Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2000
Intermission- 50/50, calendar, and video raffle
Scott, Lynn, and Sydney Nixon won the money.
Phil Boyd won the video.
Matthew Grotts won the Jeep calendar.
IV. New Business
Motion made to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
Trip report: Grand Canyon/Parashant National Monument
September 17-19, by John Tash
People in attendance:
Trip leader John Tash, 97 Cherokee
Scott, Lynn and Sydney Nixon, 89 Chevy Crew-Cab
After breakfast at Coco's we decided to go up to Las Vegas via US 93. This highway is undergoing a massive improvement and will be four lane all the way from Wickenburg to Kingman. The trip to our trailhead was uneventful, except for the driver's front tire on Scott and Lynn's Crew Cab decided it had seen enough abuse and promptly performed a tread separation. This littered the highway for a good hundred yards. Is this malady becoming contagious or what? And no, it wasn't a Firestone. Would you believe a BFG??
After reaching our turn-off point from the highway we proceeded southerly 53 miles cross-country to our campsite at Grand Wash Bay on Lake Mead. We set up camp at sunset after a long day, and retired early, as all of us were beat up from the trip. During the night we had a nocturnal visitor who decided to keep us awake with his (her?) lullabyes and hoof stomping for hours at a time. What was this beast? A feral burro who wanted company. Eee-haw, eee-haw, eee-haw - snort snort!
The next day was the first trail day and consisted of climbing the Grand Wash Cliffs form 1200' to 4600', featuring two difficult sections as well as eye-popping scenery at Pigeon Canyon and Pierce Canyon as well as the ruins of Fort Garrett and the Savanic and Cunningham mines. Total mileage for the day was to be 49 miles. As it turned out the first difficult section of the climb up Grand Wash Cliffs wasn't as bad as expected, except for a very narrow shelf road overlooking Pigeon Canyon thousands of feet straight down.
It was during this climb that the Cherokee started to make disturbing mechanical noises, coming from the front axle. Then, just as we topped out the first difficult section at the Savanic mine, an angry sharp rock sliced my driver's front tire. No problem, swapped out the first spare, leaving me with one left after only one and a half days of a seven day trip.
We were now looking at the second difficult section of our climb out, and it was worse than expected. From the Savanic mine, it was only 0.6 miles to the top of the Grand Wash Cliffs and an easy 2wd road, but we'd have to climb 400' to get there. Steep, narrow, loose, sharp rocks, washouts, gullies, off-camber, impossible to turn around. These are just some of the descriptions that come to mind.
We decided to make an attempt at the climb out with Scott and Lynn running point. It became quickly evident that we couldn't make it and were at a standstill. There was absolutely no way either vehicle could turn around. The Cherokee was able to back down with less time and effort due to a shorter wheelbase and shorter distance from the last wide spot. With the Cherokee out of the way, I went back up to help guide Scott. This took somewhat longer due to a l-o-n-g wheel base and having to do a bit of road building. Scott mentioned that this second difficult section reminded him of Axle Alley.
As there was no bypass or alternate route for many miles over uncharted territory, we reluctantly headed back the way we came in, and camped at another lovely campsite at Lake Mead called Fisherman's Cove. During the descent the Cherokee's noises got progressively worse. Another long day, and it was dark by the time we set up camp and ate dinner. Not to be outdone by the feral burro the night before, a very healthy coyote decided to serenade us with his songs at sunset.
The next morning, after breaking camp I pulled the driver's front wheel, the apparent source of the noises, and inspected the drive line components. The outer stub shaft u-joint seemed to be slowly eating itself, and the brake rotor was trying to be part of the chorus as well. The overall sound was something similar to shaking bolts in a coffee can. Lacking u-joints or brake rotors, we sadly had to abort the remainder of the trip and head for home. It was later determined the brake rotor was bent and cracked at the hub.
Oh well, what better way to blow your money than supporting your local 4x4 shop, eh? Am I going back? Yes, by God, but will bypass the climp up the Grand Wash Cliffs!
It's a Girl!
Kelly Sue Brown, born 9/1/00 at 3:00AM, 7.5lbs 19.5 inches. Mom and baby are doing fine. Congratulations Mike and April!
Editors Corner
As I mentioned last month, there is a very important election coming up in November. Assuming you're a registered voter, you should be getting a big pamphlet in the mail listing all the candidates and several propositions that will be on the ballet. All and all, it's quite an imposing document.
Trying to read through the legal mumbo-jumbo the various propositions are written in can put even the hardened insomniac to sleep. So most of us, me included, skim through them quickly to get the gist of it and make a decision. Problem is, we can be often swayed by an idea that sounds good, leading to the adoption of something altogether different.
