bring the quad and if we can't ride, oh well but least will have it with us just in case!

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Sharon, Thanks to your Mom for the White Horse Lake tip. Everything else was easy to find on the web.

The list of people interested are:

ghostwheel & az-spoiled-wife
eeaton5
rangercliff
aussie red

We might have friends of ours interested in coming too. They were going to go with us last weekend until the utah trip came up. But we have to reconfirm with them still.

I am going to update the first thread with the above list of people for the weekend of aug 9/10 at white horse lake area in williams. And lets see if we can get this camping trip confirmed up.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

eeaton5, rangercliff, aussie red: Please confirm your availability for camping the weekend of 8/9 & 10. Let us know if you can do fri & sat night or only sat night.

aussie said 2 nights so far and seemed pretty sure about going.

rangercliff, you guys were not originally sure if you can make it, do you have an update yet?.

eeaton, we have not heard from you recently after the new date, can you guys still make it. do you think you can pull Chris out of hiding this time?

We can do either one or two nights. If we do 2, we may not be able to get up there until the evening.

I have ask our friends to try to let us know by this weekend for them.

Based on the outcome of the total number of people by this weekend, We should try and make the reservations by sunday. It would be nice to get the group site if we have enough confirmed committed people. I am concerned about taking the group site and if anybody needs to back out last minute and still having to pay the higher group rate between less people. Otherwise we will just start reserving individual sites.

Who wants to go camping?

[DESERTAV]

eeaton5, rangercliff, aussie red: Please confirm your availability for camping the weekend of 8/9 & 10. Let us know if you can do fri & sat night or only sat night.

aussie said 2 nights so far and seemed pretty sure about going.

rangercliff, you guys were not originally sure if you can make it, do you have an update yet?.

eeaton, we have not heard from you recently after the new date, can you guys still make it. do you think you can pull Chris out of hiding this time?

We can do either one or two nights. If we do 2, we may not be able to get up there until the evening.

I have ask our friends to try to let us know by this weekend for them.

Based on the outcome of the total number of people by this weekend, We should try and make the reservations by sunday. It would be nice to get the group site if we have enough confirmed committed people. I am concerned about taking the group site and if anybody needs to back out last minute and still having to pay the higher group rate between less people. Otherwise we will just start reserving individual sites.

Who wants to go camping?

I am trying to find out from Cori and I will give Chris a call later today.

[Aussie Red]

we will be there Friday night dead sure and leave Sunday morning.
My Daughter and Son-in-law are riding down with us and we are staying in one tent.
So Aussie has 4 coming in total

[rangercliff]

Can't be definate right now with the house thing and all, But it is a good possibility. I'll talk to Eric and let you know this weekend hopefully!

[05sunburstII]

eeaton5, rangercliff, aussie red: Please confirm your availability for camping the weekend of 8/9 & 10. Let us know if you can do fri & sat night or only sat night.

aussie said 2 nights so far and seemed pretty sure about going.

rangercliff, you guys were not originally sure if you can make it, do you have an update yet?.

eeaton, we have not heard from you recently after the new date, can you guys still make it. do you think you can pull Chris out of hiding this time?

We can do either one or two nights. If we do 2, we may not be able to get up there until the evening.

I have ask our friends to try to let us know by this weekend for them.

Based on the outcome of the total number of people by this weekend, We should try and make the reservations by sunday. It would be nice to get the group site if we have enough confirmed committed people. I am concerned about taking the group site and if anybody needs to back out last minute and still having to pay the higher group rate between less people. Otherwise we will just start reserving individual sites.

Who wants to go camping?

Hey I'm not hiding, Just working alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Chris

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Hey I'm not hiding, Just working alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Chris

I know you guys talked about maybe going camping sometime, so are you working the camping weekend?

[Aussie Red]

While you are quading lol we are getting up Saturday morning and going over to the Grand Canyon. The kids have never been there and since we are right on the back door that will be our Saturday activity and will come back in the afternoon and cook camp food and do what ever it is AVers do at camp.  ( scary huh ?)

