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Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
Friday-Sunday, Mar 28-30. 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.
Trip Description:
**SEE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW FOR FULL DETAILS
Rating: Easy, with moderate sections we will take slowly.
Route: We will explore trails in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Since this is a longer drive to access the wilderness, we will make this a 3 day trip (Friday to Sunday). Optionally, anyone can leave early or join late if your schedule demands.
Time & Place to Meet:
- Meet: Friday, March 28, 8:30 am, Depart: 9:00 am
- Where: Buckman Springs Rest Area off Interstate 8. Please arrive fueled up.
What to bring:
- Required:
- All-terrain tires and full-sized spare
- Any emergency & recovery gear you may have
- Any necessary tire changing tools, including anti-theft lug nut keys
- Sufficient fuel for your vehicle (we will stop to refuel as needed)
- Meals and snacks for all days.
- Drinking water (1 gallon per day, per person + consider pet’s needs if applicable)
- Camping gear appropriate for primitive camping
- A Bundle of firewood (pooled with other campers)
- Recommended:
- Extra fuel (5gal) highly recommended as we will spend significant time off-road.
- Amateur 2m radio with external antenna
- Recommended if camping:
- Weather can be unpredictable – checking the National Weather Service report is recommended.
Destination information: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kofa
Frequency: 2M: 147.580 MHz
RSVP/Register: Sign up below
Trail Leader: Peter Matusov
Day 1:
– Meeting at Buckman Springs Rest Area on I8, take off at 9-9:15.
– Transit to a gas station near I8/US95 junction in Yuma, AZ. 155 miles, ~2:30-2:40. FUEL STOP.
– Yuma to turn-off from US95 to Castle Dome Rd. 31 miles, 40 min. Air down and head for the dirt.
– Castle Dome road to Castle Dome Mine/Museum, on to Campsite 1 (33.14158, -114.11102); alternate – Campsite 1a (33.13008, -114.10007). 40 miles, ~3-4 hours driving and mine visit.
Day 2.
– Campsite 1 or 1a to Campsite 2 at Howatter Homestead. 60 miles (130 miles from last fuel stop).
Day 3 (a)
– Howatter Homestead to Hoodoo Cabin to New Hope (Interstate 10). 33 miles, ~2 hours. FUEL STOP. Total of 163 miles from the last fuel stop.
– New Hope – Quartzsite – Glamis – San Diego: 264 miles, 4:12.
Day 3 (b)
– Howatter Homestead to Hoodoo Cabin to US95 to Quartzsite. 55 miles, ~2.5 hours. FUEL STOP. Total of 185 miles from the last fuel stop.
– Quartzsite – Glamis – San Diego. 238 miles, ~4 hours.
I am attaching the GPX files just in case; Steven – there’s an easier route from US 95 to the Campsites 1 and 1a. Both are off the same spur; if the first is taken or we don’t like it, we’ll move to the next one. If the next one is taken, we’ll send a party to look for another campsite down that spur, and post someone to wait for you at 1a.
Comms:
Ham 147.58 simplex, 146.46 simplex alternate
GMRS Channel 12 with code 1 (67 Hz), Channel 20 with code 1 (67 Hz) alternate.
My cell phone is 619 840 0612.
I don’t know if I am going to bring my dog; anyone can if you want. We’ll try to stay away from cholla.
We NEED to bring firewood – there’s plenty in KOFA, but there are some fine nuances related to the status of the road and surrounding areas.
Water – it will likely be hot during the day, so a gallon/person/day + gallon/large dog/day.