Notes: A lot less side-by-side's on the wash than I've run into in the past. We went in a different route by coming to the box canyon from the top. I liked it better than putting in off Rincon Road.
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| Hassayampa |
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| Old school house. Still contains stuff including a piano and chalk board |
Notes: I avoid large group rides for the most part. It can be a cluster on several levels. However, I do have a quirky fondness for riding into abandoned old towns...ghost towns specifically. The owners of the now privately owned ghost town, "Vulture City" - put on a trail ride/BBQ and theatrical performance.
Vulture city was the larges and most profitable gold mine in Arizona, founded by Henry Wickenburg. It was deemed "non-essential" during WWII and operations ceased. The gold mine today is again actively being worked. The town itself was purchased by some folks from Canada who have painstakingly restored it and turned it into a living museum. Vulture City has been featured on several shows spotlighting the paranormal and it is believed to be haunted.
I've toured VC many times since moving to Arizona. I always see something new as the owners do a fantastic job of switching things up through new additions and renovations. When they posted this would be their first attempt at putting on a trail ride - I signed up!
They sent folks out in three groups of 10-15 riders. We opted for the last group. I can't speak for the other groups - but ours was great! The horses were quiet and well mannered. I've never been in a large group where at least one horse didn't lose it's mind and cause a domino of ejected riders.
It was a fairly short ride at just over 5 miles. After the ride, they fed us BBQ ribs, potato salad and beans. Dave bought Cindy and I a margarita. All margarita's are not created equal. I took a big swig thinking it would be the margarita like experience I'm accustomed to here in the south. My face about fell off. All tequila, no mix. I didn't want to hurt Dave's feelings so I handed mine back to the bartender (who happened to be the owners) when he wasn't looking and said not to tell anybody I didn't drink it. The lady asked me how it was...I said it was a little strong for my taste. She asked if I had any suggestions; I suggested they might put a little mix in it for the folks that aren't accustomed to drinking straight moonshine with their noon meal. We giggled about it and she blamed her husband, who later tracked me down with a second attempt. I'm happy to report that while still a tad stiff - my face remained intact.
After lunch - the theatre group: "The Wickenburg Marshals" performed several original scripts and entertained us with music and comedy. I secretly think it would be fun to be in a theatre group. I'm not sure how the audition would go, though: "No...I can't sing. I don't play a musical instrument, sorry. I played the clarinet in the 8th grade but mostly I faked it. No...I can't dance, either." Well Ma'am...what entertainment type talents do you posses? "Hmm....well, after 3 or 4 margarita's I can sing a unique medley of Marty Robbin's classic: Seven Spanish Angels in El Paso. I goes something like this:
"Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican...guy
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's Cantina
Music would play and Fernando would whirl
One night, a wild young floozy came in
Wild as the West Texas wind...blah...blah..blah blah
In anger, I challenged her right for the love of this Mexican vaquero...blah blah...blah blah blah blah
Down went her hand for the gun that she wore
My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat
The floozy young stranger lay dead on the floor
Later I got shot and blah blah blah...and then there were these...Seven Spanish Angels
At the Altar of the Sun
They were prayin' for the lovers
In the Valley of the Gun ...blah blah blah...
I think Marty would approve, don't you?
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| Celia and Dirt |
Notes: Celia pulled out her 1950's mining map and we went in search of the "Geod's Area." We actually found it! Celia would be great at IMO. She reads a map very well. Me, not so much...but I'll get us there albeit the long way.
We looped around and found a few treasures: Celia spotted an old shovel spade and I found a pail/bucket with a handle intact. We found them in the oddest place...out in the middle of nowhere on top a ocotillo covered knoll. There were other rusted cans and such scattered about. Had to have been a mine or camp of some sort. If only rust could talk...it would be the most interesting of conversations.
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| SCORE! |
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| 99% of my clan |
Celia has access to an old mining map. One of the areas marked on the map is an "Apache Tears" area. Celia has found them before but I've never hear of them. They are like hunting mushrooms: It takes you forever to find the first one - but once you do...they pop of everywhere!
The scientific version: According to Wikipedia: Apache tears are rounded pebbles of obsidian or "obsidianites" composed of black or dark-colored natural volcanic glass, usually of rhyolitic composition and bearing conchoidal fracture. Also known by the lithologic term marekanite, this variety of obsidian occurs as subrounded to subangular bodies up to about 2 in (51 mm) in diameter, often bearing indented surfaces.[1] Internally the pebbles sometimes contain fine bands or microlites and though in reflected light they appear black and opaque, they may be translucent in transmitted light. Apache tears fall between 5 and 5.5 in hardness on the Mohs scale.[2]
The legend or the not so scientific backstory:
The name “Apache Tears”, comes from a sad story that takes place during the height of the American Indian War. In the 1870s there was a fierce battle between the U.S. Cavalry and about 75 members of the Apache Tribe. This conflict took place atop a mountain (posthumously renamed Apache Leap) overlooking present-day Superior, Arizona. As the American Indians became outnumbered and enemy forces were approaching with haste, the tribesmen decided to take their fate into their own hands and ride their horses off the cliff to their death. As family members and wives of the great men heard the tragic news, they began to weep and cry endless tears. It is these tears that are believed to have been turned into stone, in what we refer to as Apache tears.