[05sunburstII]

I know you guys talked about maybe going camping sometime, so are you working the camping weekend?

Where leaving for Chicago on the 13th, So have to get things ready for the trip. Sorry 



Chris

[rangercliff]

Well, a lot of things have happened this last week! First, I was selected to serve jury duty and have been there 4 days already and have to go back next week also. Second, I was offered a job and think I am going to accept the position if the salary is right, so if I do, I won't be able to go camping next month cause I will be working! Don't worry though, it's not going to affect London Bridge Days. I've already given notice of that!

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Wow, that is a lot of stuff. Sorry that we may miss you guys camping. Good luck with the job. Let us know for sure when you do.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

It doesn't seem like there is enough interest to guarantee the group site. So lets start making reservations at individual sites.

We made our reservations today for aug 8-10 (2 nights). We chose campsite 26 out of zoom area #2 in the map. The total came to $45.00 ($18.00 x 2 nights + $9.00 reservation fee they added). Pick your sites from there and post the site number here when done.

Here is the reservation site info again.

http://www.recreation.gov/

Search by:
looking for: all sites
state: arizona
near: flagstaff
park or facility: white horse lake
dates: specific
arrival date: august 9th
length of stay: 1 night

Click see details for white horse lake campground and check out the different tabs of info.

[Aussie Red]

wow they have only a couple open according to that site I got space 54 and lol used Skips old crow discount so 2 nights are only $ 27.00 with the 9 dollars

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Good deal with the discount.

You want to search "all sites" not just tent sites. There are 45 sites listed if you click on site list. If you click on the individual sites, it will give you detailed info about the site. Like ours gives this detail:

Site Details:
Site Type: STANDARD NONELECTRIC
Site Reserve Type: Site-Specific
ADA Accessible: Y
Site Access: Drive-In
Checkin Time: 2:00 pm
Checkout Time: 1:00 pm
Type of Use: Overnight
Maximum Number of People: 8
Maximum Number of Vehicles: 1
Driveway Entry: Back-In
Driveway Length: 45
Maximum Vehicle Length: 35
Shade: Partial
Site Length: 45
Site Width: 25
Capacity/Size Rating: Single
Tent Pad: Y
Fire Pit: Y

One of the details says "tent pad" and most of the standard sites that I looked in all say "Y" for yes with a tent pad. If you compare details to your site and ours, you are missing the driveway & site length & width. It looks like the site you picked is tent only. Assuming you would park somewhere along the small road right there and walk to the site. The rest of them are standard sites that are multi-use to park your vehicles in with a tent pad additionally. I tried to specify the search criteria as "all sites" to let everyone know. I thought it would realized by looking at the site details. I am sorry I did not relay that info better.

I tried to call today to confirm the size of the tent pads in the std site but got a message to call back mon-fri 8-5pm. I will post that info when I get it.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

We bought a ground tent this weekend with a king size air mattress. No word on what weekend family is visiting yet. So, we are going to give it a test run next weekend in prescott rain or shine. We hope it will go well.

I also noticed some camping areas near kingman area. That's a place we can go another time that is between phoenix and nevada.
 

[avalanCHEVY]

I also noticed some camping areas near kingman area. That's a place we can go another time that is between phoenix and nevada.
 

That sounds good. I'll do the camping gtg when we can go for a few days or so plus be out and away from busy communal camping areas.

[Aussie Red]

ok I am going to call the # tomorrow and see if we can not get that site changed. I looked and there are some near you so will see what they will do about a switch tomorrow.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

That sounds good. I'll do the camping gtg when we can go for a few days or so plus be out and away from busy communal camping areas.

The ones I saw near kingman were campgrounds listed on the recreation map. We don't know what kind of dispersed areas are around there since we haven't camped near there yet. It would be nice to go there something. We have so many areas to explore still in this state.

Dispersed camping isn't easy to plan if you haven't been to the area yet. I am all for using existing dispersed sites in order to minimize impact on the land to avoid future land closures. We know of a few areas that are now closed due to people not minimizing impact to the land.
  
