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| Hiking | 5.00 Miles |
1,855 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.00 Miles | | | |
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| 1,855 ft AEG | | | |
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| no partners | | Following a 3 day backpacking trip with friends in the Pinals, I set off on one more adventure in Icehouse Canyon. Dropping down through the maples into the shady depths, I focused on off-trail exploration and identification of historic sites, primarily concerning the ice industry the canyon was named for.
I had seen the old ice ponds before, but attempted to count and map them on this trip, coming up with 5 total. Other historic sites explored included a possible cabin or bunkhouse, a collapsed mine, an ancient road to nowhere with enormous pines growing in it, a spring that was likely the source of the ice ponds’ water, and what I think may have been the location of the icehouse. Most intriguing was a very old, long abandoned, and very steep trail climbing out of the canyon toward Signal Peak. The US Military might have used some sort of trail to access their heliograph station on Signal Peak in the mid-1880’s. I’ll never know if this was it, but it was fun to consider.
Saw a number of interesting historic artifacts, such as broken beer bottle fragments and an old crosscut (or ice) saw, which I re-buried.
As I began my hike out, a familiar and unique hoot called out to me. I looked toward the source, and saw a Mexican Spotted Owl staring at me a short distance away. I hooted back, admired it for a few minutes, took a few awful photos of it in the deep shade, and then continued up the trail. Enjoyed an amazing sunset on the drive down, and some pretty good Mexican food from La Casita on the way home. I always enjoy time spent in the Pinals. |
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| "As soon as I can I’m sneaking back in them mountains..." -Johnny Paycheck |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
). Moved as fast as I could: 2 hr 15 min up; 1hr 46 min down. Great day!
), happy I had not decided to drive this road. The north slope of Rice Peak had a few pines and a pretty ravine with a dried out spring trough and a bit of fall color. Reaching the crest of Oracle Ridge, I turned south to follow Forest Road 4483/the Arizona Trail route, enjoying the incredible views around me as I sweated up the mountainside. The road reached a ridiculous level of steepness as I reached the summit of Rice Peak, where I stopped for a few minutes to enjoy the view and layer-up in the chilly, roaring wind. Descending the summit cone, I explored a bit more of Oracle Ridge before turning around to head back. I butt-surfed a time or two on the steep road on the way down, and stopped to explore the Three C Ranch Mine's tunnels as sunset arrived. My findings in the incline shafts included a rotted, half-eaten deer carcass, mud, and sketchy looking, possibly caved-in routes beyond the main entry level. Another tunnel held bats and a covering of small, crusty sulfur crystals. The last stretch down the nameless side canyon held a surprise deer encounter and the sweet blended smell of sycamore and wood smoke from a hunting camp. Ended the day by meeting my wife for Mexican food in Catalina, a great way to end an afternoon's adventure.
! Excited, I parked and we caught up for a bit before heading off in different directions. Great to see you guys! I descended the surprisingly well maintained FR 112 toward Pioneer Basin, and found a parking/turnaround spot on the hillside. Setting off on foot, I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the site of Pioneer, a short-lived town that sprang up in 1882 around a few silver mines. The mines (mostly collapsed) are still there, but every trace of the town is gone, except for a few rock walls and rusty iron pipes buried in the area’s heavy growth of chaparral and cat claw thickets. There is a ranch house (posted private property) and a corral at the site of the old stamp mill, but little else to see. Nice to check this spot off of my list. As sunset arrived, I parted ways with the town’s moo-ing residents, and started back up the hill, taking a side excursion to an old chimney I had seen earlier. Back at my truck after dark, I voyaged north to Globe for the Ghosts of Globe tour, to continue the ghost-themed weekend.
