I haven't been out to Blue Ponds in many years and after studying Google earth, I found a back way in along a 4x4 trail taking off from Frye mesa road. Most people just drive to the ponds from town, but I wanted to make a hike out of it this morning. The first couple of miles along the trail were uneventful, the next 1/2 mile was one of the reasons I wanted to do this hike as it took me through the second largest ancient Indian ruins/artifact spreads I have ever seen in Graham county. As kids, me and my cousins would visit this site every summer to collect arrowheads and it was really cool to see it again. I spent about a 1/2 hour exploring the spread before continuing on up the road to the ponds. Looped the entire area stopping at pond #1 (full), then pond #2 (dry) and ending with pond #3 (1/3 full) before returning back completing a lasso loop and ending a real nice trip!

It's always been common knowledge around town that if you want to see a rattlesnake, drive out to behind Blue Ponds/Safford golf course. I was 99% sure I was going to run into one on this hike and I 100% did on the return trip ........ it was a Mojave !!!