Somebody needs to know the area or scout out a few dispersed sites. The chosen site could be taken already by the time you get there. Then you have to figure out where to go next. Anybody who is meeting up with the group later may not be able to find the group because the location changed and the cell phones are out of area. We picked a campground this time to prevent this type of senerio.

Sorry to hear that you decided not to go. We will catch you at the next dispersed camping trip.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

ok I am going to call the # tomorrow and see if we can not get that site changed. I looked and there are some near you so will see what they will do about a switch tomorrow.

Sorry about that. I feel real bad about it. I hope you don't have any issues with changing it. Let us know what happens.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Aussie, where you able to get a hold of them?

I started to update the first post refecting status of reservations. We are still waiting on a few friends replys. I will add them to the list if/when they make a reservation.

[rangercliff]

I took the job, so we won't be able to make this one! I will see you all for London Bridge Days!

[Aussie Red]

Curses we will miss you Sharon. I do understand though . See you in Oct.
I did get the site switched I am in # 31 which is across the street from you

[rangercliff]

Thanks Aussie, I'll miss you too! Who knows, maybe if I get that Sat. off, we can come up for Fri. night! Doubt it, but nothings impossible! I'll let you guys know though!

[Ghostwheel]

Curses we will miss you Sharon. I do understand though . See you in Oct.
I did get the site switched I am in # 31 which is across the street from you

Cool Glad they worked with ya. 

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

I took the job, so we won't be able to make this one! I will see you all for London Bridge Days!

Congrats on the job. Maybe catch you in kingman or quartzsite for the next one. See you in Oct otherwise.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

I did get the site switched I am in # 31 which is across the street from you

Thats good to hear. I updated the first post with your site number and added 2 friends of ours that reserved. We still have other friends we are waiting final response on besides Ed. There are 3 weeks left. So there is time.

Any other av members interested in a camping weekend.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

I tried to call today to confirm the size of the tent pads in the std site but got a message to call back mon-fri 8-5pm. I will post that info when I get it.

I was able to confirm that all the campsites have tent pads that are "standard" sizes. She wasn't sure of the size(s) but thought maybe 10x10? 

Wish us luck on testing our tent out this weekend. We will let you know how it goes.

[amd1900mp]

Good luck and have fun!

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

We survived this weekend's test run. We tried to get into lynx lake or hilltop campground near prescott. But there was not too many sites left and they were all too small for our tent size. So we ended up at a designated dispersed campsite area.  That was busy also but at least we found a good spot left. It was definitely a wet weekend with the rain, thunder and lightning starting around 8pm saturday night on and off through sunday morning. We tried out a second tent that was bigger then the first one. 17X13 with a sunscreened room. We did not seal it yet and it had it leaks but nothing that was major enough to ruin the weekend. We will be taking our 1st tent on the williams trip. We will probably keep both tents still. I enjoyed having the more room in the ground tent that you do not get with the av tent, especially with 2 dogs in tow. I will try to post pics when I can.
 

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Confirmed so far:

ghostwheel & az-spoiled-wife (#26, 2 people)
aussie red (#31, 4)
Ken & Nary (#35, 2) (friends of ours)


3 weeks and counting. Where are all the other campers out there? Come on out and enjoy the weekend outdoors in cooler weather. 

Anybody else interested?

[Aussie Red]

  Does this make me an honorary AZAVer as well as a Silver State AVer ?

[DESERTAV]

Cori got a new job and cant take a day off yet so we will miss this one. but I am really looking forward to the next trip. maybe we should plan a time and day. what do you think.  The good news is that my truck is going in on Monday for the new 4:88 gears and a new magnaflow duel exhaust. So I will be ready to tow for the next trip.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Cori got a new job and cant take a day off yet so we will miss this one. but I am really looking forward to the next trip. maybe we should plan a time and day. what do you think.  The good news is that my truck is going in on Monday for the new 4:88 gears and a new magnaflow duel exhaust. So I will be ready to tow for the next trip.

It is sad that you, cori & sharon & eric can't make this one. We will miss having you guys there. If anything changes please let us know.

