SCF-ORIG - 2025 January 4x4 Group Ride to Wickenburg & Bradshaw Mountains

13 rigs, 25 riders and one dog named Zoey rendezvoused at the Shell gas station on the morning of Saturday, January 25, 2025. Sharply at 8:30 the group hit the road and set their sights on Wickenburg. An hour later the rigs arrived in Wickenburg and made a 1/2 hour stop to pick up lunch at McDonalds and Subway. Shortly after driving on Constellation Road the pavement ended and after a few hundred yards of washboard road the rigs found a spot to air down before continuing. A 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th count of the rigs took place at the air down location, but the numbers did not add up. Finally, one driver walked the entire line of rigs and found one Jeep was hidden from view. Sneaky fellow. (there were 7 Jeeps, 5 Toyotas, & 1 Bronco). The road was much smoother on aired down tires.
The rigs continued on Constellation Road and then a short 4-mile ride on Buckhorn Road to the trail head. The first climb was pretty tough and unfortunately one of the rigs suffered a mechanical issue which caused them to turn around and head back home for needed repair. Happy to report that the driver and rig made it home safely. Funny, but many of us had to walk up and down the hill to help our fellow off-roader. The trail was slippery and unstable. Many of the folks slipped and fell or nearly fell. Of course, Chico was one of the folks that fell. The remaining group continued the climb and the view from the top was inspiring. The Wickenburg and Bradshaw Mountains are as rugged as they are beautiful. The eco systems across the length of the trail were numerous and unique. The drivers imagined the struggles the pioneers went through to make their way through this landscape, and they didn't have vehicles with the suspension that ours do today. Every turn and every ridge line provided the lucky group of 12 with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. By far, this is the most scenic trail the group has ever ridden on. Oh yes, did we mention the downclimb from the first mountain? Two obstacles separated by 50 yards presented themselves immediately, "The Gatekeepers". If you make it past them, you are guaranteed to successfully navigate the entire trail. After 45 minutes of precise approaches, careful tire placement, lots of rock stacking, and deployment of a winch, all 12 rigs made it through with no less than two wheels in the air. The will of the drivers was definitely put to the test. Around 1:30 PM the group finally arrived at an area that provided ample space for the group to have lunch. Many stories of the last 4 miles were shared and there were still 17 more miles of trail to complete. The group winded and crawled through the narrow trail and all the while were provided with historical bits and pieces of its history and folklore. When the rigs arrived at Bradshaw's grave the riders dismounted and paid homage to Issac Bradshaw. A tiny bit of his biography was read to the group and everyone learned a little about him, his brother WIlliam, and how the mountain range was named after the brothers. A few more scenic miles showcased the rugged saguaro covered mountains, the group arrived at Snoopy Canyon and then finally reached Castle Hot Springs Road. That was followed by a 19 mile drive on a very dusty gravel road, pavement was reached around 6:30 PM where the drivers aired up and headed back home on the path of their choice. Chico commented on the comradery and cohesiveness of the group. The encouragement each person gave to the other was something that one experiences only after building a friendship or being placed in a challenging situation. So proud of everyone on this ride. You should be proud of what you accomplished on this ride. Thanks goes out to Loui and Josee' Massicotte for leading the ride, and to Ed & Michelle Zvonik for tail gunning.
Music:
Hot Water by National Sweetheart; UA-cam Audio Library
Shady Guise by The Soundlings; UA-cam Audio Library
Between The Spaces by The Soundlings; UA-cam Audio Library

[@charleshicks3492]

Very well done; any day is great 4 wheeling 🤩😎⭐️