DESTINATION Generic 42 Photosets
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| | Car Camping | | 3 Days | | |
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| no partners | | | I decided that the cooler weather in the forecast last week would be the perfect time for taking Dad for one of his final trips. I got together with my cousin Cody, who might as well be my brother, and decided we would head up to Bull Pen Ranch for a few days. This was one of my Dad's favorite places to camp. We have been going there since I was born.We drove up I-17 to Gen. Crook trail and turned North on to Bull Pen rd.(NF618).After a few miles the Bull Pen rd veers off toward West Clear Creek Canyon. The road is a lot rougher than I remember it.The place has changed a lot, mostly for the worst. Lots of trash everywhere. Cody has always been the best critter gitter in the family, I think he might be related to Gummo! when we parked he disapeared and cane back ten minutes later with a Pai Whiptail Lizard. We set up camp at the trailhead. We had steak and squash with ranch beans and veggie kabobs and then proceeded to get pretty smashed the first night. At about 10:00 that night I suggested we take a night hike with head lamps. There was no moon and thick cloud cover so it was super dark. I ran into a Pricklypair and got a bit scratched up. When I finally woke up on day two, my legs were VERY sore. It must have been the four mile hike last night wearing my surf booties. Day two, we hiked down stream for about two miles rock hopping the whole way and returned on trails and roads. My legs were still sore but I managed pretty well. On the second night we had country style pork ribs, more grilled squash and Cajun rice. The morning of day three, we got most of our gear back into the truck and hiked up stream toward where a cable car for the USGS is and waded across the stream. There is what I believe to be an unnamed Spring there. 34°32'14.819",-111° 41'46.856" It is not marked on any maps that I could find. It has had at least some flow every time I've been there. It's quite the climb through some pretty thick forest. We left dad at the base of a large Sycamore tree almost at the top of the spring. We headed down and went up stream to try our hand at fishing. Cody caught several tiny Smallmouth Bass and I caught one. I know they are not native but we released them any way.On the way back to camp we spotted some large deer prints crossing the trail. We got back to camp and finished packing and drowning our fire pit, then took off toward Jerome on the 260 and turned West on 89A . I couldn't believe all the roundabouts on the way between Cottonwood and the bottom of Mingus Mtn. I never saw one until I lived in California and now they are everywhere in Arizona! Jerome was as beautiful as ever. As we were coming into Prescott Valley we saw two pair of Speed Goat (Pronghorn Antelope). They must have known they were safe so close to the highway. The new highway into Prescott is HUGE! From Prescott we headed to Kirkland Junction, Yarnell, Congress and Wickenburg. Just before Moristown we turned East on US60 and drove past Lake Pleasant. Then we took Lake Pleasant Pkwy. back into town. This loop was always one of my Pop's favorite escape routs from the drag of civilization. I MISS YOU DAD! |
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Understand, when you eat meat, that something did die. You have an obligation to value it - not just the sirloin but also all those wonderful tough little bits.
Anthony Bourdain |
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