Experience Arizona Events in 2012
I am planning on leading a number of fun events in 2012 and hope Experience Arizona members can join me.
El Camino Del Diablo (The Road of the Devil or Devil's Highway) - Sometime in the Fall
February 12, 201 update: As I was trying to get the permits for this run I found out the wildlife refuge closes the Devil's Highway after March 16th. This doesn't match the information on their website (or my Topo map-the road isn't really part of the actual refuge), but unfortunately, we are going to have to delay this trip until the fall when the refuge opens the road again. Sorry about the confusion.
I've wanted to do this trip for years and hopefully, 2012 will be the one. The Devil's Highway is roughly a 100 mile trip between Ajo and Yuma. My understanding is that it is mostly 2WD with the exception of some easy 4WD (mostly sand). Portions of the trail go along an historic route which people have used for hundreds of years for crossing the Sonoran Desert. The road roughly follows and old path that people used to cross between Mexico and today's Arizona and California.
It got its semi-official name in 1896 by Capt. D. D. Gaillard due to the many deaths occurring on the trail. No one knows how many people have died on the trail, but estimates range from 400 to 2000.
The trail travels near the border with Mexico and crosses the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range.
Not all the details have been set, but we are thinking of leaving Friday (or possibly early Saturday morning), then camping Friday and Saturday night. The trail is extremely remote and possibly dangerous (due to proximity to the border). People with well-equiped and maintained vehicles are invited to attend. Those interested in tagging along can contact me at matt@experience-az.com.
More information coming soon.