crawler#976
Expedition Leader
EVENT NAME:
CASNER MOUNTAIN TRAIL #8
INCLUSIVE DATES:
08 OCT 16
BACKGROUND:
RILEY CASNER AND FAMILY MOVED TO THE VERDE VALLEY IN THE MID 1870’S, AND ESTABLISHED SEVERAL HOMESTEADS IN THE AREA ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PLACES IN THE AREA NAMED FOR THE CASNERS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE TRAIL THEY USED TO MOVE LIVESTOCK FROM THE WINTER PASTURES IN THE VALLEY TO THE TOP OF THE MOGOLLON RIM. IT’S STILL IN USE TODAY BY APS TO MAINTAIN THE POWERLINE THAT SPLITS SYCAMORE CANYON AND SECRET MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS AREAS. THE TRAIL IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE VIA A USFS PERMIT THAT ALLOWS UP TO TEN VEHICLES, 25 PERSONNEL. DETAILS AT: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/recarea/?recid=55262&actid=50
OBJECTECTIVES/OUTCOME:
OUR MISSION FOR THE DAY WAS TO COMPLETE THE TRAIL FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES WAS FOUR, PERSONNEL TOTALED EIGHT. ALL FOUR VEHICLES COMPLETED THE TRAIL SUCCESSFULLY. ALL PERSONNEL ENJOYED THE DAY TRIP. THE SCENERY AND HISTORY OF THE AREA MAKE IT A WORTHY DESTINATION. THE ROUTE OFFERS THE ONLY 4X4 MOTORIZED OPPORTUNITY TO SEE INTO BOTH WILDERNESS AREAS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SUMMARY OF PARTICIPANTS:
THE TRAIL WAS RESEARCHED AND THE TRIP ORGANIZED BY USCG BM3 MARK LONGFIELD (1979 TO 1983, CURRENTLY A CNC PROGRAMMER, WFA CERTIFIED) AFTER A MISSION BRIEFING, HE TOOK THE POINT POSITION IN A 2009 DODGE POWER WAGON.
HE WAS JOINED IN THE POWER WAGON BY USN BMC DAN JOHANKNECHT (1990 TO 2014, SEAL TEAMS). HE WAS THERE TO MAKE SURE LONGFIELD’S NAVIGATION SKILLS MET THE STANDARD REQUIRED, AND TO ASSURE GROUP SAFETY IN ANY EVENT POSSIBLE. JOHANKNECHT IS ALSO A SEARCH AND RESCUE TECHNICIAN II, WFA CERTIFIED, AND AUTHOR OF “CHANNELIZED TERRAIN TACTICS”, A GUIDE TO BASIC NAVIGATION IN TECHNICAL TERRAIN.
US ARMY SFC BILL MARTIN (1972 TO 1992, RET) WHO IS ALSO A RETIRED YAVAPAI COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF (1993 TO 2013) WAS IN HIS 2004 CHEVY 1500. MARTIN CURRENTLY WORKS FOR BOTH THE CLARKDALE AND JEROME PD’S, AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE SHERI. MARTIN IS ALSO LONGFIELDS BROTHER IN LAW - THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE DAY. THIS WAS THEIR FIRST MILDLY TECHNICAL TRAIL RIDE, AND THEY DID JUST FINE.
THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY USN ICC MICHAEL CAMPBELL (RET, AND WFA CERTIFIED) IN HIS 2006 DODGE 2500 CUMMINS DIESEL. CAMPBELL WAS ALSO THE OPERATOR IN CHARGE OF RECOVERY IF REQUIRED WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AS A RETIRED TOW TRUCK OPERATOR. CAMPBELL IS ALSO A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE YCSO SAR UNIT. HE WAS JOINED BY FRIEND BILL.
OUR TEAM MEDIC WAS ANDREW MOORE OF FLAGSTAFF IN A NEW TOYOTA FORERUNNER TRAIL EDITION. THE FORERUNNER MADE EVERYTHING EASY WITH ITS HIGH TECH FEATURES. HE IS A WILDERNESS EMT IN ADDITION TO HIS WORK AS AN ATTORNY. MOORE HAS PARTICIPATED IN MANY DIFFICULT SAR MISSIONS AND SPECIALIZES IN HIGH LINE ROPE RESCUE. HE WAS JOINED BY DAUGHTER TEAH.
