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| Hiking | 4.82 Miles |
831 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.82 Miles | 3 Hrs 12 Mns | | 1.51 mph |
| 831 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | After three previous failed attempts to reach the Coke Ovens (from 3 different directions) we wondered if we'd ever get out there without a long and grueling hike. Now that I swapped to a 4x4 Nissan Pathfinder we thought it was time to try it. We followed Hank's route from the 60, getting another 4 miles farther than we ever did in my CR-V but again we were stopped short of our destination. We encountered a large shelf that I do believe the Pathfinder could have made it down, due to the loose stacked rocks to drive along I wasn't sure we'd be able to make it back up without some more experienced spotters. So we turned around and headed back out to the 60.
But with a full day set aside for this trip we were not about to give up. Once back at the 60 we headed to Superior and south to Battleax Road and see if we could get farther in that way. We were stopped about 2 miles short of the ovens when we attempted it in my CR-V t the end of January, so again with the Pathfinder we hoped to make it closer. Although the drive out on Battleax was much easier than with the CR-V, we got stopped in the same spot. If it was the same condition as last time we'd have done it but there was more erosion and without experienced four-wheeling helper I didn't want to force it... at least until I get a few more mods done to the Pathfinder and go out along with another 4x4 for company, and help if needed.
Although I'm waiting for arthroscopic surgery for a badly torn meniscus in the left knee and for the foreseeable future planned on four-wheeling instead of hiking, being this close I wasn't about to let this one slip away again. After all, it appeared to be just a few miles to the ovens, so we set out on foot, while I was trying to be very mindful of the knee. Well the two miles was not flat or straight by any means, but again, wanting to get to the destination became more important than how my knee felt. After plenty of climbing on loose gravel and rocks we finally caught sight of the ovens and the task seemed surmountable. As soon as we got to a point where we could get a nice wide-angle shot, before I could take the picture two guys on ATV's who had passed us earlier drove right up to the ovens and parked in plain sight. Dang, so much for that photo!  Oh well, we thought maybe we'd get the shot on the way back, only later realizing we wouldn't take the same way back.
We plodded on and finally made it to the ovens. The ATV'ers were still there so took we our first photos from behind the ovens, then some closeups inside and around the ovens. Shortly after we started on the return trip the ATV'ers left so we began to climb up just far enough to get the wide angle shot, only to have another group arrive from the other side, again parking in plain sight. ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") Oh well, from our vantage point, with a little creativity I could stand strategically so some vegetation covered up the ATV's just enough it appeared they weren't there. Not wanting to climb as much on the return trip, we took a lower route closer to the Gila River, planning on following a ridge line to avoid the highest peaks. After getting almost cliffed-out a few times and having to wind around eventually we were forced to climb back up to the road anyway. When we got back home and looked at the GPS track we ended up hiking .2 mile farther on the return trip. 
While I didn't do my knee any favors and likely made it worse, we finally reached our goal. Also I gained four-wheeling experience and I'm learning more what my 'new' 4x4 can and can't do. I'm sure I'll get plenty more four-wheeling experience while awaiting the time I can get hiking seriously again. Unfortunately as slow as the process takes going through the VA it may be August before I'm back to hiking again. 
The complete set of photos are here:
http://www.changephoenix.com/11/2011-03-09CokeOvens.html |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
It was a bit on the cool side in the morning and barely warm in the late afternoon.
I ran into a narrow 15 foot waterfall! I wasn't so committed to finishing this canyon, I would have turned around. I was able to climb up and over this area. Climbing is not something I enjoy. So I decided this was a one-time hike. I hit another waterfall, but this one was only 6 feet and getting around it was easier. I finally made it to the old mill!
Just sayin.
