3. Badger Springs Trail and Glyphs (Feb 20, 2018)
 1 Location of this hike (center of the purple circle) |
 2 The hike track down Badger Springs Wash to the Agua Fria River (the blue GPS track) |
 3 The hike track - the red GPS track. |
 4 Where we hit the river and started up-river. Looking back, it may have been easier to hike downstream - it looks less rocky. |
 5 As we approached the trailhead the Lexus' outdoor temp read 22F, the coldest we have been in a long time. By the time we parked the car the temp was down to 21F. Brrr! So we put on all the layers we had with us - and survived. |
 6 The sun was just breaking over the hill behind the trailhead sign. |
 7 Bob looks back as we start down the trail. |
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 11 We're almost to the river. |
 12 Looking back up the trail. |
 13 Ditto. |
 14 Ahhh. The river bed. There was only a trickle flowing, but there were many pools. |
 15 Bob and Suzanne preparing to look downstream to see if they can locate any rock art. |
 16 A sizable pool, Bob gets in the way trying to get his cold camera to work. |
 17 Sans Bob. |
 18 Looking at me trying to get a shot of a woodpecker in the bush. |
 19 Success. Woodpecker, but beyond that, I don't have a clue since there is no red on its head. |
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 21 There's a good set of rocks on the east side of the trail at the river. |
 22 And some rock art. |
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 25 Bob captures some good pics. |
 26 Bob's visiting the site where he left some graffiti when he was in grade school. ;-) |
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 30 Some very faded rock art - barely visible |
 31 "This sun feels so good after a cold night" says one Saguaro to the other. |
 32 If I had hair, that's the haircut I would have. |
 33 Suzanne and Don deciding to hike upstream (to the left) in spite of the rocky terrain. |
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 35 Someone did a great job on making this rock garden look almost natural. |
 36 We keep looking back as we proceed up river. |
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 38 A lot more rocks to hop ahead. |
 39 Interesting rock formation up there. |
 40 It's Senior Wences' puppet Johnny's final resting place. (Inset: Johnny, when he was active) |
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 42 These rocks don't seem to come to an end. |
 43 So we turn around and head back. |
 44 Can you see the silhouette of a horse head embedded in this rock? It's not easy to find |
 45 Some of the calm pools have some ice. |
 46 From glacial scouring or from something else? |
 47 An interesting quartz inclusion in a basalt rock. |
 48 Is this a Cassin's Sparrow? |
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 50 Looks like a stone-like mortar in this crack across this rock. devided |
 51 The old, nearly-ghost town of Cordes, just west of the I-17 on Bloody Basin Road. This is where residents of the Richinbar mine bought canned goods and staples in the 1930's. |
 52 Apparently the store is closed now. Sorry, you can no longer reprovision here. |
 53 Hope you don't come here needing gas. |
 54 Do you know the make of this old truck? |
 55 THe front emblem has an embedded, classic, Chevrolet "bow tie" symbol. |
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 57 Our family had a 1948 Chevy just like this sedan only it was red and not "a rust color." (Inset: '48 Chevy) |
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 59 I took down the VIN #, and will try to find out if the manufacturer's warranty is still good. |
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 61 Looking toward a number of mines and homes in the area around Cleator, the little mining town known as the gateway to the Bradshaw Mountains. |
 62 This is Cleator, a town on the way to Crown King |
 63 Suzanne is drawn to a perenniel yard sale in Cleator. |
 64 The story of Cleator. Note that the sign was placed there by the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus. What is that???? |
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 67 The store was closed, but the bar, the "Cleator Bar and Yacht Club" was open, serving only beer, wine and chips according to the bar keeper. We were hoping for at least burgers. The bar keeper was working outside and so we struck up a conversation with him. He invited us in for a look. |
 68 Lots of atmosphere to this place. Other than the bar keeper, we were the only ones there. |
 69 Outside, we noticed this "restricted" parking area. Not to be insulted because of the vehicles we drive,.......... |
 70 ......this is what the sign read when we left town. Now you're talking. Eat your heart out, Jeep lovers. ;-) After leaving our mark, we headed back to I-17 and lunch at the Rock Springs Cafe in Rock Springs, AZ. A good, beautiful and satisfying day. |