I have added two more friends of ours that might be coming to the list. I will update their site number if they make a reservation. It is still not too late for anybody to make a reservation. There are 9 spots open in loop # 2 and 2 other loops still have more spots open.

Here is a link to our prescott camping pics from last weekend.

www.et-industries.com/prescott

[gargoyleman]

Nice pics Donna 

Last time I was at Lynx lake it was half empty. It looks good now 

Glen

[DESERTAV]

looks like a nice spot Donna, I hope to get up there with you guys soon. Riley looks tired

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

   5 more days to go.   

The list is updated again. 4 sites confirmed and 10 people so far + one more maybe.

We are still waiting to see if Eric has friday off. We may not know until thursday what time we are leaving on friday. If we are all leaving around the same time, we will try to follow each other up there.

Aussie, what time do you guys think you will be there?

My laptop with all my avalanche stuff on it crashed last weekend. It is currently with the geek squad at best buy trying to salvage the data files. I will have to get reserve usa to resend another reservation confirmation email otherwise. 

Anybody else interested in a camping weekend? There are only 2 avalanches. Aussies is coming to az to see us. Where are all the avalanches?

[Aussie Red]

yes where the heck are my Arizona gang ?
I am hoping to be there around 7 pm or later but we are rolling no matter.
I will leave here around 3:30 PM. Looking forward to it.

[rangercliff]

We would love to be there, but I have to work! Sorry we're gonna miss everybody. This AZ member will be there in spirit though.

[DESERTAV]

I want to go but my wife has to work. maybe I will set my tent up in the backyard and have a mini GTG with my dogs 

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

I want to go but my wife has to work. maybe I will set my tent up in the backyard and have a mini GTG with my dogs 

If you do, you better take pictures. 

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

I updated first post again. 5 sites reservered, 14 people

There are 2 sites available left to reserve in the same loop as the rest of us, if anyone else decides they want to come still.


P.S. 3 more days left. 

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

2 days to go and still 2 sites left in loop 2.

Temps for Williams is suppose to be 75-80 high and 50-55 low. Of cource because we are going camping and it is monsoon season there is a chance of rain. 

A couple of our friends are talking about taking their mountain bikes up there. So, we will probably be taking ours too. Maybe catch some easy riding trails. We are not in shape for anything too difficult.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

   1 day left. 

We are about 80% packed. Started loading the truck. Since Eric cannot get the day off, I don't know what time we can leave yet. He will call me when he leaves work. I hope to be there at least an hour before it gets dark at the latest. Estimating to arrive sometime between 3 & 7pm.

Aussie, have a safe drive. I will check back tomorrow before we leave town.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

It's 3:30pm and Eric has not left work yet.    It looks like Aussie might beat us there at this point.

Update: Eric is finally leaving work at 4pm. Hopefully we will be on the road within 30-45 mins.

Lets go camping. 

 

[Aussie Red]

we are back home safe and sound. Had a great time. So many things happened to make this trip a priceless event. Will up load pics and share why I say that. We had a great time and were very happy spending time with Donna and Eric and their lovely dogs. Beautiful campground too.

[DESERTAV]

can't wait to see some pics!

[Ghostwheel]

We are back. Donna took around 200 pics and will post them soon. We had a lot of fun.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

We had a great weekend. It as nice to see Joyce & Skip again and meet Karen and Darrel. It rained for the drive up friday, but luckly it stopped by the time we got there. It was pretty easy to set up our tent in the dark. It helps to have a good lantern too. This was the first tent we pick out originally. I liked it better then the other one we used in prescott. And not just because it matches my truck. 

Saturday morning while Aussie was off pondering base jumping off the grand canyon to get a good picture, we went with our friends for a hike around the entire lake. So if you see a lot of lake pictures, that is why. I love to take pictures of scenery and colorful flowers. It was so peaceful out there. We had threats of rain during the hike but only got a few drops. After the hike we had lunch and went for a drive around the forest roads in the area. We also checked out dogtown lake and jd dam. There were a lot of dispersed camping spots in the area. 90% of the ones you can see from the road were all taken. There are a lot of roads that would be nice to take the rhino on to explore further.

