FR 609 and Coatimundi

3/30/07

 

Long ride, but nice! Today we Jeeped FR 609 with friends Jean & Larry. It's a long trail, taking several hours to complete. Prescribed burning by the Forestry Service has drastically changed some of the landscape since we were last there and dead pine tree branches littered the trail. One pine tree had fallen across the trail so Larry & Ralph used a bit of muscle, a dull hacksaw and a bruise on Ralph's butt (and his dignity) to get the trail cleared so we could proceed. Jean & I cheered them on (without our moral support, they couldn't have accomplished the task). The road was deeply rutted and quite muddy in places from the recent heavy rains in the high country but all in all, it was quite passable.

We've never ridden FR 609 without seeing unusual critters, today was no exception. Leisurely walking down the trail in front of our Jeep, we came across a White-Nosed Coatimundi. I didn't know what it was until Larry identified it. It's got the appearance of a huge raccoon crossed with a large cat. It let us snap a few pictures from within the confines of the Jeep before sauntering away at his own pace.

FR 609 gives travelers a taste of all types of terrain, mountainous, cliffs, fabulous vistas, flat pastureland and open meadows with trail conditions ranging from a Sunday drive to grit your teeth, hold on tight, rocky climbing.

 

Unnumbered Jeep Trail Off A-Cross Road

3/29/07

 

Perfect temperatures! Yesterday's high was 74° with clear, sunny skies, way too nice to stick around the house and work.

We headed for a trail we hadn't explored before. It doesn't show on forest service maps but we'd seen it on previous trips when we were locating the remains of Sunrise Mine. It turned out to be a nice ride, nothing rough, just a few rocks to maneuver around. We kept in mind looking for some nice cactus specimens for our garden. We were fortunate enough to find several good ones, along with some more unusual rocks to add more interest to the cacti already planted.

Since we've had quite a bit of recent rain, the desert is beginning to turn green, wildflowers are starting to bloom, it's a special time to be in the desert.

After driving through green, grassy meadows, the road ended near the bottom of several high, rocky canyons, adding even more interest to the trip. We can't help but marvel at these canyons, decorated with spires and pinnacles, awe inspiring places for sure. It's hard to photograph this type of scenery, you'll have to try to imagine the depth and details.

Before heading home we remembered a small unknown variety of cactus we'd seen at the Sunset Mine, so we headed over to gather it up and give it a new home. Sunset Mine is located on a hill top affording great sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, so we stayed for a while, indulging our senses with the vistas and cool, fresh breezes.

It was a very satisfying day.

 

Cactus & Rock Garden

3/24/07

We've had rain on and off for the past few days, not too conducive for good Jeeping, so we've contented ourselves by doing some work around the house. We had a small cactus and rock garden but we decided we wanted to expand it. We've moved some dirt to elevate it and create mounds to make it look a bit more natural.

It seems most people living out in the desert acquire "treasures" they've found while exploring the area. Our treasures are beginning to accumulate, so we thought it best to begin organizing them into a garden type atmosphere. This is just the beginning of what we hope to make a real focal point in our back yard. We enjoy sitting out there and remembering where each rock and cactus came from.

 

These simple things are what our life here is all about.

 

Greenback Valley, Mud Spring

 3/18/07

Yesterday turned out to be a scorcher. Temps quickly reached the upper 90s, it's too soon for this nonsense, where did winter go? Anyway, we took a bit of a ride despite the temps and thanks to air-conditioning in the Jeep. Heading for Greenback Valley, we hoped the higher elevations would bring a bit of respite from the heat. There are several roads in the Greenback Valley area that we haven't explored, one of them leading to a beautiful canyon and a place called Mud Spring. The road was deeply rutted, but passable, so we headed up. The views were lovely but the road narrowed down to a rocky climb. Since the temperatures were climbing and we were traveling alone, we decided to err on the side of caution and save the climb for a cooler day. We've always got to consider emergencies such as vehicle problems and the possibility of having to hike out of these remote areas. It was a nice ride and it looks like it'll be an interesting area to explore further.

SR 1344 to SR 1120

3/13/07

It's another beautiful day here in sunny Arizona. We can feel the heat beginning to creep in as we Jeep the backroads, sure hope winter isn't over just yet. As I write this, it's a bit after noon and the thermometer already reads 85°, too hot, too soon.

