Our first trip to Queen Valley as a club. The plan was to meet at the Queen Valley turn off at 9:00 am. Meeting at the designated time went better than we all thought and the last stragglers showed up around 9:30. The turn off is paved, the pavement leads to the hidden old folks community of Queen Valley. Well we did not head in that direction. We followed the pavement til a right turn onto dirt also known as Hewitt station rd. A little ways in we stopped to unload Nique's truck, add brake fluid to Blaine's truck, install Jeff's passenger side slider, load Kerry's spare into Nique's truck and synchronize radio channels. Then we were off, til we arrive at comet peak and started down the other side. I received a call on the radio that the sheriff we past at comet peak had noticed Nique's lack of visible license plate. It was decided to load Nique's truck back up and tow it to the beginning of the forest roads. After the short delay we lined back up and drove a little further. Our next turn was North towards Rogers trough, we crossed Queen Creek wash just after the turn. On the other side of QC wash where everyone parks approx. 4.81 miles in, Nique unloaded his truck for the second time. Passed this spot and still North the road turns into FR172 which is made clear by the sign just after the cattle guard. Another 1.7 miles and you take a sharp right and head back South for a jog and then East ending up in the wash of Hewitt canyon of which parts are the original Hewitt canyon rd. We drove passed a favorite camping and evening out spot that we named "moms birthday spot" (another long post to explain that one). We head North up the wash which heads in a North Easterly direction the rest of the trail as you can see on the map below. This was an easy trail ride due to the sand filling in the rocky areas that were so prominent years ago. Hewitt canyon is very attractive year round. This LDW run was the first time most of us had a way of communicating as we drove, we all had or borrowed a hand held radio and we enjoyed the scenic guide over the radio telling stories and naming of events that happened on parts of the trail in years passed. Not stories from the wild west, but from the countless scout outings that have taken place in this area, or maybe they weren't stories but minor hints of the past that had me thinking of my childhood and the experiences we shared there. 2.57 miles from moms b-day spot is the resting place of an old Studebaker pickup which is unseen from the bed of the wash, also near this spot is what we call the crack and it served as our playground and pretty much wet the pallet for most and satisfied others desire for difficult terrain navigation. 4.72 miles from moms b-day spot we stopped for lunch in Cotton Wood Canyon, appropriately named due to the cool shade at our lunch spot provided by aged Cotton wood trees. After lunch the end of the trail came too quick for most of us but just in time for others who needed to be home. We stopped where the wash crosses FR172 and had our first ever off road gift exchange which was kind of awkward but fun. Here every one split up. Blaine was running low on brake fluid so He, Dad, and JT took off. I headed up the road while Billy, Jeff, Nique, and Kerry checked out a possible alternative exit which after a walk up it proved to be too difficult for the moment. The trip home went good with no one left behind and everyone safe. Thank you LDW club members for coming.
