CAUTION: Yankee Doodle Trail, PNF

[Bunk n Teri]

I've renamed it the Yankee Dooozy.

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE UNDERSTAND WE WOULD NEVER INTENTIALLY RIDE SINGLE-TRACK.
I only post this as precaution from others endin' up in our same perdiciment.
Single-trackers, we no more want a jeep on our 50" than you want a quad on your track.

On our ride yesterday we passed the Yankee Doodle Trail and decided to take a spin up to Mt Union (this short section IS two-track). Killer climb with a picnic area (tables) accessible only by foot, horse, bike, quad. DO NOT RIDE TO THE MAIN ROAD AT THE TOP OF THE MT UNION LOOKOUT. PARK AT PICNIC AREA AND WALK UP. Although it is not posted on the trail no vehicles are allowed and the forest guy was quite testy about this. He also recommended we take the bottom leg of the Yankee Doodle on the south side of the road. The northside was way cool and we were up to explorin' so we decided to go for it.

FOR THE RECORD: THE YANKEE DOODLE TRAIL IS LABELED FOR QUAD AT THE ENTRANCE SOUTHBOUND. IT IS NOT QUAD TRACK.
When we realized this it was impossible to turn around! And with only forward to go, we had ourselves one quite grueling ride...over 3 hrs to travel just about 4 miles. (I think this ride has catapulted us into the ream of the extreme and a wench is now on our suvivial list of "must have"). I stongly believe this trail "difficult" even without the training wheels...

Had many feet (felt like miles) of off-canter with an almost a roll-over down the mountain at one point. Had many of step-down though v-shape rock (felt like a hundred miles). Had mucho grade (felt like a thousand miles). There was one very tight corner with boulders that the left front tires were off the ground over my head high. And OMFG the rooty (was it 7ft or more, looked like a mile) strait up ledge with the cool off-canter top which naturally had that ba$tard boulder at the top (thought that rock would take Bunk out his first time of 3 up it...stopped my heart...) If it were not for three spotters, pushing, pulling, gut bustin' and keepin' the wheels on the ground we would have been screwed at that point (hence a now must have wench for the goody list).

It took the effort of all four of us to make this trip. I strongly doubt a single rider or even two would have made it on their own. (without wench)

We came out on Senator Hwy a mile south of Palace Station at dusk. (trailhead there labeled single-track. Of course.) Pressin' on was our motto as we sure didn't wanna be on that trail at dark. I think we woulda been spendin the night...

WOW

Teri

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!

[Fooll]

WOW
Now that was one good short story.
I bet that was some rush on the trail and total relief when you hit the good road. Thanks.....George

2002 Sportsman 500
2002 Magnum 325 2x4
Every Dog has His Day.
Get'em Sam....
Fhttp://ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/fooll/img8.gifll

[larrynvic]

Boy howdy Ya got that right!!! One FUGNARLY ride[:0].
Larry

2001 Honda Rancher 4x4
2001 Honda Rancher 2x4
2 dogs Sarge n Jade

[jkzona]

Teri, I have to give you and Bunk two thumbs up for making it across that trail. I went from south to north on it last year, riding an XR650L and no bifs. The hard part was helping my brother on his big bombadier. It took us 3.25 hrs. I do belive that the Yankee Dooozy do'es apply! THAT TRAIL SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN BY BEGINNERS!!!

JK

St. legal is neat but, dirt is the treat.

[larrynvic]

Teri does that mean I'm off the beginners list now [?] even though I tried to roll off that trail :D
Vic
:( Nope! Larry say's I need ta keep the trainin wheels on a wee bit longer cause I tried to roll over[V]
2001 Honda Rancher 4x4
2001 Honda Rancher 2x4
2 dogs Sarge n Jade

[Wolfhound]

Ya sure know how to turn a ride into an adventure!

Robert
http://ridingarizona.com/forum/uploaded/Wolfhound/2003329173321_2002.jpg
2001 SPORTSMAN 500 H.O.R.S.E.
2003 SPORTSMAN 700 CAMO
BOTH STREET LEGAL !
http://community.webshots.com/user/awolfhound

[dirtbikemike]

I know exactly what root you are talking about!! I did that trail about a month and a half ago and realized quickly that I was in over my head. I somehow made it through, a lot quicker on two wheels, but by far the most difficult trail I've been on yet! It wouldn't take much for something to go seriously wrong there. If you look close there are several various bike parts littering the trail, I should have taken that as a sign. Can you believe people live for trails like that?! Give me another year or so and I'll be one of them.

[tba02]

Got GPS? I'll be back in September!

-Grover
-Oh Oh Honda Rancher
-86 Honda TRX 125

[kford131]

see this sounds like a good trail to me.

Kyle

Have quads, will travel.

2003 Rincon(s)

[Redneck]

We went right by there Sunday afternoon. I was thinking we might run into you guys out there in them Bradshaws somewhere. We drove from Black Canyon City up to C.K. then up to Towers lookout and then all the way to Walker rd.

