My adventures on the backroads of Arizona - visiting ghosttowns, mines, cemeteries, and any other areas of interest in remote areas of Arizona and the surrounding states. In addition, we are underwater explorers, so you may occasionally see underwater explorations being posted as well! Welcome to my fantastic life! My name is Bobbi Jo Claywell, and exploring is our thing!
And summer is here in Phoenix. It's getting warm. So Paul and I decided to take advantage of the last few weekends of seriously cool weather in Northern Arizona...as well as hanging out with some FJ friends. The next few blog posts will be individually short, but will encompass several weekends spent tootling around Arizona in one or both FJ's and enjoying the last bits of cool weather before the triple digits hit the Valley.
Our Campsite in the Pines
Paul has a good friend - Santiago - who I generally knew but had not formally met. Santiago invited us to go camping with him, his family, and his buddy Shawn (another person Paul has hung out with that I just met this weekend). They were headed up to Mingus Mountain outside of Prescott Valley to just camp and relax. Santiago is an avid photographer (and is amazing too!!!) and wanted the opportunity to take some night shots, and it was supposed to be clear and beautiful. And it was!
We all decide to head up Friday night and make camp. A change from earlier in the week when we were going to head up Saturday and camp for one night. But up we all went on Friday afternoon. We met Santiago and his wife Julie, as well as his son Santi at Cordes Junction for the haul up the 69 to Prescott Valley. As Paul and I waited for them, we opened up the truck and enjoyed the cool breeze blowing through the truck.
Campfire Relaxing!
When Santiago and his family pulled up, we headed up the 69 towards Prescott Valley and Shawn's house. Shawn knew where the campsite was buried on Mingus Mountain, so we stopped by his house, and then caravan'd up the 89A and into Mingus Mountain.
Paul and I have been up here before - on our first official camping trip together last September - the one I wrote about for Toyota Cruisers and Trucks Magazine - and while up there last September, I realized we were extremely close to an old cabin I wanted to visit. But we were with others, so we didn't stop. But this time we had extra time, and Paul said we would go with or without our camping buddies. Funny thing - we were camped maybe a mile away from the turn off...it was meant to be!
Friday night was COLD! We had gone from the high 90's to the low 40's and neither Paul nor I brought much in the way of warm clothes. I was wearing my Keen sandals, no socks, and light weight cropped pants with a tshirt. I only had a sweatshirt to put on...so I did. I made some delicious nachos - I had already prepared the ground beef, so it was just heating up the Coleman Camp stove, layering the nachos, then heating them up until everything was hot and melty. We all huddled around the fire, Paul and me in our new "zero gravity" recliner chairs - and just enjoyed the cold. Santiago taught me some stuff about night photography (which my Nikon is NOT set up for, we discovered) and then Paul and I decided to turn in. I was so cold I had a difficult time getting warm in the Expedition Trailer. After about an hour of trying to get warm, I finally "borrowed" Paul's socks and got my feet warm. After that - I slept like a baby listening to the pine trees rustle in the wind, and the coyotes howling.
Paul's breakfast plate on Saturday morning
In the morning, we had turkeys again. As usual, Paul and I woke up really early - but Santiago had already been up taking photos - so we weren't the first ones! As we stoked up the fire, Paul made our coffee and tea, and we watched as Santiago tried to heat up water in his new Stanley coffee pot over the open flame. But it never got warm! Sure kept the water cool inside though! Haha. After a little "incident" with the bottom of the Stanley pot popping off in the heat (scared us all half to death), Santiago made his coffee the traditional way and we were all sufficiently caffeinated.
The trail to the Woodcutter's Cabin (Jeronimo's Cabin)
Then it was time for breakfast! If you've read any of my more recent blogs, you know food is a big part of our outings! Paul and I just purchased a griddle to put on our Coleman stove - so we were going to try it out today. Bacon, eggs and pancakes!!! Yes - Pancakes! The griddle worked out really well, and fit well in our camp cooking bin - so it stays!
The very rare Rockus on Stumpus as seen on the hiking trail
After breakfast, we lazed around for a bit until around noonish. Julie's dad came and we got him all set up, and then Paul and I decided to go check out this cabin. Santiago and Santi wanted to go, so we grabbed Rocko the amazing dog and off we went! Two voodoo blue FJ cruisers just wandering around the mountains - we looked awesome!