We went for a short jaunt today checking out a couple of nearby roads. We enjoy riding the dry washes and seeing the mountains looming along side as we go. The scenery is always lovely, lots to look at and seeing grazing cattle adds to the enjoyment.

SR 1344 started out as just a nice ride up the riverbed but quickly turned into nothing much more than a cow path through heavy brush. When we first got our Jeep with its shiny red paint, we made a decision that we wouldn't worry about the scratches we knew we'd get when we went off road. The Jeep picked up quite a few more "Arizona Pinstripes" (scars of valor) while winding past the underbrush today, but it was still a super ride. SR 1344 eventually met up with SR 1120 bringing us out on a road we'd previously traveled. We can add another one to the list of "now we know where THAT road goes."

Apache Lake Lowered Fifty Feet

3/13/07

We took these photos in November 2006 after the water level in Apache Lake was lowered by fifty feet to enable crews to perform maintenance on Horse Mesa Dam. We wandered the shores while the lake was lowered finding artifacts, boat anchors, lots of fishing lures and even spotting some once submerged railroad tracks that  were used to transport materials to Roosevelt Dam during its construction in 1906.

Apache Lake has always been a favorite place for us. It's located below Roosevelt Lake along the Apache Trail. The scenic views from Apache Lake are some of the prettiest in Arizona. Great camping and fishing! When boating on Apache Lake you pass canyon walls rising hundreds of feet above the lake, rivaled only by the submerged canyons below.

Driving the Apache Trail and coming upon Apache Lake is always an impressive sight, it's a "must see" when visiting Arizona.

 

                                                 The Apache Trail

Lore and legend cloak canyon walls with an air of mystery Sheer cliffs of stark grandeur careen toward peaceful rivers Silent breezes are accented by cries from soaring hawks We envy their freedom to view this world from a unique vantage Boulders balanced upon tenuous perches as though placed there by playful hands Spires and minarets of sandstone by no accident call to mind holy places Lakes of unfathomed depth keep secret the hidden vista below Each mile is given to us as a gift revealed as we venture on Dizzying heights give way to peaceful meadows, our senses are assailed by what unfolds before us Layers of time are seen in ageless formations Cactus basks beneath the broiling sun luxuriating in the nourishing heat Storm clouds sneak in unnoticed by enthralled travelers The sky darkens to rich gray hues, a deep growl of thunder echoes followed by unleashed streaks of lightening splitting the boiling clouds The hawk dives for cover sensing what is to come Monsoon rains fall fast and hard upon the arid landscape The sand drinks 'til sated then rejects the leftovers filling once dry washes and gullies as waters stampede to lower points Rocks with eons old addresses move with the torrential onslaught seeking relocation As quickly as the storm enters, it vanishes as the clouds are tossed aside by the jealous sun, eager to retake his domain The hawk shakes and preens droplets from his feathers, then leaps joyously forth to survey the changes Catching a current, he ascends smoothly, dipping and gliding his dance beneath the sun Reaching a rise, we pause to survey the panoramic wonder spread before us Our eyes try to reject the reality of such contradiction Green, brown, blue and purple assault our senses in a riotous ballet of colors Moving on, we see scorched ground which bespeaks a bygone day when hellish blazes charred the already arid earth Tiny shoots of infant cacti pierce the sand refusing to concede defeat Weary and dusty we come upon man's imposition on the land Rising from the depth of a canyon, steel and concrete seems alien in these surroundings, daring to ration water to the valleys below. Exhilaration is felt as we reach trails end, yet the lore and legend beckons our return Our spirits are lifted, our souls have been nourished   The original poetry on this site may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or used in any way without the express written permission of the author. ©1999-2007 Laura Aden 

 

Blue Bird's Last Gasp

3/11/07

It's a beautiful Sunday so we decided to Jeep once again to the Blue Bird Mine. The road is an easy one now that the bulldozer has done its deed, we could probably have taken a passenger car without much challenge. It was as we expected, the adits are closed off. Ugly pipes and some sort of hardening foam cover one entrance while steel bars close off the other. There won't be anymore exploration inside the Blue Bird.

