Battle Axe Road to White Canyon

[SJFL]

Hi. I've had to rework plans on account of the rain tomorrow (I know, hard to believe).

I did a search in the forums but couldn't find any recent info. I'm hoping to drive into White Canyon via Battle Axe Road in my Subaru Forester. Has anyone been down there recently? The BLM ranger mentioned it should be pretty good to the intersection of White Canyon and GET. Hoping to car camp somewhere around there.

Thanks.

[Sredfield]

We were there a couple weeks ago. Its' fine to the artesian well, then gets gnarly in spots. 4Runner in low-low made it.

[SJFL]

@Sredfield
Thanks for replying. I don't know where the artesian well is. Is that before the intersection of white canyon and GET? Trying to find somewhere to car camp before going into White Canyon.

[AugustWest]

@SJFL
I was out there the end of November. Up to the ranch gate is fine. Past that is not advisable in your Subaru. No problem to find car camping anywhere in there especially on a weekday.

[SJFL]

@AugustWest
I'm guessing the ranch gate and artesian well will become familiar terms as soon as I get there.

Thank you.

[nonot]

The artesian spring is perhaps 0.3-0.5 miles before the White Canyon trailhead. I made it there in a sedan some 12ish years ago so you should have no problem in your Subaru. But past that the road got terrible. You can't camp right at the spring as I remember (obey the no camping signs.) Other camping options are found along the road before that point.

I'm a bit confused in your original post as the GET/AZT were re-routed to the west some 5-10 years back onto new trail rather than being a road walk.

[trekkin_gecko]

john and i drove to the fence near the artisan well in my nissan rogue sport a year ago [ photo ]
it is 3/4 mile to the trailhead beyond that
we found a campsite before the fence
this was our view [ photo ]
there were a lot of cows around the area and we rejected a couple campsites because of cow poop

[chumley]

The artisan spring

The source of delicious wine!

[nonot]

@chumley
you're hired for inspecting for typos

[chumley]

@nonot
I just think it's funny that it's identified by how the water gets to the surface. It's a well. What other wells are identified that way? The Canyon Bottom electric pump well? The JoeBob windmill pump well? The Cattleranch solar pump well?

[nonot]

@chumley
Natural phenomenon (such as water which shoots out of the ground under pressure) generally get special names. People seem to like naming things. It's shorter than saying "when you reach the natural spring which shoots water out of the ground under pressure".

[The_Eagle]

generally get special names. People seem to like naming things

[ Chums Spring ]

[chumley]

@nonot
I don't think wells are natural phenomenon. We're almost 3 months into 2021 though, so I can reluctantly accept being wrong about that.

[nonot]

@chumley
I have not personally encountered any other flowing artesian springs in my travels but I know that they exist...that one in White Canyon is rare/special, in my opinion. Also, it is not a well...it is an artesian spring...perhaps that is where your confusion comes from.

Edited: According to wiki, the term "flowing artesian" apparently is the appropriate term to use for this spring, compared to just "artesian".

[chumley]

Man, I think I'm just gonna stick to the original artisan. Artisan bread, with artisan wine. And some artisan cheese.

[GrangerGuy]

@SJFL
I just posted a [ triplog ] on White Mountain Wilderness - GET #3. I walked a section of the road you plan to drive. It would easily be passible with a high clearance 4WD. There were quite a few vehicles on it. I think it will be doable with your Forester. There is good camping near the place where the trail leaves the road and goes into the wilderness.

[CannondaleKid]

@GrangerGuy (Note to @SJFL as well)
While the part of Battle Axe Road which you (GrangerGuy) hiked on the WEST side of Battle Axe Butte may look fine for a Subaru, the part of the road between the creek crossing (adjacent to the Artesian Well) on the EAST side of Battle Axe (where the G.E.T. USED to pass through) to the White Canyon TH has always been a rough and rocky area to pass through.
Although conditions do change, when we drove out there in March '20 it was rough enough I had to engage the 4Runner's rear locker due to a deep enough eroded spot we were rocking on three wheels. (The 4Runner has a 3" lift and Load Range E tires)
While a Subaru very likely CAN make it ok, it will take extra care and good line choices around/past obstacles... tire damage is more likely than vehicle damage in this area.

As Shawn said above:

"It's fine to the artesian well, then gets gnarly in spots. 4Runner in low-low made it.

[SJFL]

@CannondaleKid
@augustwest
@sredfield
@nonot
@trekkin_gecko

The Subaru made it past the fence at the well/ranch-gate. I drove up to the top of the hill where the next cattleguard is just before dropping down for the last leg to the TH. Looking down frm that hill I made the executive decision to NOT go down as I didn't think coming back up was going to be possible; didn't want to test that one and fail. I had a nice camp spot that was fully padded with cow pies and surrounded by great views. The hike to the TH and out into the other canyons wasn't so bad either; 1/3 to 1/2 mile.

[SJFL]

@nonot
My bad about GET. I was looking at Google Maps and they have the GET going through there. Guessing that was outdated.