Proposition 202 seems to be one of these situations. Like most people who have watched our beautiful desert being bull dozed for yet another strip mall, I'd like to see some reasonable controls put in place to stop sprawl. On the surface, this is what 202 appear to do. Did a bit deeper and a different picture emerges.
Apparently the Sierra Club wrote this proposition to further their agenda, knowing full well most people we see a "stop the sprawl" opportunity and vote for it. What they are actually voting for is a bill that would allow state trust land to be locked up from any use, including hiking. It also allows anyone who doesn’t like what is being done on private or state land, to sue and collect court costs. This includes people from out of state. The long, complex proposition also includes a lot of zoning and development restrictions that would penalize small land owners, ranchers, and farmers; only those with deep pockets and political connections will be able to use their land as they see fit.
Once again, it's not my place to tell you how to vote. This is just a friendly reminder to read between the lines and make sure what you're voting for is really what that particular bill will provide. Proposition 202 isn't the only bill that deals with land use and our freedom to enjoy the land around us, so think twice before you vote.
Scott Nixon, Editor
Calendar of Events
October 7-8: Jamboree Pre-runs. Meet at the Jamboree campsite at
9AM.
October 14: Table Mesa/Agua Fria cleanup.
Sponsored by the Phoenix Four Wheelers. Meet at the "parking lot" on the west side of I17 at the Table Mesa Rd exit at 9am. Trash bags and dumpsters provided.
October 18-22: Jamboree!!!
October 25: Monthly club meeting. 7pm at Peter Piper Pizza, NorthEast corner of Alma School and Elliot.
November: Glamis and Moab have been offered, any other suggestions?
December: Possible Christmas tree hunt and/or snow run?
December: Club Christmas Party.
Jamboree Tech Inspection
The Lo-Rangers have volunteered to perform tech inspection at the Jamboree. Ron and Brenda Couch are heading up the scheduling committee, give them a call at (480) 726-8509 if you'd like to volunteer your time. We need plenty of people to ensure the process goes quickly and diligently.
Questions?
Got a question about the club? Wondering where or when the next club meeting or run is? Planning a wildcat or pre-run and looking for company? Call Marty! He welcomes calls at home during the day while he plays Mr. Mom. Give him a ring at (480) 926-3977.
This month's club run?
You may have noticed there is no "official" club trip for this month. Traditionally we leave October open due to the Jamboree, as most club members will be attending or volunteering at the event. Regularly scheduled club runs will resume in November.
For sale
4 BFG 295-75-R16 AT's (33.5"x11.5") on 16"x8" chrome steel wheels, 8 lug, 40% tread left, 1 285-75-R16 AT on same rim as spare, $400, Call the Babcocks at (480) 812-9101.
Now that Dave Hickman has his new toy, he's selling his old one. It's a Campbell Creation Rock Buggy, just out of the body shop with a new coat of paint. Too many features to list. Over $40k invested, a steal at $29,900. Trades considered. If you're interested give him a call at 480-883-1224.
1 255/85R16 Bias-ply thornbird. Less than a 100 miles on the tire, it was my spare. Make offer! Scott Nixon, 602-482-8973.
Want to be (semi-)Famous?
I finally got tired of printing that boring map to the meeting spots on the newsletter cover and started using pictures. Problem is the only pictures I have easy access too involve a beat up red Dodge and a Chevy truck Lynn refers to as "the Big Ugly".
Last month, Charlie was nice enough to provide me with a link to some pictures of his Blazer online. Want your truck to be next? Just send me a pointer to your rig online, email me (scnix1@home.com) pictures in JPEG format, or give me a snapshot at the meeting and I'll scan it in.
Joke of the Month
Virtually anyone can be a Democrat. Just simply quit thinking and vote that way.
But if you want to be a GOOD Democrat, there are some
prerequisites you must have first. Compare the below and see how
you rate.
1.You have to believe the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of
federal funding.
2. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th
graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids
about sex.
3. You have to believe that guns, in the hands of law-abiding
Americans, are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons
technology, in the hands of Chinese communists.
4.You have to believe that there was no art before Federal
funding.
5.You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected
by cyclical, documented changes in the earth's climate, and more
affected by yuppies driving SUVs.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being
homosexual is natural.
7. You have to be against capital punishment but support abortion
on demand.
8. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and
governments create prosperity.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but
loony activists from Seattle do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than
actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe the military, not corrupt politicians,
start wars.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad, because it supports
certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good,
because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are
too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem
are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson,
General Robert E. Lee or Thomas A. Edison.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but
racial quotas and set-asides aren't.
16. You have to believe Hillary Clinton is really a lady.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't
worked anywhere it's been tried, is because the right people
haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe Republicans telling the truth belong in
jail, but a liar and sex offender belongs in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag,
transvestites and bestiality should be constitutionally protected
and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by
the Chinese is somehow in the best interest of the United States.