We personally feel that doing this to an old mine is a travesty of what should be preserved as something of historical interest, but other than write protest letters, there's little we can do to ward off "progress." The history of our Country is being lost to future generations each time one of these sites is bulldozed, gated and grated, it's a shame. I'm glad we had a chance to know the Blue Bird before she was destroyed. The site had been "reclaimed" (that's government speak for bulldoze that sucker)! Too bad, The Blue Bird Mine has breathed its last gasp.

 

 

Finches and Cardinals and Quail, Oh My!

3/10/07

I'm sitting here at the computer and as I glance out the window, it's hard to pay attention to the monitor. Jean bought us a Gold Finch "Thistle Sock" and within a few minutes of hanging it in the tree, we've been inundated with Finches. (thanks Jean, now we've got more mouths to feed)! We enjoy putting seed and nectar out for the birds, they're so entertaining to watch. Last Spring, we had a Cardinal family who raised their young at our seed block....hmmm....makes me wonder if the Cardinal kids will grow up thinking all food comes in block form? Here are some pictures of of our critter visitors.

Jeepin' FR 225 & Fr 1078

3/3/07 

We did some good Jeepin' today with Jean & Larry. There's a road not far from home that Jean's been curious about so we set off on a nice ride. Along the way we stopped at a few curiosities to check them out. We've got no idea what the structure is that you'll see in the pictures. We've photographed similar structures before but nobody seems to know what it might have been used for. Nearby was a cave with water in it, it looked like a spring but it was hard to tell for sure. It possibly could have been a flooded mine, or a fresh spring coming from inside the mountain, it would be interesting to return to check it out wearing some hip-length waders.

At the end of FR 1078 we could see large open pit mining operation but we couldn't get close to it because the road became impassible. Larry went on ahead in Old Blue to see if it could be done...uh Larrrryyyy NOT a good idea. The road was really tippy, rocky and narrow and he had to find a way to turn around. Jean and I stayed at the bottom of the hill with our eyes closed and Ralph went up to watch the carnage .... fortunately there wasn't any, but Ralph said that was the closest to turning over as he's ever seen a vehicle. Whew, all turned out well, no Jeep flops. It was a great ride and now we have something to tease Larry about. (check out picture #13)

 

Bye Bye Blue Bird

Well, it's the end of The **Blue Bird Mine as we knew it. The Forest Service is doing a classic reclamation of the site. The old cabin is gone and soon, the adits to the mine shafts will be closed forever.

We were able to go today to watch the proceedings and bid the Blue Bird a fond good-bye.

The first hint that things were really proceeding was the road, it was like a super highway by comparison to what the road was like on previous visits. No more off-camber, tippy, stomach churning, seat grabbing, turns...the "pucker factor" has been eliminated. Bulldozers have been through and cleared the road to enable a 10 ton dump truck to have access. They've hauled in huge culvert-type metal pipes that are fitted with bars, these will be used to plug the mine adits, still allowing bats to enter and exit.

We thought it would be a sentimental touch to leave a bit of ourselves in the mine for future generations of would-be explorers so we put together a time capsule. In it we put a book of my poetry, a letter to whomever finds it, some current currency and coins, a newspaper and a few other assorted goodies....wonder if it'll ever be found...?

It's understandable to some extent to see why the government implements these changes, but on the other hand the mine tunnels themselves are rich in history and many of them have been around long enough to take on an almost natural appearance with stalagmites and stalactites beginning to form. The Blue Bird for example took on sparkling jewel-like reflections when the beams from our lights glanced over the faceted Azurite and Fluorite walls and ceilings.

We now have an old wooden chair from the Blue Bird sitting in our den, it was to have been hauled off too, we're lucky enough to have a piece of history.

The Forest Service will leave in place the ore conveyor as well as the ore chute for future explorers to marvel at. The mine's tunnels will be sitting, barred to entry so people will be left to speculate what it must be like deep within the dark and silent recesses.

Goodbye Blue Bird, Old Gal, Rest In Peace.

 

**To read previous journal entries about the Blue Bird Mine, click on the  "archives " link.

*** update:10/29/07

We just learned that the total cost for the Blue Bird destruction...errr..."reclamation" was $79,000. The cost of history lost...priceless.