The also very rare Carcass on Rockus - which Rocko the Wonder Dog found very interesting
Jeronimo Pena was the man who built the cabin we hiked to. The hike isn't long, or strenuous, but is a bit of a secret, so details as to where it is will not be disclosed here...the informational poster which used to be on the door of Jeronimo's cabin, is no longer there - I've heard it is in the Douglas museum - but it reads as follows:
As the population grew, so did the demand for firewood. Woodcutters were forced to travel further up into the mountains as supplies diminished.
Jeronimo Pena began cutting firewood on Mingus Mountain about 1920. Throughout his life he shunned life's conveniences. No running water. No electricity. He never owned a truck and refused to use a chainsaw. He preferred his burros and a crosscut. But he could always be depended on to deliver a full, tightly packed cord of wood at a fair price. At over 80 years of age, the last of this hardy breed died in his cabin in the fall of 1957.
The wire line and anchor which I had heard about on other sites I knew we were on the right trail at this point!
I wasn't 100% sure that I had the right trail. Or even area. I had spent weeks pouring over Google Earth looking for this cabin. But as we started off, all the waypoints I had saved in my GaiaGPS app hit perfectly on point! There was a faint trail, we found the old line and land anchor, and we followed it in and up. As we came to the area which indicated that the cabin was there, we couldn't see it. I knew it was well hidden, and Santi decided to scout the area a bit. We heard him holler "I found barrels!" and then next "I found it!". So we scrambled up after him, all of us getting stuck and scratched by the sticker bushes everywhere. But it was worth it. Worth every single scratch.
Our first glimpse of Jeronimo's Cabin
The fact that the location of this cabin has been kept such a secret is why there are still shoe remnants, Jeronimo's bed, and other things lying around. Buckets, wash tubs, etc., all still around this cabin. The front door has collapsed, but that was inevitable, as is the eventual collapse of the entire thing - but for now - what an amazing find! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...
The Last Woodcutter's Cabin - aka Jeronimo's Cabin
A wash bucket still sits outside...
Inside the main living area of the cabin
Some of the many artifacts left in the cabin...
The sleeping "room" or area
Our view as we departed this wonderful little cabin...the Last Woodcutter's Cabin
On the hike back down, we all discussed how Jeronimo must have lived. How he got some of the things up there that he had if he didn't have a car, and the water source (which was a spring about .2 miles past the cabin, but that has since dried up). What a life!
Lewis & Clark with Santiago's FJ - and Rocko Guarding - two FJ's are always better than one!
After the hike, Paul and I decided to go do a bit of geocaching, and then back to the campsite we went - and through it, to the little lake/tank/well to take some photos, then back to camp. Where I grabbed a relaxing afternoon nap and Paul sat around chatting with everyone. It was nice - we rarely just sit when we camp...we always have stuff to go see or do. So having a relaxing day with a small hike in the middle was just what we needed!
Lewis & Clark parked by the lake/well/tank by our campsite
Dinner consisted of the best stuffed mushrooms - deviled ham and cream cheese with cheese and cracker crumbs on them - they were a bit sloppier than my sausage and cream cheese ones - but I think I'll be adding the cracker crumbs and cheese to mine in the future. And then Paul had a steak. I wasn't hungry so I had the mushrooms and left it at that.
Stuffed Portobello's cooking in our Coleman Camp Oven
The finished product. Minus one. Because Paul ate it.
Then we had a great night all warm and comfortable by the fire just talking, laughing and, well, camping! I was toasty warm when we went to bed, and we both slept well and through the night.
Bacon, Eggs and Pancakes! Best Camp Breakfast Ever!
Breakfast again consisted of bacon, eggs and pancakes. I could get used to this...but this morning, we tried to use up the onions, tomatoes, sliced mushrooms and avocado that I brought. Our eggs were AMAZING! And the strawberry syrup we brought to try on the pancakes was really tasty!
Then we all packed up camp and decided to head out.