After a little of off-roading, we went to downtown williams and walked some of the shops along rte 66. That was when saturday's rain hit. It wasn't too bad since we were in and out of shops. It stopped by the time we left williams. When we drove back to camp we saw an area of the forest where it hailed. A lot of small washes were flowing pretty good. Back at camp, a bucket had filled with about 2.5 inches of rain water in it. After willams, that was the end of rain for the weekend.

Our tent leaked a little bit out of the bottom corners. Nothing major. We seam sealed the fly but not the tent yet. It is drying out in the garage now. I will probably seam seal it before we put it away.

After dinner saturday night we sat around the campfire. Eric had a mission to burn through this big chuck of tree trunk for the night. Mission completed by this morning, it was reduced to ashes. It was a beautiful morning with the sun shining and a light mist over the lake.

It was sad to have to leave such a beautiful place and come back to the valley traffic congestion.

Thanks again to Joyce & Skip for coming with us. Sorry again that you came to see the az av group and nobody else was able to make it. Things happen. Thats also why we had 2 unused paid sites since things changed late friday with some of our other friends. Maybe next time.

p.s. The dogs had a blast and loved the extra attention.

Here is the link to our pics:

http://www.et-industries.com/williams/

Looking forward to seeing yours too.

[Aussie Red]

Donna those were fantastic pictures. Can you all believe the Pearl dirty like that ?? Yup will be up getting spit shined tomorrow. I about cried when we got up the next morning and I saw him. We came in after dark too.
We had a great time and was sorry others could not make it up there.
Donna and Eric's dogs rock ! I loved watching them.
Thank you again guys for the lovely gifts of pirate things. I got a great belt buckle and two letter openers that I am going to some how some way attach to the pearl from Donna and Eric. That was so sweet of them and they will be on the Pearl somewhere .
I was so glad to have been able to GTG with them and what a great time we had. I am loading my pics now.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

...... And we had some angels watching over us this weekend.  One with Aussie taking pics at the grand canyon and one with Eric playing ball with Rylee around Aussies Pearl. A near almost  incident with the ball and the pearl. Aussies face was priceless. If only I had my camera ready to take a pic of Aussie watching the ball in slow motion head towards her AV. 


p.s. Aussie, I think Ken got a good up close and personal picture of your favorite bug that Karen gave you as a gift friday night.

[Aussie Red]

...... And we had some angels watching over us this weekend.  One with Aussie taking pics at the grand canyon and one with Eric playing ball with Rylee around Aussies Pearl. A near almost  incident with the ball and the pearl. Aussies face was priceless. If only I had my camera ready to take a pic of Aussie watching the ball in slow motion head towards her AV. 


p.s. Aussie, I think Ken got a good up close and personal picture of your favorite bug that Karen gave you as a gift friday night.

OMG that crunchie bug with the eye guards ? that was disgusting 

[Aussie Red]

here are some of my pictures . I have way to many to put up lol.

http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r309/aussiereds/Grand%20Canyon%20Trip%202008/

I was walking in the woods and able to sneak in and get within 20 feet of these deer and take their pictures . I was kneeling on a log when that one walked right towards me.
It was awesome.

[rangercliff]

Those were some really nice pictures you took, Donna! Sorry we weren't able to come! I hope to be able to go sometime in the near future. Hey, have you ever thought of working for National Geographic? Those pics were really good.

[amd1900mp]

Very nice pictures Donna.. Thanks for sharing.

[amd1900mp]

Very nice pictures too Joyce.. Thanks for sharing also.

[gargoyleman]

Very nice pics both of you. 

Wish we could have been there but had prior comitment to go wood cutting 
in 4 days we cut,split, loaded and transported and unloaded and stacked 6 cords of wood.

Was more of a working trip than a camping trip but we still had fun 

Glen   

[DESERTAV]

nice pics I cant wait to go. I would also like to see the pearl in person.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Thanks guys. For some reason I just love taking picture of outdoor scenery. Being outdoors like that is my stress relief in life. That is why we try to go once a month rain or shine.