SPECIFIC DETAILS:
WITH GUIDENCE FROM LONGFIELD, MARTIN NAVIGATED A STOCK 4X4 THRU THE DIFFICULT PORTIONS OF THE TRAIL. HIS LOW CLEARANCE RUNNING BOARDS DID SUFFER MINOR DAMAGE, GIVING HIM AN EXCUSE TO REMOVE THEM, AND TO SEE THE NEED FOR A MILD 2” LIFT. NO OTHER DAMAGE OR INCIDENTS OCCURRED.
AFTER OBSERVING HEAVY RAIN IN THE AREA, THE TEAM COMPLETED THE 8 MILE LOCKED SECTION WITHOUT INTERFERANCE FROM WEATHER. HOWEVER, ONCE PAST THE NORTHERN GATE, IT BEGAN TO RAIN HEAVILY. LONGFIELD AND JOHANKNECHT DECIDED TO ALTER THE ROUTE, AVOIDING BOTH HIDDEN CABIN TO THE SOUTH, AND VOLUNTEER CANYON TO THE NORTH. THE GROUP EXITED VIA FR 231 TO FLAGSTAFF. MOORE AND CAMPBELL PROCEEDED AHEAD AND SEPARATED FROM THE GROUP, WHILE LONGFIELD AND MARTIN AIRED UP TIRES FOR THE TRIP TO WILLIAMS, AZ. LONGFIELD AND COMPANY DECENDED UPON CRUISERS RT. 66 CAFÉ FOR DINNER, AND DEPARTED FOR CHINO VALLEY VIA PERKINSVILLE RD.
RELEASED BY:
MARK LONGFIELD
PS:
This trip was originally offered to local LE/FF/EMS personnel. Due to getting no response from active duty locals, I opened it up to others including SAR/Veteran’s, and got the small group together from that. I tried to do this report in the format I used for the USCG a long time ago. Being on this trip with great people, three of which were senior NCO’s, and Andrew with his vast knowledge of rigging and SAR, made for perhaps the most secure, well prepared trail ride I’ve ever been on. Every single driver was well or highly trained in first aid and beyond. It brought back a lot of memories for me about my time in the service, and especially the leadership of the NCO’s that trained me. Special thanks to Dan for making the time to join us. I consider him and the rest of the members of the Special Forces community to be the ultimate First Responders, and the tip of the spear that keeps all of us, including LE/FF/SAR/EMS safe here at home.
Thanks to you all for a great trip!
All photos courtesy of:
13Klicks LLC (Dan) and myself.
CASNER MOUNTAIN TRAIL #8
INCLUSIVE DATES:
08 OCT 16
BACKGROUND:
RILEY CASNER AND FAMILY MOVED TO THE VERDE VALLEY IN THE MID 1870’S, AND ESTABLISHED SEVERAL HOMESTEADS IN THE AREA ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PLACES IN THE AREA NAMED FOR THE CASNERS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE TRAIL THEY USED TO MOVE LIVESTOCK FROM THE WINTER PASTURES IN THE VALLEY TO THE TOP OF THE MOGOLLON RIM. IT’S STILL IN USE TODAY BY APS TO MAINTAIN THE POWERLINE THAT SPLITS SYCAMORE CANYON AND SECRET MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS AREAS. THE TRAIL IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE VIA A USFS PERMIT THAT ALLOWS UP TO TEN VEHICLES, 25 PERSONNEL. DETAILS AT: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/recarea/?recid=55262&actid=50
OBJECTECTIVES/OUTCOME:
OUR MISSION FOR THE DAY WAS TO COMPLETE THE TRAIL FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES WAS FOUR, PERSONNEL TOTALED EIGHT. ALL FOUR VEHICLES COMPLETED THE TRAIL SUCCESSFULLY. ALL PERSONNEL ENJOYED THE DAY TRIP. THE SCENERY AND HISTORY OF THE AREA MAKE IT A WORTHY DESTINATION. THE ROUTE OFFERS THE ONLY 4X4 MOTORIZED OPPORTUNITY TO SEE INTO BOTH WILDERNESS AREAS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SUMMARY OF PARTICIPANTS:
THE TRAIL WAS RESEARCHED AND THE TRIP ORGANIZED BY USCG BM3 MARK LONGFIELD (1979 TO 1983, CURRENTLY A CNC PROGRAMMER, WFA CERTIFIED) AFTER A MISSION BRIEFING, HE TOOK THE POINT POSITION IN A 2009 DODGE POWER WAGON.