Smoke from the Tussock Fire sitting over the Crown King Road
On the way home, Paul wanted to take a back road, so we took the back road towards Cleator from the 69. I took Paul through Cordes where Newt White lived (we know who Newt White was from our adventures up to Humbug - he is buried there), and then decided to go check out the Cleator Bar and Yacht Club. There was a lot of odd haze on the way to Cleator - which we quickly discovered was smoke. I looked it up on my phone, but the only fire I could find was the Tussock fire - which should have been over closer to Castle Hot Springs. And it was - but the wind was blowing the smoke - and the fire - up over Crown King and into the valley near Cleator. Crown King was being evacuated and the back road to Crown King had been closed off. Paul had a beer and I had a coke at the Cleator Bar and Yacht Club, then we headed down and towards home...
Lewis and Clark sitting outside the Cleator Bar and Yacht Club and the original Cleator General Store
My guy just having a beer at the Cleator Bar and Yacht Club
This weekend was a nice change from our usual excursions. We camped with friends which we rarely do and we didn't do much at all - just lazed around for the most part - which we also rarely do. But it was nice! And we can't wait to do it again!!
It's the weekend before Paul's birthday, so off we went on another adventure. We planned this one out ahead of time - the plan started out as a repeat of our Memorial Day weekend adventures, then morphed into heading out to places that neither of us had been - and while we did end up on the Senator Highway (eventually), the road there was new and full of amazing surprises! Cabins we could actually access, mines, and tons and tons of snow, which was unexpected!
Fire on the Mountains...
We wanted to get on the road early Saturday - we had plans to stay the night at the Hotel Vendome in room 16 - the haunted room - where Abby and her cat Noble haunt visitors that stay there - more on Abby and Noble to come! We also wanted to go back to Murphy's for a nice birthday dinner for Paul. So we needed to be in Prescott by 6 p.m. So we left our house around 5:15 a.m. and started up the 60 to Wickenburg.
Ninja Cow - If you know, you know...
We stopped in Wickenburg for a quick breakfast sandwich at McDonalds, and we were off again. The sun was just starting to come up, and the clouds were sitting really, really low - like on the ground low! As we turned off on the Congress side-route, we could see the clouds sitting in the valley like giant fluffy pillows. It was a gorgeous, cold, cloudy morning and made for some amazing photos!
Placerita Cabin
Our first stop was a stone cabin in a gorgeous setting that I had been to back in the mid-90's. I was really excited to show it to Paul, as he loves old cabins as much as I do - but that's all that is around in this area - this old cabin. It's called Placerita Cabin. I had found it back in the 90's in an old ghosttown book, but nobody ever wanted to go because it was a very long drive to just look at an old stone cabin. And the directions were sketchy back then - go about 5 miles to this, turn right at the cactus, etc. Typical pre-GPS directions. But no more! This cabin used to have windows, and a fireplace, a floor with a trap door, and had a lovely open area out in front - and it looked over a small creek. As we drove down the road to get to Placerita, I commented on how well graded the road is now. But then we came to the turn off for the "road" to the cabin. There isn't a road anymore. It is completely grown over, and in the areas you could see a slight semblance of a road, it was heavily rutted. But it was about a 1/4 mile hike in, so we parked the Lewis & Clark and hiked/bushwhacked our way in.
Lewis & Clark parked for our hike into the Placerita Cabin - isn't she beautiful?
As soon as the cabin came in to view, I wanted to cry. There is no roof, half of it has tumbled down, and it wasn't anything like it was when I went in the 90's. Fortunately, the clouds and rain made for some absolutely beautiful photographs of what was no longer a usable line cabin, but was now a dilapidated old stone house that was mostly fallen down.
The Placerita Gulch was founded by Anson Wilber Callen - also known as "Old Grizzly." In 1887, Anson found gold in this area. Placerita Gulch, the location of the town of Placerita, is up the gulch a bit from the old cabin. Anson Callen was a colorful old man - cantankerous is frequently used to describe him - and he had his share of problems and would strike it rich, then spend it away. The area of Placerita Gulch was also a big goat farming area...but now the Cabin, while privately owned, is surrounded by a different private cattle ranch which has been in the area for years. We could see that the owners were trying to keep the walls intact with adobe/concrete supports on the walls - but time - and people - have led to the ultimate demise of this once gorgeous cabin in the Weaver Mountains. The history on the actual cabin is muddled, but it is said that there used to be a concrete marker above the door that read "Isabella - 1875." I don't recall this marker, but when I last visited this cabin in the mid 1990's, the walls were still standing and there was still a floor (with the trap door even!). All of that has since been destroyed - even as early as 2008 the front wall with the doorway was fallen...
