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Homestead road Oct 2014

Original Post
K-Tanz · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 211

I hear that the homestead road is in worse shape than usual due to the rain we've had and is currently impassable even with 4wd. Can anyone verify this? If anyone is interested I have this coming Friday off and would love to go put some work in on the road. Any takers? How about you, Red or Aaron Carter? I don't know much about road repair but have a vehicle that will get up to 5 people and a bunch of shovels out there. I know the road can be a touchy subject so I don't want to just go out there and start digging without input from some of you who put up routes and have done road work in the past. Thanks all!

Red · · Tacoma, Toyota · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 1,625

Yes, I can confirm that what you hear is true, sadly. Unfortunately the road needs a lot more than a bunch of motivated folk with shovels. This road is in need of professional repairs and proper water management. The BLM and Game and Fish are working to obtain proper authorization to execute such repairs. Here's a some pictures I took on Saturday, 10-18-14. For reference, the pick tool you see in some of the ruts is approximately one meter in length.

Luke

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marty funkhouser · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 20

My suby will make that no problem

Jason Halladay · · Los Alamos, NM · Joined Oct 2005 · Points: 15,143
marty funkhouser wrote:My suby will make that no problem
Please capture the action on a video camera!
K-Tanz · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 211

Damn man looks like then crux crimp broke and turned your 5.12 proj into an unholy abomination. Thanks for engaging GFD and BLM, I know in the past such entities have been hard to get to play ball (something about wanting diesel fuel last year) and its great we have people on this. I spoke with Manny as well and he suggested I attend Concerned Climbers meetings to get informed and involved which sounds like a good plan. Thanks for putting some work on even if its pissing in the wind.

Obviously my Civic won't make it up there anymore but with the Subaru.....

Sean C · · SLC · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 225

Were you able to make it through the road Luke? The pictures make it look pretty impassable. Would a high clearance 4x4 be able to make it? Thanks

Red · · Tacoma, Toyota · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 1,625

No we were not able to make it through. We didn't even consider trying. The condition we saw it in on Saturday I do not think a standard 4x4 could make it up. It looked to me like rock crawlers and ATV's are what you needed.

K-Tanz · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 211

Yesterday I decided I had to see for myself how bad the road was. I guess I thought I would just have mantastic testicles and be on TYD by noon. Well much to my disappointment Red was pretty spot on. The road is more washed out than I have ever seen it. There are very large exposed rocks, super loose gravel and dirt (loose to the point I fell on my ass just walking) and big giant holes just itching to get you stuck.

We navigated maybe 1/3 of the way up the crux section, got stuck and dug, got past it, promptly got stuck again, dug some more and made it past that spot with 3 tries and some momentum. At this point I assessed that the best was yet to come and really didn't want to get stuck with no backup so it was bail time.

There isn't a ton of digging to be easily done. There is hard giant slabs of rock that need to be broken down on the middle of the road surrounded by very loose gravel and other fun obstacles.

I do think that a skilled driver with a fair amount of gumption, some bigger tires and a lift could do it if they aired down. I, however have a stock 4 runner and no onboard air so it was pretty tough. I hope BLM and forest service can be convinced to help cause right now very few people are going to be able to get through.

Road

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BenClimbing · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 245

There is another way in. I bring it up, only because I foresee people looking for alternatives and I feel obligated to to warn people against trying it unless they are prepared for a very serious test of off-road skill in an isolated and dangerous setting.

The road is accessed through a gate off the 77 that is across the road from the run-away truck ramp north of the normal Homestead access. It follows a steep, narrow road cut into the hillside (that has nearly washed out in places)to the right with steep drop offs into the canyon until it reaches the wash downstream from El Cap Canyon. It follows the rocky wash for quite a while (very rough) then cuts left up a steep, rocky hill to join the Homestead road between gates 2 and 3 (near the old corral).

I don't know if the gate is still unlocked, as it was three or four years ago that we scouted this access. I don't know how the rain has effected this road but I imagine it is going to be worse now (and it was really bad before). If I haven't convinced you not to try it, it is up to you to research the legality and acceptability of using this road with the land managers and the rancher. 4WD and very good clearance (better than most stock vehicles) is mandatory. Getting high-centered is a very real possibility so a winch is recommended. Bring lots of water for a long, hot hike out if you get stuck or break your truck. Or, better yet, DON'T TRY IT!

Hopefully the BLM and AZG&F fix the normal road up soon.

Red · · Tacoma, Toyota · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 1,625

The gate at the highway for the other road has been locked the last two years. (Haven't checked recently) It takes half the time to hike in to where it meets the road we are used to using if people want to hike in from the highway. However, this entire stretch from the highway to the third gate on the regular way in, is all private property.

Warning to all: Do NOT cut or damage fences or property that is not yours. As Ben is aware, this happened many years ago in this area and caused huge access issues with El Cap Canyon.

BenClimbing · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 245

It is probably a good thing they locked that gate.....unless someone tries to leave that way. That would suck a lot. I wonder if the road washed out?

And, yes, don't cut the fence or leave any gates open. Long, long ago someone (almost definitely not a climber but the timing made it look like it was) cut the fence near the pull out at El Cap Canyon then shortly thereafter someone (hopefully not a climber but I can't make any definitive claims) left a gate open near there, allowing cattle unimpeded access to the highway. It soured the rancher to climbers in El Cap Canyon, as he had just recently become aware of climbing activity in the canyon and he, understandably, suspected climbers must have something to do with the perimeter breaches. After some discussion and reassurance that climbers intentions were benevolent, he graciously turned some development minded individuals on to the Homestead as an alternative to El Cap (which is right next to the highway) with the caveat that all gates are closed immediately after passing through, without fail. To the best of my knowledge, climbers have done a very good job of meeting this requirement for many years now. It is of paramount importance that we continue to be diligent.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Arizona & New Mexico
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