Howdy Mark,

Being a balloonist, I am very familiar with that area! Although it has been 
a while since I have been in there since the balloons now fly over near 14st 
St and Carefree Hwy more now. But, for what it's worth.... there is a gate 
located near 40th St and Lone Mnt Rd. It is state trust land (as is that 
whole desert area). You can access that gate and then follow the dirt road. 
You are on the powerline Rd. I am not sure of it's current condition, with 
regards to all the rain we have had lately... but it used to be passable 
with a large passenger van. I wouldnt recommend it personally... but most 
all the big balloon companies up there drove passenger vans up it all the 
time! Now, a bit farther north, we didnt typical stick to the powerline rd 
and we turned off toward the west. However, I have been up the powerline rd 
quite a ways and I dont recall anything that a 2wd vehicle couldnt handle. 
It is just a bunch of bumps and rumps and such. Kinda sandy in areas, but it 
never was anything a 2wd couldnt do. With some careful driving a van should 
be ok. Again, this was about a year ago since I was last up there, so I dont 
know the current state of the powerline rd. You mentioned you just needed to 
get to the creek. You should be ok. I wouldnt try driving the van thru the 
creek though. Alot of rock. Again, a 2wd vehicle could do it with some 
clearance and bigger tires. But, I wouldnt drive a van into the creek or 
beyond it. But you should be ok getting to it on the powerline rd.

Hopefully that is a bit of help! Again it's been awhile so I dont know the 
current condition of that road after all the rains. Also, it isnt very far 
of a hike in from Carefree Hwy to the creek either. It isnt too far of a 
hike in from 40th St/Lone Mnt for that matter. But Carefree would be a 
closer hike I beleive to the creek crossing. This assuming you cant go any 
farther in the van.

Scott
Team Ropingthewind

>From: HighwayHavoc <highwayhavoc@yahoo.com>

>Subject: [Az-Geocaching] Cave Creek
>Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 14:41:21 -0800 (PST)

>
>I have a question for anyone familiar with the Cave Creek area, 
>approximately a mile and a half west of the cache “To Park, or Not To Park” 
>(GCM8BW). I have a class that will be congregating out yonder this coming 
>Saturday to do some hydrological work near a gaging station at the junction 
>of the river and a powerline road. My question would be: is the powerline 
>road the best access to the gaging station and if so, is it passable (for a 
>passenger van)?

>
>Mark A. Pedersen