So, when Mountain Khakis told us about their latest sweepstakes, a 5-day/4-night fly fishing vacation complete with a resort stay at Squaw Creek in Lake Tahoe, a half day of training and over $3,500 in gear, we had to share it with you.

Registration in the sweepstakes ends on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. Good luck!

http://www.mountainkhakis.com/sweepstakes/enter-sweepstakes/

Here’s some of the cool gear included:

We stayed on two-lane pavement on the way over - Sahuarita Road to Highway 83, south to Sonoita then west on 82 to 80, down through Tombstone. Self-portrait at 65:

. . . and on to the Copper Queen Hotel, historic and stately but seriously overpriced.

. .

We arrived in time to visit some shops, including a look in the window at the Bisbee Bicycle Brothel, which we knew would be closed (only open on weekends). But just a look was thrilling: the entire shop is filled with vintage bicycles and frames.

The next morning we headed south and west, to Montezuma Canyon Road, a dirt route that climbs to the pass at the Coronado National Memorial . . .

. . . which offers spectacular views to the west:

We continued on, through a few shallow water crossings . . .

. . . and out to Sonoita again, and west for lunch in Patagonia. We continued on to I-19 and north, but exited west at Arivaca Road. Rather than stay on pavement again to Highway 286 to head north to home, we cut off on Ryan Ranch Road, another dirt route that skirts the Cerro Colorado and Sierrita Mountains. We stopped at the old ranch house:

. . . came across a Border Patrol surveillance post:

. . . and continued on to home. On the way I found a 20-foot length of heavy choker chain with hooks on both ends that someone had dropped, so I stuffed the whole thing in one side of my Andy Strapz panniers. It made handling much more interesting on the rest of the loose dirt sections - which the Bullet EFI otherwise handled with ease.

Interestingly, both bikes - the 250cc Honda and the 500cc Royal Enfield - got exactly the same 71 mpg for the whole trip.

Jonathan

Why is there so much trash? Great question. Some will say it’s ignorance, some will say laziness, many will say “because they just don’t care” and obviously it’s because the area is so convenient to a sprawling metropolis of over four million people, but I continue to be perplexed and insist that no reason is good enough to explain it. Human behavior, logic, whatever, I just can’t relate. It won’t compute in my head.

Why would someone seek out a place like this. . .

to do this. . .

Again, I can’t comprehend. It doesn’t compute.

The Four Peaks area and the Mazatzal mountains were once home to the Tonto Apache people. Not far north of the peaks lies the site of old Camp Reno, a short-lived military outpost positioned in the region along with others in an effort to daisy-chain the U.S. military efforts along this Arizona portion of Apachería in the late 1800s. There are tales of lost gold mines somewhere around the base of the peaks and accounts of Apaches who continually brought in ample amounts of the metal to obtain goods and supplies. An amethyst mine that is thought to have been originally worked by the Spanish is located on the southernmost of the four peaks and is the only mine in the U.S.A. that produces world-class specimens of this highly valuable gemstone.

The area of the cleanup is a watershed of the Mazatzal mountains, and contains numerous canyons and springs that flow westward to the Verde River. Spectacular buff-colored granite boulders and imposing rock formations dominate the topography and along with classic Sonoran desert flora and fauna create a magical atmosphere that is unique among the world’s landscapes.

The good news is that I see an improvement. When I visited an area along Cottonwood creek that my wife Sharon and I worked on last year, it was in much better shape. Overall, I think there was less trash, and perhaps future efforts and awareness will make a lasting change.

Before-and-after comparison of one of the cleanup sites

Overland Journal sponsored the event with boxes of magazines and raffle prizes that included subscriptions, hats, and decals.

Tim and Danica asked if I would photograph the event this year, which I was more than happy to oblige. The full gallery of images can be seen here: Four Peaks Pickup 2010 photo gallery

Overland Journal’s Director of Advertising, Brian McVickers, with his children, Max and Charlie

L to R: Chris Marzonie (Overland Journal Editorial Director), Tim Huber, Danica Moore (Four Peaks Pickup masterminds) Thank you Heidi for the photo

More links:
Four Peaks Pickup website (more info, photos, and videos)
Tim Huber’s blog, SOAZ “Exploring the Southwest one paycheck at a time” (it’s a good one!)

Nathan on his first lap of three, wearing the Merino wool Overland Journal jersey.

As part of the Overland Journal subscriber survey, we ask about our readers other interests beyond overland adventure travel, and not surprisingly, 74% of our readers are also MTB enthusiasts.  This fits well with our own passion for mountain biking and adventure cycling, and the idea of an Overland Journal sponsored team was born.

Our 5-person team:
Nathan Kroeker
Katrina Loperman
Mike McMaude
Micki Mckay
Steve Reynolds

Solo Rider:
Christophe Noel

The 24 Hours of Pueblo is an endurance event coordinated by Epic Rides, and the nature of the event requires everyone to have some type of camping set-up, which ranged from huge RVs to ground tents.  We were happy with the number of attendees that were either subscribers or had heard of Overland Journal. Tim Huber, a Charter Subscriber said hello.  He was riding for Team Molasses, because, if you are slower than their team, you are. . .

Christophe rode the event solo, and managed six laps.

Katrina, sporting one of the new Jerseys

Even an E-Camper was in attendance. These are cool little trucks

A few nice BMWs

Overall, the team did great, and finished in 18th place for the 5-person mixed category.  Great Job!

Riding a 250-cc Honda NX to Queretaro, Mexico (just north of Mexico City) will really challenge my packing and organizing skills - but I think I’m finally getting there. With an iM2400 Pelican Storm Case bolted to the rear rack, I have room for my Macbook Pro, a Canon G10, and power bricks and charging gear in a waterproof, tough and lockable carrier. The Wolfman medium Expedition Dry Duffle holds all my clothes in a cool Eagle Creek Pack-It Folder and a small Pack-It Cube (these are amazing - I wrote about them in 2008 on a safari in Kenya), plus a toilet kit, extra shoes, very light sleeping bag, and a sweater (it’s not packed full in this picture). I’ll use a dry bag on top of the Storm Case for lashing down soft items like liners or extra gloves. The Wolfman Enduro Tank Bag is perfect for my small travel purse from Overland (of course), my iPhone, and a map (in a clear holder on top). I’m also trying out the new First Gear Monarch jacket for women and their TPG Escape pants - they are fantastic so far, and I plan to really give them a workout. It’s really nice to have gear cut especially for women but tough and serious, too - and not pink! I won’t be leaving for Mexico until after Overland Expo.2010, so I’ll get to really hone the setup in the meantime. - Roseann Hanson

Brooks-Range

Ultimate Overland Bicycle

Availability is limited.