El Camino del Diablo - Bill Burke trip

**BroncoHauler** · 01-25-2011, 02:44 PM

Saw this on Bill's website.

Herb
=========================

Diablo AZ
Sportsmobile, Big Trucks, Adventure Trailers and Overlanders! March 18-20. $650./vehicle. Limit 6 vehicles.
This 3-day trip will cover the fantastic El Camino del Diablo - west end! We'll meet in Ajo, AZ and travel El Camino across the bombing range, traveling the remote and rugged and sometimes inhospitable country that early day pioneers crossed to settle the greener pastures of California Norte. We will visit some of the many gravesites of those pioneers, camp in remote washes, visit some little known cave drawings and Tanque formations. We'll might catch a rare fighter jet dog fighting above us, but we will see the fantastic flora and fauna for which this Sonoran Desert is so well known. We'll finish on I-10 near Yuma. This trip is perfect for adventure vehicles! Requirements: Self-sufficient camping, one bundle of firewood, extra fuel depending on actual tank size, frame mounted recovery points, CB radio (handheld okay), enough fuel, food and water for the 3 day/2 night trip. If it rains, this places gets very interesting! All visitors in this area are required to view the 15 minute video in the visitors center in Ajo and have the card to prove it.

patrick51 · 01-29-2011, 01:04 PM

I would think sidearms and longguns would be required also, or perhaps the border patrols escorts the group!

TwoVans · 01-29-2011, 04:29 PM

I understand Bill's a great guy and guide. But, don't pay him $650 for this trip. If there's interest, I can arrange a trip for free. Ok, not free. I won't pay for your food, fuel, van, time, etc. But, you get the point.

Then again, I might be more entertaining than Bill. So, if you want to slip me $650 for the pleasure of my company and the potential use of my winch - I won't turn you down...

Herb, sounds like the perfect opportunity to finally meet.

Of course, there's no telling when I'm going to get my van back from SMB West - But that's a story I'll save for another thread...

Angel · 01-29-2011, 04:46 PM

jessenej,

Sounds like a deal and fun. Keep us posted as to your ETD

Angel

TwoVans · 01-29-2011, 05:08 PM

My van isn't necessarily a deal breaker for me. I just can't bring the "large family" without it.

I live near Yuma and have easy access to the area. Although I haven't been down there in either my van or Jeep yet, but I know many that have. We've been talking about driving the route described in reverse, but haven't yet.

So, I'll let the thread take on a life of its own. Once we get a feel for how many are interested, we can consider some dates.

I will throw out there that I am unavailable the first week of March, the middle week of March, all of April through the first one to two weeks of May, and by some time in June it really isn't possible to carry enough water to overcome the heat. But, other than that, I'm wide open!

**BroncoHauler** · 01-29-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessenej

I understand Bill's a great guy and guide. But, don't pay him $650 for this trip. If there's interest, I can arrange a trip for free. Ok, not free. I won't pay for your food, fuel, van, time, etc. But, you get the point.

Then again, I might be more entertaining than Bill. So, if you want to slip me $650 for the pleasure of my company and the potential use of my winch - I won't turn you down...

Herb, sounds like the perfect opportunity to finally meet.

Of course, there's no telling when I'm going to get my van back from SMB West - But that's a story I'll save for another thread...

Appreciate the offer, but going on this trip with Bill wasn't likely to happen for me in any case. I was just passing along a trip that would be fun in an SMB. It is a trip I want to do sometime, but I'm hoping to take a Colorado trip sometime this year in year in my Bronco.

FWIW, Bill acts more than just a guide on these trips, he's also an teacher and mentor. He wheels more than 200 days a year, which is probably more than I'll realistically do in a lifetime, so I learn something from him every time I've gone out with him.

BTW, what's up with you in the Yuma area, I thought you were headed to Tucson?

Herb

TwoVans · 01-29-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

FWIW, Bill acts more than just a guide on these trips, he's also an teacher and mentor. He wheels more than 200 days a year, which is probably more than I'll realistically do in a lifetime, so I learn something from him every time I've gone out with him.

Well sure, if you're into that...

But did I mention that I THINK about wheeling more than 200 days a year? AND, that I've never been down there on the ground before?

I'm talking about a priceless adventure - hence the price...

**BroncoHauler** · 01-29-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessenej

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

FWIW, Bill acts more than just a guide on these trips, he's also an teacher and mentor. He wheels more than 200 days a year, which is probably more than I'll realistically do in a lifetime, so I learn something from him every time I've gone out with him.

Well sure, if you're into that...

But did I mention that I THINK about wheeling more than 200 days a year? AND, that I've never been down there on the ground before?

I'm talking about a priceless adventure - hence the price...

Well, if you do lead a run like this, let me know, you never know I might be able to make it.

Herb

**BroncoHauler** · 01-31-2011, 08:18 PM

How about we split this off and create a thread of it's own?

Herb

saline · 01-31-2011, 08:23 PM

I hope to some day take a heavy vehicle course with Bill. He is without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable people in the world in regards to off road travel and extraction. Thanks for posting the course info.