Arizona: Lower Devils access?

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Messages 1 - 13 of total 13 in this topic

Bad Climber

Trad climber

The Lawless Border Regions

Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 4, 2016 - 03:21pm PT

Hey, AZ climbers:

There is a chance my wife and I might get out to AZ for a climbing trip this winter and hope for warm enough conditions to get out to Lower Devils Canyon, Cochise, too. We travel with a 2wd Tundra towing a light a-frame pop-up trailer. Can we get in there with this rig? Room for camping? Turning around? What's the lowdown? I posted over on the AZ section of Mtn. Proj., too.

Thanks!

BAd

Ezra Ellis

Trad climber

North wet, and Da souf

Dec 4, 2016 - 03:44pm PT

Regarding Cochise, you can get to sheeps head and isle of you with the trailer if you're careful.

East strong hold should be no problem.
The rest West strong hold should be fine if you are willing to leave your trailer for the day.
Have fun 👍

Bad Climber

Trad climber

The Lawless Border Regions

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 4, 2016 - 03:59pm PT

Thanks, Ezra. We've been to Cochise before, so I know we're fine there. Seems to be a lot less info. about Devils.

BAd

drljefe

climber

El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson

Dec 4, 2016 - 04:11pm PT

LD- no.

ruppell

climber

Dec 4, 2016 - 04:34pm PT

jefe

I've never been because I never had a vehicle that could get there. Now I do. So what's the best time to hit it up. I was thinking of trying to get some time off in late March. It's a 9 hour haul from Bishop so I'm thinking at least 5 days. 2 drive 3 climb. Spill the local beta bro.

drljefe

climber

El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson

Dec 4, 2016 - 04:56pm PT

I'm not a local!
But as long as I can remember, the road out there wouldn't support a trailer.
There's nice camping nearby with plenty of routes and problems close though. That road shouldn't deter you if you're set on climbing in the area.
Hopefully some phx people will chime in with better or more current beta.

Ruppell- just my opinion...if you're driving from Bishop in March, I'd go somewhere else, unless you're visiting family in phx. Too much good rock in AZ. LD is cool and all just, well, it's up to you.

ruppell

climber

Dec 4, 2016 - 05:01pm PT

Yeah Jefe I here you. I've done a ton of climbing at Cochise and Mt Lemmon. Queen creek has always been somewhere I wanted to spend some time. Plus the wife and I just picked up a 97 4runner that I've been converting to a really capable 4x4 rig. So now I'm looking at places that require a little more effort to climb at.

Bad Climber

Trad climber

The Lawless Border Regions

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 4, 2016 - 08:15pm PT

Hey, Jefe:

So, no go for a trailer. How far in to "commute" to the trail head--using the 2wd Tundra--long bed but great clearance, a little over 10 inches? I'd really love to climb some of those towers!

BAd

drljefe

climber

El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson

Dec 4, 2016 - 08:55pm PT

Not sure on current condition.
Someone on MP should be able to help ya.
The Oak Flat cg is nice, free.

Bad Climber

Trad climber

The Lawless Border Regions

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 7, 2016 - 06:05am PT

Thanks, Jefe. Sounds like a good option. I camped at Queen Creek a couple of hundred years ago in the worst storm I've ever experienced in AZ--every creek--dry or otherwise--was raging, waterfalls pouring over every cliff. We had to drop the pop-up on our VW van and hang on for much of the night. Wild stuff.

BAd

Alan Rubin

climber

Amherst,MA.

Dec 7, 2016 - 06:43am PT

About 10-15 years ago I drove down in there with a friend who rented a high clearance, 4 WD SUV for the purpose---despite having one of his own--which he didn't want to damage on the trip!!!! My recollection was that we were driving on what seemed to be a steep, riverbed, pretending to be a road, much of it covered in boulders--not rocks but boulders!!!! I really didn't see much because I mostly had my eyes closed while I hung on for dear life---Pat was definitely going on the 'fast' side!!! However when we finally made it to the parking at the bottom, there was at least one standard, 2WD US car that had somehow survived the drive--whether it made it out or not, I don't know. Fun place to climb once we got there, though not necessarily any better than other sectors of Queen Creek/Oak Flats.