AZ - Crown King in the Dark!

[Yardstick]

Some discussion at a recent gathering led to 4play organizing a night ride to Crown King! KTMSER arranged for a late dinner at The Mill in Crown King and the epic ride was on!

Several riders showed up to pierce the night. I'm pretty terrible with names so I won't get everybody, but I know these people were there:
4play KTM 600
KTMSER KTM 950 SE
EsconDeasy KTM 530
Reidy008 CRF 250X
Yardstick KTM 530
AZ4us KTM 450?
JerseyDave & Mrs. 4play in the Rzr
And four from The Helmet Center (Jeff, Dave +2 more whose names escape me! )


I intended to arrive at the staging area early to get out in front for light trail pictures.



The sun disappeared on the way out and I arrived 20 minutes before the official KSU time, instead of the hour or so that I intended. Oops!



I rushed to get on the trail and requested a 10-15 minute head start. On the way I picked up EsconDeasy at the CK rock. My new Baja Designs Squadron LED headlight didn't slow me down as much as I thought it would, but it does make funny shadows!



An attempt at a handheld 1/15th second, no-flash picture. Kinda worked! The moon rises over EsconDeasy's shoulder.



EsconDeasy and I were on the same page with regard to the photo spot and we made good time getting there. Some riders making trails in the distance.

[Yardstick]

Still on the move and the Phoenix metro area glows in the background.



The first good light snake!



Here's one with someones brigher light.



Riders coming up another section of trail with the bright, full moon looking like a sunrise.



Here's a more appropriate full moon exposure.

[Yardstick]

We gathered at the photo spot and started the head-count.



Someone was missing! Dave, one of the Helmet Center riders, was way back on the trail. Through their Scala communicators we heard he had, "broken handlebars". Jeff and Reidy008 spun around for the search and rescue mission.



The rest rode on toward Crown King. EsconDeasy in the foreground and 4play's light shrouds him in the distance.



The RZR lights the way.



I hung back to get a shot of the big dipper.

[Yardstick]

The Mill afterhours crew. It was just cool enough to want a jacket. Too bad I left mine in the truck!



20 second, ambient light pic on the table. AZ4us stayed very still!



Another 20 second exposure with fidgety people.



The food at The Mill is awesome!



After dinner some discussion ensued about the return. I wanted to do 'the loop' and take the Ryland Creek option on the way back. 4play made a good case for returning the way we came in case the missing/downed rider still needed assistance.

[Yardstick]

Just before everyone fired up their machines, three riders arrived! Clockwise from the back, left is the guy whose name I can't remember, Dave the downed rider, Reidy008 and Jeff. The restaurant had shut down all the hot food making devices and offered the late arrivals some cold sandwiches and beverages.



Long exposure indoors.



I stayed back with the late arrival group to show them the way through Ryland Creek. Reidy008 would do sweep duty since he also knows the route well. I made one mistake on the way through the Crown King neighborhood and missed the turn on Towers Mountain Road. Riders arrive at the intersection with Senator Hwy along with their dust.



Pointing toward Wagoner Road.



Riders arrive.



We kept moving with only a couple of small issues. I think there was one fall through Ryland Creek and I got a "low". My front tire didn't go totally flat, but it got low enough to transmit the hits of smallish rocks and washboard directly to my wrists. Ouch!

Overall an extremely fun ride! I'm a night ride convert! Let's do it again!!

[seabee1]

nice! it looks totally diferent at night! sems to me that you'd better really know the way well. i'm still looking forward to doing my first night ride.

[Slowred]

Awesome RR! Those pics came out really well. Was anyone riding with a stock light?

[Nightstalker]

!

[AZ4us]

Excellent ride to Crown king. Good people and Cooler temperature. I keep telling 4play we need to repeat the night rides soon.
Here more pictures before the start.














Fun Ride !

[Yardstick]

Originally Posted by seabee1

nice! it looks totally diferent at night! sems to me that you'd better really know the way well. i'm still looking forward to doing my first night ride.

It does look totally different at night and it does help to know the trail. I forgot my GPS at home so I was flying by memory. That route is pretty simple though. I only made the one mistake going through Crown King and I'm kind of surprised I haven't made that mistake before in daylight. This was my first real intentional night ride on a "trail" in a long time. That Squadron light let me run at probably 85-90% of my daytime speed. I could see doing a lot more night riding this summer!

Originally Posted by Slowred

Awesome RR! Those pics came out really well. Was anyone riding with a stock light?

I don't know if anyone had a totally stock headlight. Maybe Reidy008. EsconDeasy was using the stock KTM headlight shell with an upgraded bulb. I thought about adding that descriptor to the names and bikes at the beginning.

4play - KTM 600 - 8" Baja light and supplimental ADVMonster LED
KTMSER - KTM 950 SE - Stadium lights.
EsconDeasy - KTM 530 - Stock shell, upgraded bulb
Reidy008 CRF 250X - Stock? With a supplemental helmet light.
Yardstick - KTM 530 - Baja Designs Squadron

I know there was another 8" Baja light and another Squadron on the ride. Everyone seemed able to keep a decent speed in the dark. The full moon helped.

[refokus]

[Reidy008]

Originally Posted by Slowred

Awesome RR! Those pics came out really well. Was anyone riding with a stock light?

I had a helmet light I borrowed to try but rode about 90% on the stock headlight of my 250X. The dust is not great to ride in and the brighter the light the more reflextion you get. It seems like you are riding in a blizard or warp speed on the enterprise.

If you are the lead person or on your own then the more light the better.