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| On the Barry Goldwater Range, AZ | |
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| | On the Barry Goldwater Range, AZ | | | |
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On the Barry Goldwater Range, AZ
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| no partners | | The operator I called very early after pulling off I-8 was impossibly cheerful given the hour. The usual, permit number, license plate, number in party, are you in a 4wd vehicle, and how many days. " Have a great time" she said upon ending the call.
Topo map very helpful as the way in not marked. Sandy tracks indicate some speed, which then made you brake for the dips in the wash. Once on the range main roads are signed in red, with varying symbolism. Lots of side roads, but if you stick to the main ones with traffic it's all good. I stopped for some sunrise photos, then cursed as much of the drive right into the sun, rendering peering through the windshield almost impossible at times. I stopped at the tanks and took pictures, amazed at the amount of water considering so little recent rain. Very interesting geology also.
Wind my way around and stop at the display of tanks, mock up missile bunkers, huge ordinance musta been 50 of them in about a half mile. Would assume "dummies" as all were intact from some bomber run and looked really old.
About 20+ years ago I roamed out here with some jeeping friends from San Diego. It would've been a day trip with little to no hiking. Decided to cure that.
Magnificent open country. I stopped and hiked to some prospects and into a very pretty rock bound bowl. Beautiful quartz with some streaked through with greens and reds. The ironwood trees were huge, and many dead, but the elephant trees were in some sort of nirvana state with their small green leathery leaves and when you got close an intoxicating aroma.
Took several side roads, looking for the Arizona Area 51 as it is locally known. Some razor wire, dire signs, and you are there. I hurriedly took some pictures, never know what or who is looking.
Back on the road, then turned off up a side canyon. Road roughened and ended at some primitive stone buildings. Walk up the faded but follow-able road/ trail, bright rock in the wash indicating the mine. Some old remains and fallen buildings, then the mine itself. Familiar, not sure we stopped here over 20 years ago. Some tunnels and shafts. Really gorgeous chrysocolla, again some wild mixtures with the metal, some nice shiny galena in some of the quartz. I did some mining here, satisfied with my efforts, back to the car. Drove up another parallel canyon; mine tunnels not on the map. Checked those, missed an upper one, and hiked up the roadless canyon. Decided a nice open area would make a nice car camp. Wonderful evening ,read, relaxed and a not too cold night.
Next morning up to scramble up to the top of a mine tailings slope, wow, a great vein here and some slickensides. The stope was steep; to the right a shaft to the left continuation of the stope. I ended up rigging a handline here to assure I would not slip into the shaft as the rock was very loose on the slope. The stope was short but some more pretty rock.
Back to the car and drive out, seeing yet another mine but too far off. Winter days are short which suck. I had a lot of exploration to do. Drive, see lots more huge old bombs out in the desert, some pretty country and a startling discovery as to a doorway to yet another area! I had missed a turn on the map and went back, but was not ready to commit to the time needed for this area. I reluctantly headed out. I'll be back, I still have to locate the multi warplane wreckage area ( I was close), and a couple more mines. Plus the new area which might need a backpack trip for it.
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