Windmill along the way somewhere...I love old windmills - this one wasn't working
BUT - there was more to see, and more to do - so off we went. Back up to Walnut Grove to see if we could check out the cemetery (we couldn't, the road was closed with a locked gate), and we stopped at the Walnut Grove church and school house.
Walnut Grove Church - note the old bell out front
Walnut Grove has a very sad history. In 1888 a dam was completed across the Hassayampa River 60 miles north of Wickenberg. A lovely, two mile long lake was created, however, the people creating the dam wanted to cut corners, and ultimately, the culmination of multiple corners being cut as well as unusually heavy amounts of snow and rain in 1889 and 1890 led to the extreme swelling of the Hassayampa River. In the late hours of February 21st and the early hours of February 22nd, 1890, the dam's controller knew it wasn't going to hold. A man was sent off to warn everyone of the impending danger, but unfortunately, the man chose to stop and buy a bottle of whiskey instead, and sent someone else - but it was too late. At 2 a.m. on the morning of February 22, 1890, the dam gave way with a sound said to be louder than that of Niagara Falls, and a 100 foot high wall of water went roaring down the Hassayampa River. In less than 30 minutes, the water reached a smaller dam 20 miles downstream, which could not hold the rush of water. When the water hit Wickenburg 60 miles downstream, after killing many and leaving a barren path behind it, the wall of water was said to still be 40 feet tall, and a channel was cut in the path of the Hassayampa all the way to to where it empties into the Gila River in the Phoenix valley. at 9:30 a.m., the water reached the Buckeye Canal just west of Phoenix proper, and spread out over the valley.
Walnut Grove one room schoolhouse and swingset
It is thought that more than 100 people perished in this flood. People who perhaps could have been saved except for a man and a bottle of whiskey. The man was eventually charged with manslaughter, but got off because the laws of the time did not address manslaughter through negligence. He could not, however, remain in Walnut Grove or any surrounding areas...for obvious reasons. The Walnut Grove dam disaster is considered the worst natural disaster in Arizona...
Historic Hassayampa River Bridge
After a quick stop at the church and school house (which is not currently in use as they encourage home schooling and a virtual academy due to the rural nature of the area), we made some of Paul's new favorite Death Wish coffee and decided to head up to the P-Bar Camp. We passed over the historic Hassayampa Bridge on the way - the bridge was constructed in 1924. It is the only wagon bridge in the state of Arizona that combines through and pony truss spans, and is essentially in an unaltered condition due to the remote area, and is considered to be a significant remnant of early Arizona bridge construction. In 1979, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lewis & Clark at the P-Bar Camp barn - which is inhabited by squirrels!
The ride to P-Bar Camp was uneventful. We were amused by the fact that there are signs on the way there - but it is in a VERY remote area of the Bradshaws and we didn't see a soul the entire way up there or back...
The beautiful fireplace in the field by the brick home at P-Bar Camp - note someone has shored up the chimney with concrete
I have no history on the P-Bar Camp. I've tried and tried to find some, but it is on Prescott National Forest land, and therefore the history of leasing, etc., is difficult, at best, to discover. I would likely need to find a park ranger - but we saw nobody.
P-Bar Camp brick and concrete home with the barn in the background
Front of the squirrel infested barn
It had a one-holer!
It had been raining up until this point, and then it started snowing - which we were thrilled about. Occasional little balls of snow, possibly hail, would bounce on the hood of the truck - and we were trying to stay dry while exploring, but the rain and snow made the wood of the barn look amazing - and showed us why the concrete and brick home was so damaged - the roof had caved in - probably from water on the roof - but every room was damaged. But this was such a beautiful setting - I could absolutely imagine living here. There must have been another building at one point - there is a beautifully masoned stone fireplace just standing in the middle of a field...with another fireplace directly across from it. But I cannot see that there was one in the last 20 or so years - at least not according to Google Earth.
The kitchen of the brick and concrete house at P-Bar - it was the nicest room. Tons of black mold...
But the time had come to head out and to our next destination - Baldwin Place. We past some amazingly large ranches (specifically, McNary Place) - one has to wonder about these places - these people are 50-100 miles away from anything...but are living their best lives. Cowboys, ranchers, and, I assume, their spouses and children. Living a way of life that generations before them have lived...
