2009 Trip Report - MOE Dolan Springs
MOE Trip National Trails Day - Dolan Springs
October 10, 2009
By Sue Baughman
National Trails Day is celebrated the 1st Saturday in June an is sponsored by the American Hiking Society, since its too D--- Hot in June. The Dolan Springs Open Space Trails committee picked the 2nd Saturday in October for multiple events. The group started planning this event in January. We started by filling out the NTD website giving our event 48 state plus coverage. The next step was plan where we wanted to disburse the different events. Since BLM needs a minimum of 6 months for their NEPHA process. It was decided that this years National Trails Day event would also be our big fund raiser of the year. It was decided to stage the event at the Ranch Club (didnt have to worry about raising money on BLM property). We did ask BLM/Mohave County Parks to co-sponsor our event. The Ranch Club Restaurant donated their facility for our pancake breakfast.
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The ATV route was a piece of cake. We used the same route from 2007, using old sub division roads, stopping at a old stagecoach stop and ended at Taylor Mtn. where the 19 participants got tour of the new ATV/4x4 recreation area, a tour of the cave that is used as a residence, Bob Taylor (the owner) demonstrated gold mining procedures and gave tours of the rock crawling trail. Larry & Virginia Long were the trail bosses. The equestrian event was another piece of cake again departing from the Ranch Club they rode to Mud Spring via old subdivision roads and cross county over BLM land. Seven riders had enjoyable 3 hour ride. The hikers 6 in number were led by Ingrid Purder and Jim Brown. They drove to the new trail system in section 30 and showed off the new trail. Even though we had a route for mountain bike riders, as usual, no one showed up for the event.
The biggest challenge was the 4x4 run. Our first run was from the Ranch Club going over old nasty subdivision roads till we came to the wash that should have taken us to the dry water fall. This route was OK if you had short wheel base and skid plates. We wanted a enjoyable ride and wanted the participants to return. Found out the private property owners in case we came in from a different direction. Our next thought was to take the 1st part of the trip and then work our way over to the Cyclopic Mine area and make a big loop. Two challenges - too many new subdivision roads and too many private land owners that did not respond to our letters requesting permission, Our next attempt was to take the back way into White Hills going on to the power line road back toward Pierce Ferry Road and the dry water fall. Our next challenge was 3 private parcels. One I already had permission to cross, the 2nd parcel I chased them down to their gated community house in Boulder City, The last was a little old lady in Mesa, AZ. I made a phone call requesting permission, sent back up paper work. A week later I did a follow up phone call. She informed me that even though the participants were signing waivers, 4x4 driving was dangerous. Back to square one. We took the original route to 23rd St., back tracked to 21st St. found a
old subdivision road and returned to the power line and made a big loop back to the ranch club. Buck Buckler and Jay Wilson were the leaders and a total of 7 vehicles made this run (Three of them went out and found the group on the trail).
It was a very successful event and we made enough money to buy tools and other necessary items for our trail system.