[AZ-Observing] Re: 5 Mile Meadow - Directions
- From: "Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2003 16:50:02 -0700
Bill;
All my instructions assume that you are coming from Clint's Well, the turn
is about 12 miles from Clint's Well. The sign on Lake Mary Road says "Bar
D Ranch" and you turn left on a dirt road that has a small sign with "229"
on it.
AJ, Matt and I found that there is no "Bar D Ranch" sign if you are coming
south on Lake Mary Road, that is why my instructions are directed at you
coming from Clint's Well. I suppose if you are coming that direction, you
could look for mile marker 301, turn 360 degrees around, find the correct
sign and then turn left onto FR 229.
Once you are on the dirt road, then DON'T TURN and in 5 miles there will be
a meadow. Keep going through the crossroad with Forestry Road (FR) 305 and
in 500 feet turn left at an opening in the trees. I put a large rock
opposite the this turn.
I don't have any idea where a "229D" comes into this, sorry.
Any other questions, let me know, I don't want people driving around looking
for us. One of the reasons we chose this was it is easy to find.
I hope that last statement does not mean that we will be hit with hunter's
flood lights all night....we shall see. This is a "first time" experiment.
Anybody have a "turn your light off, telescopes in use" sign we can put out?
Hope to see you there;
Steve Coe
Author "Deep Sky Observing--The Astronomical Tourist"
Saguaro Astronomy Club website
www.saguaroastro.org
Dark Site near Happy Jack, Arizona
"Five Mile Meadow"
Take I-17 north to the Verde Valley turnoff and go east on Hwy. 260, the
General Crook Trail, for about 30 miles east of the town of Camp Verde. The
road ends in a "T" with Hwy. 87. Turn left (generally north) and drive
about 12 miles, through the little town of Clint's Well. This is the gas
station, restaurant and ranger station on your left. After you pass through
Clint's Well, there is a left turn lane that will allow you to turn left
onto Forest Highway 3, aka Lake Mary Rd. As you drive north on Lake Mary
Road you will pass the Happy Jack RV park on the left and pass through a
large area of trees where there has been a forest fire.
After about 12 miles on Lake Mary Road, look for mile marker 301 and slow
down to look for a dirt road on your left. The sign for this road says "Bar
D Ranch". You will know you are on the correct forestry road by two brown
signs, a small one with number 229 and another, larger, with Bar D Ranch
distance. You will pass under high voltage power lines at about 1.5 miles
and there is a cattle guard at about 3 miles. If you make no turns off the
well maintained road then you will reach a cross road marked 305, on a brown
sign. The meadow is straight ahead, past the cross road and just to the
left. The meadow is elongated in an easterly direction and, if you stay on
the original road 229 it will take you just to the north side, where it is
best to set up. About 1/10 of a mile past the cross road is an opening in
the trees to your left that leads to an opening where you can set up. I
called this site "Five Mile Meadow" because it is about 5 miles from the
pavement on the forestry road.
Important: the one major restriction from the ranger station is "do not
drive into the middle of the meadow"!
Stay near the tree line.
North
FR 229
To Winslow
Happy Jack
East
Hwy 87
I-17
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