HE WAS JOINED IN THE POWER WAGON BY USN BMC DAN JOHANKNECHT (1990 TO 2014, SEAL TEAMS). HE WAS THERE TO MAKE SURE LONGFIELD’S NAVIGATION SKILLS MET THE STANDARD REQUIRED, AND TO ASSURE GROUP SAFETY IN ANY EVENT POSSIBLE. JOHANKNECHT IS ALSO A SEARCH AND RESCUE TECHNICIAN II, WFA CERTIFIED, AND AUTHOR OF “CHANNELIZED TERRAIN TACTICS”, A GUIDE TO BASIC NAVIGATION IN TECHNICAL TERRAIN.
US ARMY SFC BILL MARTIN (1972 TO 1992, RET) WHO IS ALSO A RETIRED YAVAPAI COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF (1993 TO 2013) WAS IN HIS 2004 CHEVY 1500. MARTIN CURRENTLY WORKS FOR BOTH THE CLARKDALE AND JEROME PD’S, AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE SHERI. MARTIN IS ALSO LONGFIELDS BROTHER IN LAW - THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE DAY. THIS WAS THEIR FIRST MILDLY TECHNICAL TRAIL RIDE, AND THEY DID JUST FINE.
THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY USN ICC MICHAEL CAMPBELL (RET, AND WFA CERTIFIED) IN HIS 2006 DODGE 2500 CUMMINS DIESEL. CAMPBELL WAS ALSO THE OPERATOR IN CHARGE OF RECOVERY IF REQUIRED WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AS A RETIRED TOW TRUCK OPERATOR. CAMPBELL IS ALSO A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE YCSO SAR UNIT. HE WAS JOINED BY FRIEND BILL.
OUR TEAM MEDIC WAS ANDREW MOORE OF FLAGSTAFF IN A NEW TOYOTA FORERUNNER TRAIL EDITION. THE FORERUNNER MADE EVERYTHING EASY WITH ITS HIGH TECH FEATURES. HE IS A WILDERNESS EMT IN ADDITION TO HIS WORK AS AN ATTORNY. MOORE HAS PARTICIPATED IN MANY DIFFICULT SAR MISSIONS AND SPECIALIZES IN HIGH LINE ROPE RESCUE. HE WAS JOINED BY DAUGHTER TEAH.
SPECIFIC DETAILS:
WITH GUIDENCE FROM LONGFIELD, MARTIN NAVIGATED A STOCK 4X4 THRU THE DIFFICULT PORTIONS OF THE TRAIL. HIS LOW CLEARANCE RUNNING BOARDS DID SUFFER MINOR DAMAGE, GIVING HIM AN EXCUSE TO REMOVE THEM, AND TO SEE THE NEED FOR A MILD 2” LIFT. NO OTHER DAMAGE OR INCIDENTS OCCURRED.
AFTER OBSERVING HEAVY RAIN IN THE AREA, THE TEAM COMPLETED THE 8 MILE LOCKED SECTION WITHOUT INTERFERANCE FROM WEATHER. HOWEVER, ONCE PAST THE NORTHERN GATE, IT BEGAN TO RAIN HEAVILY. LONGFIELD AND JOHANKNECHT DECIDED TO ALTER THE ROUTE, AVOIDING BOTH HIDDEN CABIN TO THE SOUTH, AND VOLUNTEER CANYON TO THE NORTH. THE GROUP EXITED VIA FR 231 TO FLAGSTAFF. MOORE AND CAMPBELL PROCEEDED AHEAD AND SEPARATED FROM THE GROUP, WHILE LONGFIELD AND MARTIN AIRED UP TIRES FOR THE TRIP TO WILLIAMS, AZ. LONGFIELD AND COMPANY DECENDED UPON CRUISERS RT. 66 CAFÉ FOR DINNER, AND DEPARTED FOR CHINO VALLEY VIA PERKINSVILLE RD.
RELEASED BY:
MARK LONGFIELD
PS:
This trip was originally offered to local LE/FF/EMS personnel. Due to getting no response from active duty locals, I opened it up to others including SAR/Veteran’s, and got the small group together from that. I tried to do this report in the format I used for the USCG a long time ago. Being on this trip with great people, three of which were senior NCO’s, and Andrew with his vast knowledge of rigging and SAR, made for perhaps the most secure, well prepared trail ride I’ve ever been on. Every single driver was well or highly trained in first aid and beyond. It brought back a lot of memories for me about my time in the service, and especially the leadership of the NCO’s that trained me. Special thanks to Dan for making the time to join us. I consider him and the rest of the members of the Special Forces community to be the ultimate First Responders, and the tip of the spear that keeps all of us, including LE/FF/SAR/EMS safe here at home.
Thanks to you all for a great trip!
All photos courtesy of:
13Klicks LLC (Dan) and myself.
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