fishers atv forum

Discount Tire · #1 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 02:44 PM

We had a very unique opportunity to go out for a full day’s adventure with the crew from Fisher's ATV World. Brian and Melissa Fisher had been in contact with Discount Tire Direct to see if we would be interested in showing them some of our beautiful desert trails for one of their upcoming shows. Being that we are an Official Partner, we graciously accepted

We decided to ride in the area known as Martinez Mine which is a huge 4x4 area that is used by ATV’s, Side by Sides, Motorcycles, and 4 Wheel Drive vehicles. There are thousands of miles of trails and washes enjoyed by riders of all ages and skill levels. One could say there are trails from mild to wild.

This beautiful area is littered with old gold and copper mines which is why there are so many roads. The Martinez Mine is the biggest mine but there are many others throughout. This was a booming area for mining in the late 1800’s through about 1950.

We met at 8:30 and prepared for the ride ahead. Being in the tire business, the guys from Discount Tire Direct went about checking their tire pressure before the ride.

Dan Meadows (Marketing Manager with DTD) had a presentation for Brian Fisher before we hit the trail.

While walking the beach in Maui his wife found an interesting rock. She reached down, picked it up, and said this looks just like Fisher's ATV logo. Brian loved the rock. He said it was going on his wall of mementoes in his office.

Let’s Make it Real!!!

We headed off down the graded main road towards the mountains. Just after a cattle guard there is a steep trail down to the wash that loops you around to a steep climb back up to the road. I thought it would be a fun run to break up the road riding. This is where it got interesting. I guess Dan on Chad's Honda Rancher was not in the right gear as he hit the climb and as he down shifted towards the top of the hill his front wheels came up. Instead of going over backwards he hit the brakes. Unfortunately Jay was too close behind Dan and was forced to make a drastic and evasive maneuver to keep from hitting him. He ended up in a tree on the side of the trail. This was a good thing though because it kept him from rolling down the hill.

To show you what a great group of guys were on this ride here is a photo of the group helping Jay get to the top safely.

Our first stop on the main road was at an old cabin. Dan had decided to run into the back of Chad as we all stopped to investigate the cabin. There was plenty of razzing especially since Dan was riding one of Chad’s machine's and he put dents in both of them. It was pretty funny because after he hit Chad’s quad it threw him forward where he then hit the gas with his thigh causing the rear tires to sit and spin, pushing Chad out of the way.

Time to get off the main road.

Our next stop brought us to a challenging obstacle in Lower Woodpecker. This is one of many trails in the area that is listed in 4 wheel drive books.

I said I would go through first to show the way. I was on my good friend Bob’s 2010 Polaris 850 XP with Power Steering. It turned much sharper and easier than I was used to so I didn’t quite take the correct line but I made it through easily thanks to the help of his brand new Maxxis Cerros tires. Next up was Chad followed by Mark.

Chad was fun to watch as he kept getting high centered on a large rock going through the slot.

He did make it through with persistence and a little help from his friends.

Mark made short work of this obstacle thanks to the excellent traction from his Pit Bull Rocker tires.

At the top of the rock climb, just to the left in the rocks pictured below are several Indian Pictographs. It is always interesting looking at the old Indian drawings throughout this area.

It was time to get the train going again. Along the trail we came to a place where everyone has to go down a bolder strewn water fall. It just so happened that a couple of 4 wheel drive vehicles were coming down a steep trail next to us. Melissa ran over to the Jeep and talked to the driver. As it turns out they went down and up the steep part of the boulder crawl for her to get some video. They stopped to talk to us for a minute. It always amazes me at some of the people we meet out on the trail. This guy said he has driven Jeeps in this area for decades. He just enjoys taking people out to enjoy the beautiful mountains.

Now it was our turn.

Mark couldn’t stand it and had to go back up the waterfall for a challenge. Of course he didn't take the easy line but still made it with ease. As the guys I ride with always say, he took the fun line.

Box Canyon

We made it to Box Canyon but unfortunately we did not see any bighorn sheep this time around. I saw seven on a ledge three weeks prior. They even laid down after butting heads to watch us. It was so cool to see them so close and have them be so relaxed.

We took a lunch break in the canyon before heading to the Martinez cabin and mine. Melissa and Bone with Fisher’s ATV never put their cameras down. That is how they always KEEP IT REAL! They do not make up scenes, it's always real action!

Box Canyon is a narrow slot canyon. It is so narrow in places that it's hard to pass. We had to pull over to let a couple of side by sides pass through. I have riden through the canyon with water up to the floor boards and waterfalls all over the canyon walls. What an amazing sight.

Along the way we stopped to take in the beauty of the surrounding mountains.

It was interesting as I was talking to Brian I asked him if the ride was what he expected. He said he thought it would be mostly sand and low brush. Melissa also said she was amazed with all the mountains and cactus. Most people have no idea what beautiful country the southwest deserts have to offer.

As we are approaching the cabins the mountains are glowing red above us as we pass through a small wooded area.

Discount Tire · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 02:44 PM

Martinez Cabin and Processing Plant

We made it to the cabin but there is not going to be enough light to go on to a place called the Coke ovens. So we take in the sights of the old cabin before heading up to the Martinez Processing Plant.

Here's a shot of the Discount Tire Direct crew along with Brian Fisher at the cabin. The wind wasn't blowing so I'm not sure why the last three guys (from left to right) are leaning in so far LOL???

As we head up to the mine we are starting to get the long shadows so we know we are losing daylight.

We have to weave through one more rock section before we arrive at the plant.

We arrive at the processing plant nestled in the canyon. Even though I've been here multiple times, I still find something new each time I come up this way

Here is Melissa still filming Brian at the edge of a couple of mine shafts.

Check out the hand brake on this winch set up.

It’s starting to get dark and Melissa wanted to get a sunset shot so we hustle off to a spot on the ridge a couple of miles away. We get there just in time.

As Bone is setting up the video camera he gets into a jumping Cholla. The way he was screaming I thought he saw a snake. I grabbed my camera and ran to him just in time to find Brian using two rocks to take the cactus out of his calf. I know they hurt like heck as the cactus spines are barbed and hook themselves into your skin.

I have to say we have some of the best sunsets in the country almost every night and this one didn’t disappoint.

The only bad thing about watching the sun go down was we still had about a 20 mile ride back to our tucks. Brian asked me if we were going to take the main road back and I said no, we are going to go back along the ridge tops. He didn’t know I was thinking to myself, "I hope I remember all the twists and turns in the dark!" I tell everyone to be very careful because the trail is narrow along the ridges. It would not be a good thing to miss a turn.

As I was looking back at the lights snaking along the trail I wish I had a camera to take video of this as it was surreal watching the lights in the darkness.

We make it back without incident in about an hour. What a great days ride!

I have to thank Brian and Melissa Fisher along with Bone for putting up with me and the rest of the Discount Tire Direct crew. We are not used to some of the rules while filming. I know I sometimes get a little excited and do some things I shouldn’t. Sorry for almost taking out your video camera Bone when I went through the water too fast. We all had a blast and will appreciate the show even more knowing how hard your team worked to KEEP IT REAL!

I didn’t get very many photos of Brian riding because he was right behind me and we kept moving but he was right there all day long. He did great through the boulder crawl areas as I expected he would.

Without further ado...here is the link to this episode.