[shonie777]

Well we finally got a nice break in the weather up here in Northern Arizona and we were able to get out for a nice ride out to Piute Farms which is also called Copper Canyon. This area used to be part of Lake Powell until the water levels dropped drastically. It's where the San Juan River flows into Lake Powell. The last time I was out here was with my daughters way back in the early 90's when the water level was way up. It was a huge lake where the striper bass were plenty and there was no one around for miles and miles. Once in a blue moon you would see a house boat that made the long trek from either Wahweap marina in Page, AZ or Halls Crossing marina up in Utah. Either way it was a long trip just to get there.

It took us about and hour and a half to get here on our quads and it was a great ride! The weather was perfect! We have another ride planned for April 30th and this time were going to Tsegi Canyon which will lead us to Navajo National Monument (Anasazi Ruins). The monument is a National Park here in Northern Arizona and very few ever get to ride an ATV through the canyon to get there. So we're all really looking forward to it. I'll post some pictures of that ride too.

In the mean time enjoy the pictures from Piute Farms.

Shonie

View the entire set on Flicker by clicking here.

Unloading the quads.

On the trial to Piute Farms.

Here we are on the bank of the San Juan River. All this used to be a lake at one time. It's kind of hard to believe but the huge rock formation in the background used to be surrounded by water back in the early 90's.

This is my friend Arrow, he was riding my other 700xx and he sunk into the mud of the river bed. It looked dry, but looks can be decieving. It took us about an hour to get the quad out.

We finally got my quad out of the mud and took a break.

We found an old hogan and corral while we too a ride up a wash.

My friend Arrow said, "You're the one always taking pictures of everyone and there is never one of you." So Arrow took this one. You can see my video camera on my helmet. It one of those Kodak 1080 jobs. i don't have a mount for it, so I just slipped it into my goggle strap. It held pretty good but it wasn't pointed right and all the video I got was of the ground. Oh well, I'll work it out on the next ride.

Here we are near a ledge over looking the San Juan river. My friend Mario is getting ready to chuck a rock across the river.

 

[Sid]

shonie777,
Great pictures, great mud, great fun. :xx:
Thanks,
Sid

 

[Red-N-BlackXX]

Sweet Shonie thanks for sharing! Looks amazing

 

[crwh45]

Looks nice there. Was the lake there for a long time up until it went away, or is it like a flash flood lake? Just curious, cuz that's a lot of water to just dissappear. I do realize, it is the desert as well. Worst part of the pictures......the first one....no Ford's LMAO. Great pics though. You may want to try and put the camera in a case so a rock or something doesnt damage the lens.

 

[shonie777]

Looks nice there. Was the lake there for a long time up until it went away, or is it like a flash flood lake? Just curious, cuz that's a lot of water to just dissappear. I do realize, it is the desert as well. Worst part of the pictures......the first one....no Ford's LMAO. Great pics though. You may want to try and put the camera in a case so a rock or something doesnt damage the lens.

It was part of Lake Powell which happens to be the largest man made lake in the southwest I believe. Click here for more info on Lake Powell.

The water receeded over the years from drought as well as water being released from the Glen Canyon Dam. It was beautiful at Piute Farms when the water was there. I loved it and man do I miss it. I doubt the water level will ever be that high again. Well in my life time that is.

Shonie

 

[dagirl71]

really great pictures! thanks for sharing them...I look forward to seeing your next ride!

 

[xx700xx]

Wow, awesome pics. Looks like a really fun place to ride!

 

[hondarider]

Sweet pics! Thanks for sharing.

 

[RaVxX]

Bet you can get lost easy out there, looks like a cool place to ride thou, better than all this stupid coal.

 

[ceballos]

that looks like a great place for a race!

 

[bdr455]

would love to go ride there...

 

[shonie777]

well I've post this here before many times on the forum....If anyone wants to come riding, let me know! Endless places to go around here.:atv:

Shonie

 

[Heika]

Nice. looks awsome.

 

[roadkill]

It was part of Lake Powell which happens to be the largest man made lake in the southwest I believe. Click here for more info on Lake Powell.

The water receeded over the years from drought as well as water being released from the Glen Canyon Dam. It was beautiful at Piute Farms when the water was there. I loved it and man do I miss it. I doubt the water level will ever be that high again. Well in my life time that is.

Shonie

Yep, what he said and more... Drought in the southwest is just a part of it. The dams on the Colorado river generate electricity, which means that they have to release a certain amount of water through the power house to generate the electricity that's required. They've had to release more water than what's been able to be replaced and thus, the lake level drops year after year. Lake Powell, Lake Mead and Lake Havasu have all dropped and the demand for electricity has increased.... Think of all the bright lights in Las Vegas.

roadkill

 

[redkaz04]

wow, nice pics! I am moving to Tucson next year, how far of a drive is this?