And then we stumbled on Baldwin Place. Baldwin Place IS on private property. I want to make that clear. There is a Forest Service or BLM fence up in front of the private fence - and we did not enter the house. But again, a beautiful valley with a beautiful wood sided building and some old abandoned vehicles too! As at P-Bar Camp, I have no history on the Baldwin Place. There is a darling tree house as well - and looks to have been a wonderfully delightful place to grow up as a child...
Old Treehouse at Baldwin Place
Old house at Baldwin Place
An old 1940's era White dump truck
As we left Baldwin Place, the sleet/snow really started coming down. We were now on the trek up from the valley up to the Senator Highway - so we knew it would get colder, and due to the cloud cover, we would likely be getting more snow. It started out as a beautiful drive. But by the time we reached our next WayPoint, the Trails End Mine, the snow had gotten much worse, and the clouds were sitting thick on the mountains. It looked like something out of a horror film.
Prickly pear cactus in the snow
In the middle of nowhere - the satellite radio was looking for us...muwahahahaha
The Trails End Mine is part of the Prescott National Forest, and is not currently operating. It is a Gold and silver mine and appears to have been last operated in or around 2018. It is obviously a newer mine, but we couldn't see much - the clouds were sitting so low - it looked really creepy - like something out of a horror story!! There was an adit and some random equipment. I have no idea if Paul went in the adit or not - it was cold, so I got back in the truck!
Trails End Mine Shaft and Hoist
Trails End Mine Adit
Trails End Mine - Ghostly Equipment
Bobbi Jo hanging out in the Lewis & Clark - where it was warm!
When we left the Trails End Mine, we started heading up towards the Senator Highway to a point on the 82A where we had already been some months before when we attempted to go to the Eloise Mine. But we were the first ones to crunch through this newly fallen snow, and it was beautiful - especially when the clouds lifted and it was just 3-4 inches of fresh snow. We could barely see the trail - but we enjoyed the quiet of the snowfall and the forest.
As we got closer to Palace Station, our waypoint on the Senator Highway, we were startled by a red tail hawk struggling, low to the ground, that suddenly dropped what it had in its claws and flew up into the tree next to us. We jammed on the brakes and realized he had just caught himself a squirrel - the blood and tracks from the fight were just in front of us in the bright white snow of the trail - and now the carcass of the squirrel was lying just in front of us while the hawk eyed us from a close tree. He was beautiful, but we didn't stick around too long as we wanted him to be able to retrieve his meal and finish it while it was still warm - but what an amazing thing to see - a once in a lifetime sort of moment to watch nature at her finest...doing what nature does!
Note the dead squirrel lying in front of the truck in the white snow. We had backed up at this point (hence the tracks) Palace Station is straight ahead of us
The red tailed hawk waiting for us to leave him to his meal...
When we turned on to the Senator Highway, the snow got much deeper - and the longer we drove, the deeper it got. This is the Bradshaw Mountains at their most beautiful - evergreen pine trees and snow - a more beautiful setting in Arizona there is not - the closest thing I can think of to Colorado and the Rockies!
The Senator Highway outside of Prescott - covered in 6-8 inches of snow
As we drove into Prescott, the snow started to dissipate. It was clear it hadn't snowed as much in Prescott as it had in the mountains - but it was still crisp and cold - and we had a fun night ahead of us at the Hotel Vendome - we were staying in the haunted room!
Hotel Vendome
I've stayed at the Hotel Vendome a few times - and always in the haunted room. Abby Byr purchased the Hotel Vendome (built in 1917) in 1921 with her husband. Abby had traveled to Prescott for treatment of her consumption, as many people did back in the 20's and 30's. The Byr's had to sell the hotel due to unpaid taxes, however, the new owners were kind enough to let the Byr's stay on and manage the hotel for them. One night, Abby's husband went out for medication, and never returned. Abby was heartbroken and refused to eat. She locked herself in her room with her cat Noble and they both died of starvation in room 16. Abby is said to haunt room 16, as is her cat Noble.