Redneck

8

[phxman]

Bunk n Teri, You stumbled upon one the best trails in the Bradshaw Mtns. Its one of my favorites and very passable and fun by dirtbikes, just gotta know what you are doing:D

I'm glad you made it down ok. Its a tought trail and I'm surprised its marked for quads on the one end. I sure dont want to try what you did ;)

"Rocks are my Friends"

Don Hood
President - Arizona Trail Riders
Promoter - OHV Fun Runs

[Bunk n Teri]

Phxman,

Only goes ta show how perspectives differ 'tween the two an' the four.
Lotta distance between 20 inches and 50!

(Believe it or not yer name did come up on the ride...)

We are of the mind the trail marker may have been tampered. Seen it before.
When we get the chance we're gonna check it out.

Teri

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!

[El Gato]

I did something like that last year up near Superior. I looked on a map and this knarly trail I always wanted to try appeared to connect with another road. I knew it was a rough trail but went for it anyways. About 4 miles and 4 hours later I descided I was screwed. There were some places that I had gone down that I knew I couldn't go back up so I was a one way trip. Well most of the way down the trail it brushed up in a box canyon and there was no sign of a trail that even a mountian goat could manuever so I had to turn around. It got so bad that at one point I thought about ditching the bike and walking out. I made it somehow though. I started in the morning about 10:00 am and it literally took me all day to go 10-15 miles, I returned to the truck after dark with a very banged up bike.

That's a scary feeling , I know what you mean. I haven't ridden alone since.

Bens Cycle Works, Motoworks Suspension, Goat Eyewear, Cycle Gear, FMF-909, Works Connection, IMS Racing, N-Style Graphics, AFAM, White Brothers, Pops Racing, Cycles West.

[Bunk n Teri]

It the unknown that gets to ya, ya know?

And more than anything, the nagging question:
"It it gonna get any worse???"

Teri

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!

[Bunk n Teri]

We had a GREAT friggin' time!:D

Teri

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!

[Bunk n Teri]

Most o' the trip anyway.

Teri

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!

[larrynvic]

Teri, I agree with the "most of the time anyway":D:D We made it out,no one hurt,few scratches on quads and arms so It's all good.
Vic

2001 Honda Rancher 4x4
2001 Honda Rancher 2x4
2 dogs Sarge n Jade

[BrattyBoy]

thaT SOUNDS AWESOME TERI I WISH YOU hAD A VIDEO CAMERA WIT U THOUGH...
IT WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT MOVIE.

Dent'n'Drive[}:)][B)][8]

[phxman]

FYI - Just rode the Yankee Doodle yesterday and sure enough there is a quad symbol on the trail sign. There is also a log acrossed the trail now about half way down. About 16in round.

Bunk n Teri, I dont know how you guys got a quad down that trail. You got to be good as there is some steep off camber stuff. yeehaw:D

"Rocks are my Friends"

Don Hood
President - Arizona Trail Riders
Promoter - OHV Fun Runs

[kford131]

well i guess this trail is on my list.

Kyle

Don't worry, it will only hurt for a minute or two.

[azbrown]

For those who have indicated they must do this trail, I'd ask you to reconsider unless you're bikers. This is clearly not a quad trail and I also cannot fathom how you got past the roots on the side of the mountain. I also ride a quad and I would have parked it and left it as riding a quad (on purpose) on that trail is plain nuts As you now know, this is obviously singletrack trail and the sign is an apparent error. Please don't compound the error by bringing more quads down this trail.

The Yankee Doodle is a premier ridgetop singletrack trail (especially the lower section) and I'd hate to have the whole thing eventually widened to quad width as I know jeeps would soon follow. As it is, the entire trail is slowly being increasingly encroached on on both ends by quadders (certainly not he ones who frequent this board).

We'll check with local PNF ppl. to confirm this is in fact an error.

[kford131]

i assume we are talking about trail marked 284?

Kyle

Don't worry, it will only hurt for a minute or two.

[Bunk n Teri]

Yes, TR #284.

azbrown,

It is because I understand your statements that I made this post. As a warning.

Trust me, by the time we realized what was up there was no way to turn around 4 quads. As you stated yourself, this trail has been obviously run by quads and so the trailhead is nice quad track. Not to mention marked as quad track. What's worse is the forest service employee at the Mt Union lookout recommended it knowing what we ride.

I can also make the point that the couple of people who have stated they would like to run this track (one of whom is a RA Trail Guide) are experianced extreme trail riders and just caught scent of a great thrill ride rush and went with the flow. This does not mean they will ride this trail as they also respect our single-track brothers and their right to this or any other 18" trail. As I wrote in the original post, we don't want jeeps on our 50" any more than you'd want us on yours. Both posters are also aware of how this type of action can cause great strife between two groups that should be united in our right to ride and have seen this evidenced on these boards in the early days of RA.

I will be speaking with Bill Cook at PNF this week and have every intention of mentioning this as an inexperianced unsupecting quad rider would surely be hurt and too of another trail which is also mismarked as a quad-track.

Teri

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!

[Bunk n Teri]

Oh and phxman,

Like I always say, "There's a big difference between luck an' skill..."

";)"

Teri

[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!