Sometimes what you do plan doesn't go well and sometimes when you don't plan at all everything unfolds perfectly. This trip started as the former and ended up as the latter.

The snow accumulation north of the valley was no secret in its coming. Snow sticks and webcams were overrun with valley trip planners all week in anticipation. I had originally planned to bring someone up with me for her to see snow for the first time in years. Everything looked good for it until uncontrolled circumstances kept her in town. Bob and I had been talking about it all and asked if I still wanted to go. Not a fan of change, I wasn't sure since the agenda had been scratched. That clean slate with no clear plan? I just didn't know.
Thursday some new ideas came and Bob and I decided to take his truck and just head north anyway. Since conditions were changing by the minute, I just met him Saturday morning and we began driving. I checked in with Offroadaz by phone who let us know a mudslide was going to keep us off the 87. No problem, we adjust course to the 17 even though reports of it being closed in some spots were still floating around on the news sites. We had packed up extra clothes, shovels, and even sleeping bags for an uncertain journey to the snow country to explore and to attempt to succeed in a genius scheme.
We first spotted snow before the descent down into Camp Verde (about 4700 feet). As we drove down, it disappeared until we regained that elevation further along. The snow line was well defined and once we reached it again its depth became almost instantly impressive. It was easily 2-3 feet everywhere we looked, and in some spots drifted over covering the top of the barbwire fences (4 feet) in the distance. The roads had been cleared a few times before we came through but since the temperature was staying at 25, it didn't take long for ice to reform. A few times we felt the truck come around a little, but nothing to scary if you were ready for it.
We made it to Flag and decided to continue on to the ghost town of Two Guns. The snow in the high desert thinned out down to 6 inches but still covered everything in sight. This made our adventure at Two Guns quite nice as the white blanket crept alongside the old structures and graffitied walls. We explored around the newer buildings at first taking note of the colorful artwork on every surface. Bruce Lee had many appearances as did all kinds of stenciled animals, stormtroopers, cartoon characters, many spliced together in every which way. As we explored, a wall slid open above us and a drifter poked his toothless gray bearded head out and bid us goodmorning. We ended up talking for quite a while as he gave us detailed history of the surrounding area, the parties involved, who shot whom, etc, and his thoughts on the real stories involved.
After we left his home we went over to the dilapidated stone structures where the old zoo use to be. We climbed around, looked at the cave, and the canyon below all while leaving the first tracks in the snow of the day. We did drive a few miles down the road to the Meteor Crater but upon arriving and discovering the fee was $15 per person we decided to pass and headed back to Flag for some food. Bob chose Cracker Barrel (and who was I to hurt his feelings) so we warmed our bellies with Chicken and Dumplin's.
Back in the snow we set about putting our secret plan into motion and got the shovels out.
An hour later, Bob's truck bed was packed full of white tamped down Phoenix Gold and we were coming back down the hills towards home.

Thank You Bob!

I'll start with our pics of the drive up then add the Two Guns pics later
Who says you can't take decent pics out of a moving vehicle? :)=)

Cresting Sunset Point




Ooo Snow


Sedona in the distance


Note the fence in the background


Munds Park






Meteor Crater Road

:lol: sounds like a good time! no pictures???? Is two guns worth the drive? I've always wanted to go explore that area, just seemed like a long ways away


EDIT: never mind about the pictures... lol

the tails of glory just bring tears to my eyes. way to go buckeroo and you rescued frosty. santa would be proud! glad to hear you guys had fun. i am getting an itch to see some real snow now. it has been over 11 years since i have seen some real stuff compared to the little smanterings you see in the areas around here.

That last picture of meteor crater road is awesome!!

We tried to convince people we were looking for our car


We only lost 2inches on the way back even though we went from 25º to 65º


I may have neglected to tell Bob they live on the 2nd floor


Now we lay in wait (with snowballs in hand of course) ;)

2 Guns pics coming later

LOL that is a truly awesome plan

I had a great time! It was relaxed with no real plan but Mike made sure I got my work out in. :)=)

WIENERMOBILE!!!!

:P
Contrary to what we held as truth, they don't toss hotdogs out to you if you "Mardi Gras" them while passing.

So happy!!!!!

These two are my favorite. The top one with the houses looks fake! Good job!

Skatchkins wrote:



Meteor Crater Road

YellowSub wrote:These two are my favorite. The top one with the houses looks fake! Good job!

Thanks. I posted the original in the Before and After thread for comparison. The sky was great with those trees.

Awesome pics as usual Mike...... How'd the snowy porch go over?

Symon623 wrote:Awesome pics as usual Mike...... How'd the snowy porch go over?

Aw it worked out awesome. Had to play snow ball fight for almost 2hrs. There's actually still some up there. Bob and I got asked, "Did you bring snow to all the children?" :lol:

Skatchkins wrote:Aw it worked out awesome. Had to play snow ball fight for almost 2hrs. There's actually still some up there. Bob and I got asked, "Did you bring snow to all the children?" :lol:

Did you tell them "no just the lucky ones?" :lol:

Mike did you get any pics of the old guy?

fatbob309 wrote:Mike did you get any pics of the old guy?

Sorry Bob. Been slow going through them (plus I've been doing silly things like cloning out the power lines)
I did get a sneak shot of our hobo historian as he spun his yarns:













I was diggin the bright graffiti in the snow

Not a big deal. I just didn't know if you got a pic of him.

K finished

Older part of Two Guns








Little different. Got tired of the same processing