Abby and Noble's Room - Room 16
Paul and I quickly dropped off our stuff and decided to go get his birthday dinner over at Murphy's, as they have been closing early since Covid hit. So off we went for escargot, filets and delicious drinks! We then drove around looking at some of the old Victorian houses in and around downtown Prescott and watching the absolutely stunning sunset. After a bit, we decided it was time to turn in and see if Abby or Noble would make their presence known.
Lewis & Clark getting snowed on at Murphy's in downtown Prescott
Old Victorian homes in downtown Prescott, AZ
As I stated above, I've stayed at the Hotel Vendome several times - and always in Abby's room. But I've never experienced Abby or Noble. They have recently renovated the Hotel, and Abby's room is lovely now - and feels much more spacious. The bed was relatively comfortable, and we watched some TV, then Paul dozed off. I, on the other hand, did not sleep quite as well. Around midnight, I woke up to a cat crying to get in. I remember thinking how cold it was and how sad that there was a cat outside in the below-freezing temperatures. But then I drifted off to sleep after about 5 minutes of listening to it cry...
Downtown Prescott and the beautiful sunset!
The next morning I asked Paul if he heard the cat. He did not. And he didn't understand how I would have heard a cat either - we are on the second floor, and he said there was no way there would have been a cat outside at midnight crying to get in. Paul is certain I heard Noble. I don't know...but it was weird. The lady at the front desk said she's never seen a cat around the hotel, so she also is certain I heard Noble.
Yarnell Hotshots Memorial
Yarnell Hotshots Memorial
Either way, after a night at the Hotel Vendome, we were off - fortified with a glorious breakfast of bacon, eggs, pancakes and hashbrowns from Prescott Junction (amazing food, by the way), we went over to the Prescott Pioneer cemetery to pay our respects to the Yarnell Hotshots. Then we jumped back on the 89A to head down towards Congress and the beginning of our journey. We had one last stop we wanted to make - not having any idea the tragic story that was going to be discovered after...
Skull Rock
As we wound our way down the mountains and passed the Yarnell Hotshots hiking spot, as well as our turn off on Wagoner Road, we enjoyed the sun and the cool weather. We turned off just before we reached Congress, AZ on the 62/Date Creek Road. We were in search of a toppled crane I had seen several time on Facebook. We passed the infamous skull rock, and turned off and headed into the Date Creek Mountains. The Date Creek Mountains are full of more stunning views - large boulders making up the landscape. It reminded me of Pyornkrachzark, the rock chewer in The Neverending Story - I kept waiting for them to rise up and become entities...
Date Creek Mountains by Congress, AZ
We finally made our way to the fallen crane. And we discovered a memorial cross. At the time, we had no knowledge of the horrific accident that had occurred there. In 2011, a young man of 26 was backing a Rough Terrain crane down the side of this mountain, boom extended. The crane fell over on the side with the cab containing the young man under it. It took the rescue crews 6 hours to extricate him from the wreck, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Looking at the one photograph we have seen from the accident to the photos we took ourselves, nothing has been moved since the accident. The crane is still lying in the lifted position - the hooks and cables used to lift the crane up to extricate the young man are still lying on the ground.
In memoriam...2011
The unfortunate crane accident
I have found one account of what happened on this mountain that day - and it isn't much. It doesn't even tell us who the young man is. Just his age. It made for a quiet trip down to Congress and the old cemeteries there knowing what had occurred up on that mountain in 2011...
Paul and his baby - the Lewis & Clark
We stopped on our way out of the Date Creek Mountains to flex the Lewis & Clark a bit - and then headed over to check out the old Pioneer Cemetery and old mine works at Congress. I've never been able to get in to the old Congress Mine Workings - although I'm dying to - but one can see them from the Pioneer Cemetery - which I've been to tons of times.
Old Congress Mine Workings - fenced off
My favorite grave at the Pioneer Cemetery in Congress
I took pictures of my favorite grave at the Pioneer Cemetery - a grave I've been photographing for several decades. It never changes. It still has shingles on the top of each post - and no headstone. I don't know who is buried here, but I've loved the grave since I first found it in the 1990's.
The weekend was too short - but filled with adventure and fun - exploring places that neither Paul nor I had been to with just a couple of exceptions. And in the Bradshaws no less - mountains that both Paul and I are extremely familiar with. And there is still so much to explore...
The Senator Highway in the Bradshaw Mountains in all its majestic beauty.