And now for the Happy Hippy Version: Apache Tears bolster the immune system, mitigate pain in the bones and muscles, increase strength and stamina, and purify the blood. This stone even helps to encourage hair and nail growth. Just as they ease the emotional side of grief and loss, Apache Tears can also ease physical pain stemming from the same source. Hmmmm....maybe I should bathe in these things. Climbing on and off your horse to pick them up is surely to cause some pain in the old bones and muscles. We finally just stayed off and picked them up.
Some sites list them as semi-precious stones. Great - now I need to invest in a rock tumbler.
Semi-precious with healing powers or not...it was a great day. There is something therapeutic about being on my horse and I LOVE a good treasure hunt.
PS: We spotted not ONE jackrabbit during our ride up and down the "jackrabbit wash." Go figure...
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| Celia and Dirt |
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| Celia and Harold holding down the fort while I "investigate" |
Notes: I don't have nearly as much trouble finding the way to the massacre site as I do finding my way to the entrance onto state land itself. I passed it both ways. Ugh.
Harold, Celia's neighbor, has been reading a book on the Wickenburg Massacre site. He wanted to see the place in person so he could determine for himself what actually occurred. After wandering about for a few minutes - he has formed the opinion that the culprits were actually white people and bandits posing as Indians. As for me - I have no opinion. I'm mostly sad that three horses were wounded in the attack and one died.
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| Jack waiting for me at the hitching post before we load up |
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| Leah - Mark on Ally - Pattie on Lou Ellen |
Notes: Finally made it to the base of Brown's Canyon. It was not what I expected. Not sure what I expected really. Cool area. An old air strip ends at the Wilderness border. Lot's of vegetation. Pretty sure there is water on up the canyon. I'll go back in my jeep and drive to it and hike up or haul to the strip and ride farther up and explore.
We looped around cross country and came in from the west end and followed the road back out. I rode Drifter and put on his new trail boots once we got in the rocks. They worked great.
Looking forward to going back and exploring the area more. Would be a great area to pack in and spend the weekend if you can find water close enough.
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| Leah - Pattie on Lou Elled - Mark on Alli |
Notes: Northern friends Mark and Pattie are down for the winter. I intended to take them riding up "the deep sandy wash." I might have missed the actual entry into "the deep sandy wash" and cross-country'd it through the rocks and up and over ravines until we eventually found "the deep sandy wash." Fortunately - Pattie and Mark ride mules and are always up for an adventure. Jack and Twister are both mountain goats and were particularly full of energy. I swear Jacks feet never touched the ground. I've said this before, but it's sure good to have my ponies feet back. Twister lost a shoe right out of the trailer. We slapped one of Jack's Cavallo trail boots. It was a little big for her but it stayed on and she never missed a beat. Back at the ranch - we had some "less than stellar" coffee cake I made out of a box. I'll pass on that one next time but the crumbly top was pretty good.
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| Phil - Twister and Pearl |
Notes: A quick evening ride out my back gate. Dan and Tater drug back firewood so we could roast marshmallows that night.
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| Sharon, Elli and Sally |
Trail: Aguila - State Land
Miles 5
Riders: Self
Horses: Jack
Notes: My birthday came and went uneventfully. I took the dogs for a decent hike in the morning. We hiked 5 miles to above the power line road. It was somewhat of a relief to know I could still manage it. I haven't hiked since "COVID Christmas" AND apparently I'm old now. 60. I can't even wrap my head around that number. It's not the aging process that freaks me out. When you aren't one of the "beautiful" people to begin with - a few wrinkles and white hairs don't scare you. It's not the age...it's the lack of time you have left that's bothersome. Possibly why I haven't been blogging...I'd rather be out doing while the doing's still an option.
Later in the afternoon, Jack took me on our annual birthday ride. I decided to try out an endurance saddle I've been packing around. It belonged to a friend who passed a couple of years ago. Sharon was an endurance rider. She rode the 100 mile Tevis in her late 50's. The saddle is lightweight and super comfortable. Jack moved really well in it. It's about as close to riding bareback without actually being bareback. The stirrup leathers hang in the perfect forward position for me. I plan on using it more often.
