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| Loop 202 South Mountain, AZ | | -
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| | Loop 202 South Mountain, AZ | | | |
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Loop 202 South Mountain, AZ
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| Hiking | 6.32 Miles |
681 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.32 Miles | 2 Hrs 48 Mns | | 2.26 mph |
| 681 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Today was my sixth survey hike, the first being in April, 2015. If ADOT’s contractors stick to schedule, I would expect next April’s hike to the last where I can follow any portion of the intended road bed, as I have so far done. After following the road bed becomes unsafe / illegal, I will instead parallel it.
Previous Survey Hikes
4/28/17: [ photoset ]
10/28/16
4/29/16
12/17/15: [ photoset ]
4/13/15: [ photoset ]
I figured not much had changed along my survey route, on construction sections 8 and 9 (the Center Segment), between Dusty Lane and Pecos Road, so rather than photograph the unchanged state of each of 28 waypoints, I decided instead to document all the decrepit ranches, and other features, in the valley between Main Ridge South and Main Ridge North.
That turned out to be a wise decision because, indeed, nothing had changed freeway-wise in the Center Segment. Not one pebble had been moved.
As I said earlier, Center Segment construction is due to begin in mid-2018, but as my video shows, I was hiking under the mistaken impression the Center Segment was supposed to be done by mid-2018. Meaning, it should have been well under way. It was good I was skeptical.
There’s a third ridge between Main Ridge South and Main Ridge North. It is unnamed by ADOT because the Loop 202 South Mountain freeway will not cross it. The new development is on the south side of the unnamed ridge; the R.A. Steele ruins at its tip, and the other ranches between it and Main Ridge North.
I shot some high vantage point video of the ranches from the unnamed ridge, before checking out a miners’ dump / plain ol’ garbage dump. No new garbage in the dump, but I spotted three 1969 Arizona license plates. Sweet score!
The “Graffiti Ranch” was occupied at least as recently as 1973. (According to initials & dates etched into then wet cement.) There has always been a lot of garbage & nails strewn about the “Graffiti Ranch” area, which included a decaying wood trailer. Today, the wood trailer was gone, all the garbage & nails removed, the graffiti on the standing building painted over and the wall knocked down. Also, there are now some folding chairs inside the building. Seems odd that someone would go to the trouble of cleaning the area up, not simply clear it.
The “Rock Wall Ranch” had not changed any. It is closer to the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway than “Graffiti Ranch”, but should be unaffected by construction, as it is still about 100 yds. from the north bound lanes.
On the other hand, the R.A. Steele ruins, which date back to the 1940s, and were occupied as recently as 1982, will go bye-bye, disappearing under those north bound lanes.
Once I got to the top of Main Ridge South, I followed the jeep trail east a hundred yards to the luxury development access road. The rugged jeep trail down the south slope of Main Ridge South is still there, but no longer accessible from the top of the ridge due to the development’s entrance, roundabout and decorative walls bisecting it. I suppose APS maintenance could always helo in. 
Six months ago, the development’s access road was dirt. Now it is paved, and has sidewalks its entire length. Heck, I actually saw two women jogging on it. Pending gate installation, a security guard prevents unwanted entry. Even the hot women joggers had to turn around. 
It appears the roads in the development have also all been paved & sidewalked. Perimeter and property dividing walls have all been erected. Construction on three buildings has begun. I hope the prospective homeowners enjoy a freeway serenade, as the devlopment is within a hundred yards of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway’s north bound lanes.
Looking south, from my vantage towards Pecos Rd., I confirmed that no work had begun there either. So, rather than descend to Pecos Rd., only to turn around and climb back up Main Ridge South, I headed back across the Valley to Main Ridge North, where I took my customary final, shady, break. (The only shade on the hike other than in the one remaining “Graffiti Ranch” building.)
Hopefully ADOT gets their Tonka Toys out before I do my next survey hike in April!
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/485697267 |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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