I just heard on the news that 2 people died up north this weekend in separate incidents. One person fell into the grand canyon and one person got hit by a falling tree in oak creek canyon just after his wife took his picture. How sad to hear about such news.
 

[Aussie Red]

Thanks guys. For some reason I just love taking picture of outdoor scenery. Being outdoors like that is my stress relief in life. That is why we try to go once a month rain or shine.

I just heard on the news that 2 people died up north this weekend in separate incidents. One person fell into the grand canyon and one person got hit by a falling tree in oak creek canyon just after his wife took his picture. How sad to hear about such news.
 

I heard that too Donna , bothers me a bit to tell the truth. I love to go and photograph nature and scenery as well. Not real big on people shots.
eeaton 5 you will see the Pearl in October because I know you will make the London Bridge days right ? He is worthy but not as tall as yours I hear. I had thought about it but opted not to go higher. I actually was looking into another 3 inch lift and was swiftly talked out of it by the guys that put the one in him now.  They have done all my add ons so I pretty much listen to them and then lol the thought of having to get up even higher then I do  to drive it well that helped the decission too. I can't wait to see yours and have a pic of all the lifted ones together.
I have been beside Todds and yes it made me feel a bit small 
I really enjoyed the trip. Thanks Eric and Donna for planning it I have a bunch of great memories.
Glen I bet you wish you had just been up there kicking back  your post of cutting 4 cords made me tired. If I never did that again it would be fine by me.  Well actually it was the splitting and stacking I disliked.   

[DESERTAV]

so when is the next trip?

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

I don't know. We are still trying to see what we have going on the next few weekends. Some of our non-av friends might be interested in hiking the lava tube in flagstaff. I told them to pick a day when they are free to go and let us know. Unfortunately I am not up for taking on the responsibility of heading up another group camping trip right now.

Since the last few trips we planned did not have a lot of interest and the ones that were interested couldn't make it. We will wait for more interest and the others to let us know when they have a free weekend to go camping again. So, if somebody else is free to go camping and wants to put it out there for others to join, we will definately try to go.

[Aussie Red]

Rest assured Donna and Eric we were very happy to come down there and we will be going back to that camp ground again. It was awesome and we had such a wonderful time. Thanks again for all your work. We will always have such fond memories of that trip for sure.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Rest assured Donna and Eric we were very happy to come down there and we will be going back to that camp ground again. It was awesome and we had such a wonderful time. Thanks again for all your work. We will always have such fond memories of that trip for sure.

Thanks Aussie. It was good to see you guys again.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

Here is a link to the pics from our camping trip past weekend. It was a miracle that it did not rain. But the low was 29 degrees at 7:30am. It is getting to too cold for us in flagstaff to camp in a tent. We went to a good secluded spot by the lava tube and hiked the cave again with a few friends that have never been there yet. We went there with Ed in august of last year too. It was nice to take the rhino out again since it has not been out since then either. We put about 80+ miles on it this past weekend.

http://www.et-industries.com/flagstaff2/

[DESERTAV]

was that the same campsite as last time

[Aussie Red]

Here is a link to the pics from our camping trip past weekend. It was a miracle that it did not rain. But the low was 29 degrees at 7:30am. It is getting to too cold for us in flagstaff to camp in a tent. We went to a good secluded spot by the lava tube and hiked the cave again with a few friends that have never been there yet. We went there with Ed in august of last year too. It was nice to take the rhino out again since it has not been out since then either. We put about 80+ miles on it this past weekend.

http://www.et-industries.com/flagstaff2/

I see you and Eric only drummed that up for when Aussie joined you 
Everything was wet 
Looks like another great place to go . I enjoyed the pics. Thanks for sharing.

[Az-Spoiled-Wife]

was that the same campsite as last time

Yes, the yellow and blue tent was in the spot you set up last time. That's the 3rd time we stayed there. It still is the best spot up there that we have seen so far. Secluded, off the beaten path, higher ground and a great view of the sf peaks.