I miss Sharon. I miss Dusty - another friend that passed recently. Jack wears a headstall and a set of stirrups that belonged to Dusty. It sort of felt like my friends were riding along with me. Small consolation for the loss of the people we love...but it's something.
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| Dusty on Jack |
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| Dan and Tater |
Notes: Took Dan to an area he hadn't been. The deep sandy washes are good for young horses. Tater hadn't been ridden for a couple of weeks so I hauled us out to the wash for a good workout. He did great. It's starting to warm up so Hank opted to stay home. Groot handles the heat well but apparently got bored being the only dog and disappeared for a bit. One minute he was there - the next gone. We turned back and I whistled loud enough to wake the dead. Picked up his tracks going with us and then heading back the other direction. We rounded a big bend in the wash and there he stood...no worse for wear. Wasn't panting or acting like he'd been chasing anything; just standing there like he was waiting for us to return. Not sure what was up with that. He's one dog I will never figure out.
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| Where have YOU been? |
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| What??? |
Notes: Went back to explore the area we hit previously to look for more treasure. We rode up to an old mining area. The closest I can see on the map is "Black Queen Mine." Some of the "caves" drop down what seems like forever. I dropped a rock in one and you could hear it tumbling on down for a LONG time. The chute has been boarded off as a warning. It's an interesting area - I'd like to learn more of how they actually mined that area. It looks like they cut narrow backhoe width trenches straight through solid rock with bottomless chutes here and there.
We left the mine and wandered up the wash. The horses spooked at an old ironwood snag in the middle of the wash like it was going to eat them. A bit further up the wash above us we spotted this monstrosity of a structure I can't even explain without posting a picture of it. From a distance it looks like a cool old burned tree. We rode up to it and found it to be a man-made sculpture. It has a wire base and frame all wrapped in pool noodles and paper. I have no idea how long it's been there or why. The first thing that popped into my head was a movie prop. Maybe...The weirdest part is the horses never batted an eye at it. Go figure
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| Groot and Pearl come to rescue me from the "pit" |
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Notes: We long trotted/Loped/Ran a loop behind the 1st tank and dropped in to Burro Canyon from the top. It felt SO GOOD to let Jack out and run for a little bit. Burro Canyon is my favorite spot in the immediate area. I even saw some burro tracks...haven't seen the actual burros yet but it's nice to know they are back in the area.
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| Dan and Bullseye |
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| Phil holding Drifter whilst I go spelunking |
Notes: Short on miles but long on treasures! Hauled north up Eagle Eye road to Little Big Horn Peak Rd. and unloaded. Explored the area and found lots of treasures! A cool old wooden headboard I'm going to make into a sign - a rusty bucket and....(drum roll) a very cool fire ring! I probably pilfered somebody's heirloom they built 50 years ago for their annual family camp-out. I felt a little guilty...but not guilty enough to leave it behind. The thing is made out of concrete sections - each weighing over 100lbs. My penance for the wanton act of theft is my back may never be the same. It was worth it.
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| Dan and Tater |
Notes: Boy, I am way behind of my trail logs. These are going to be short, sweet and likely not 100% accurate as I only have my photos to go by.
We hauled West on 60 and put in at the edge of the Harquahala range - rode east on the powerline road to my property and went back in the Jeep to pick up Phil's truck/trailer. I stopped once to put Drifter's boots on him but he's outgrown them. He didn't really need them anyway - he has nice feet. We ran into Blair and Cheri out treasure hunting on their side-by-side. Cheri offered the dogs some water....Drifter drank most of it out of the little dog dish. Goofy horse.
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| (back to front - Celia - Jamie - Cindy C.) |
Notes: New Years eve ride. Hauled out to the wind mill and rode toward Browns Canyon. It's great ground for Drifter's bare feet. Lot's of sand and some rock but didn't miss a step or chip. I'm hoping to keep him barefoot. He did awesome. I've been roping off him - played with the cutting "flag" - he did really well on that thing for neither of us knowing what we are doing.
I skipped the mandatory annual New Years day ride. I got COVID over Christmas - thought I had that beat and caught some god awful flu on top of it and thought I was dying for sure. Thank GOD for good friends. Phil came over in the middle of the night to stay with me so I didn't have to die alone. I wasn't about to go to the hospital knowing it's over for sure once they stick you in the ER and on a respirator. I'm typing this - so I obviously survived the night. The next day, Cindy G gave me the contact info for Arizona IV medics. A nurse comes out to your house and hooks you up to a mega IV drip full of electrolytes, vitamins and anything else you might need. She added stuff for nausea, congestion and something to help me sleep. It was a game changer. I am now on the mend and kicking back until I feel closer to 100%...at this point I don't even remember what 100% feels like but I think I'm going to live.
