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| | | Crown King - After the Fire 2008, AZ | | | |
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Crown King - After the Fire 2008, AZ
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| Car Camping | |
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| | Car Camping | | 2 Days | | |
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| no partners | | Had to do a quick trip up to check out things after the nearly 10,000 acre fire almost wiped out the town. It was pretty grim driving between Crown King and the Hazlett Hollow Campground. But thanks to the incredible efforts of the fire fighters, almost all of the buildings and recreation areas survived. On the way up, I stopped at the saloon at Cleator for a beer. The gal bartending asked if I was going up the mountain. I said yes, and she said, "Well, I have to go up and fill in at the bar up there, so guess I will sell you another beer in Crown King." And so it was, I got served by Judy, both at Cleator and Crown King. That was cool!!
This was the 10,000 acre Lane 2 Fire, which was started by a signal fire for lost hikers getting out of hand (sound familiar?). Of course this year (2012) the town was again threatened by the 16,000 acre Gladiator Fire (caused by a propane explosion at a nearby residence). I'd say the folks up there have been pretty well spooked in recent years. 
I don't get up that way very often, but like the campground in Horsethief Basin. I must say it was really kind of creepy camping there, with nobody else around and the smell of fresh burn in the air. I slept in the back of my truck that night, and the sound of mice crawling around on the underside of the truck added to the spookiness! I took quite a few pictures of the old historic buildings along the way, because the fire was a reminder of quickly they could be gone.
I haven't been up there since, but might have to take a drive up soon to see how things look after the 2012 fire. (posted 9-22-2012) |
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