May 11, '08 Twin Buttes TH to Pine TH

(Click on photos to enlarge them .)

Not much to say about this segment; a lot of flat, rocky road through a pinyon - juniper forest . I did see a few deer .

Going down into Oak Spring Canyon was interesting . The trail was steep, but not dangerous . The vegetation changed to oak trees, and then cottonwoods and sycamores in the bottom . Near the bottom of the canyon was a small meadow .

Billy enjoyed the grass in the meadow .



At the bottom of the canyon

The riparian area of Oak Spring

An old water trough at Oak Spring

Climbing out of Oak Spring Canyon we saw a few more deer .

A mile or two after leaving the canyon the trail comes onto an old, unused road and passes a water pond .

No water in Pine Creek .

Now close to Pine, there are some residences near the trail .

Cross AZ Highway 87 and within 1/2 mile we were at Pine TH .



Reaching Pine TH comes to where Debbie Zinkl and I started riding last summer on our ride from Pine to Flagstaff . That adventure is also in the blog; look for Debbie's name in the blog list .

May 10, '08 Doll Baby TH to Twin Buttes TH / Hardscrabble Mesadscrabbl

(Click on a photo to enlarge it .)

Our camp was very near the East Verde River . Mature cottonwood trees and walnut trees gave much, cool shade ! But there were annoying gnats . Dick pulled his T-shirt up over his head so that his face was looking out the neck hole . Looked funny but was effective, so I did it too .

We could hear the gurgle of the shallow "river"; it was about ankle deep to knee deep .

East Verde River

the "river"

The first few miles of this segment follows a road into the LF Ranch; a ranch inside the Matzatzal Wilderness . The road climbs over a ridge where, from the top, it is possible to see the ranch to the west, and our camp from last night to the east .

LF Ranch

Looking back east toward last night's camp

First look at the LF

Looked to be an old ranch; wish I knew some of it's history ....



There were about a half dozen horses and a half dozen mules in the corral .
(enlarge this and read the sign .)



They were very curious about us too .


East Verde river crossing at the LF Ranch


Looking back across the river toward the LF Ranch


Gate into Polk Spring

Polk Spring is in a hilly country of ocotillos, prickly pear cactus, and juniper trees . Seeing a spring in such country was quite a surprise . Another surprise here, was a jungle of fig trees ! But the biggest surprise was ........ rose bushes, big ones !

Rose bushes at Polk Spring



Roses at Polk Spring . I wonder what the history is about this place ...?
A woman must have lived here; but I saw no remaining evidence of a house, or any structure .



A last look back at the LF Ranch and the Matzatzal Mountains .



Whiterock Spring, at the base of Whiterock Mesa



Beautiful, clear water at Whiterock Spring


These oddly shaped rocks on Whiterock Mesa looked like bones .



A cairn of "bone rocks"



They don't call it Hardscrabble Mesa for nothing ! *#~/^`* !!





Twin Buttes TH on Hardscrabble Mesa
This was the best, and only, shade tree anywhere nearby .



Jane found an elk legbone while waiting for Billy and me to get into camp .



Billy DESERVED a treat after all those *^#~/` rocks


This young bull wanted Billy's hay .


But "Matador Ricardo" drove him away .

Right after this photo, the bull attacked the small bush you can see behind Dick . While continuously sounding a low , rumbling bawl, he butted and pawed the bush to nothing left of it .

He never came back .