Going there 3rd week April. Is there any access issue?

Lin in Boulder

If you are able to use the quicker access road in; do not drive on the road after sunset. If you arrive after dark, camp somewhere else for the night and drive in, in the morning.

If you get there after dark, camp at Datil Well. It's cheap ($5?) and decent camping. The ranchers are disturbed by people driving in after dark, so you don't want to do that because:
1) You'll be an asshole to the ranchers, who are responsible for the direct easement road, and
2) The disgruntled ranchers will lock the gate, in which case you'll also be an asshole to those of us climbers who are trying to do the right thing.
By the way, please do NOT park on the ranchers' property. They use the turnaround that may look to city folk like a good place to leave their Prius so it doesn't get dirty or dented on the rocky road past the gate.

It is pretty easy to find this info out if you just click on the access information link on the Tower's page. It's open for the time being.

Wow, I'm glad I checked this thread. I wanted to come check it out over the holiday weekend.

Is it too hot to climb there in the middle of summer?

Can anyone tell me the condition of the 4WD road? Would a 4WD Suburu make it back there? What about a Tacoma with rear differentials? Any beta would be appreciated.

Bump on Davenport road access. Anybody been in that road this year? I'd appreciate an update on road conditions.

Thanks for the info... I always pack out the crap, too. The Hill of Crap is pretty darn disgusting.

The 4x4 road was in good shape for a truck as of Memorial Day weekend, but only a VERY intrepid Subaru driver would use it. The smoke from the major fire in the Gila Wilderness was so bad that the sun was red and people who hadn't been out of the camp site in a few days were worried that the fire might be close by. It was bad enough to probably really bother people with allergies. It cleared up whenever the wind changed. As for the trash and crap situation, it looked like people had been fairly responsible lately.

Holy Shit! That's a tournament turd, was your lens set on macro? Nasty.

Seriously, what the f*ck is wrong with people. That kinda thing totally justifies a burlap sack full of sweet valencia oranges.....doesn't leave a bruise and really gets the message across.

Hey we Arizonans are trying to re-vegetate an obviously degraded ecosystem! So, it really is nice. Maybe if you all spread a little more fertilizer there would only be one trail there.

Haha! I have made the cast, lets see who gets hooked.

Actually, the constant pooplaints made me realize that I learned how to deal with my poop from my mentors. Until they clued me in I did my stuff and covered it with pine needles or whatever. In this day and age of busy crags we need a way to get the out door etiquette message to all the folks that arrive with no clue and no one to help them.

Hmmmm. Think about how to do this and start a new solution thread where all pooplainers are banned and only solutions will be tolerated.

Thanks

Totally nasty! UGH!!

It would be really nice for folks to inform newer/unknowing climbers on some guidelines for crap. I don't know if it would have made a difference in this case as it is so over the top that it looks deliberate.

+1 to Red's commnet - Some of us here in AZ have tried to do different education events - at least three different Leave No Trace events that I know of to try and educate including classes and training - the Subaru Travelling trailers came to my CLimbPHX.com events ect ect but no one cares. It's indicative of a society that is more concerned with personal cares and wants and less about the ecosystem ( human and otherwise) around them. Its a shame. We tried to promote the clean up at the McDowells recently and I was told " That's not a climbing spot - the rock sucks" and that was the excuse not to assist. Everyone else was too busy with climbing up north to get away from the heat.
Too many takers, not enough givers imho and its starting to show in more wild places.