April 9, 2008 Yellowjacket Well to Freeman Rd.

These next few days are difficult to describe as to their location, except to say that the Trail goes north from Oracle and on to the Gila River where it crosses at the tiny town of Kelvin . Kelvin is a few miles downstream from Kearney .



Our camp at Yellowjacket Well in Bloodsucker Wash .

This gate (so much character !) is downwash from Yellowjacket Well

After about 2 miles,down the wash, we were looking along the left side of the wash for the trail out of the wash and found it just past a rocky outcropping covered with sahuaro cacti . Large cairns made the trail easy to see .

Following 2 track roads and single track trail the route meanders over nice desert country; and then suddenly you are looking down on the quintessential western windmill scene: Beehive Well .
Picture a canyon about a quarter of a mile wide with walls 150 feet high . In this little canyon is a windmill and a huge, 60' diameter, open topped water storage tank . And corrals, and a small shed . And it is all old . Mature mesquite trees and palo verde trees line the canyon floor .

Up canyon a short way and the trail climbs out onto a ridge . Gently switchbacking and following the grades, the trail winds it's way north toward the dominant landmark in this area; Antelope Peak .

Antelope Tank; the only water we saw on this section .