The other back way to Crown King, AZ. - 22 Jan 11

[crawler#976]

Where:

Wagoner Road off Hwy 89 to FS 362 (Minnehaha Mine Rd), and into CK via the Senator Hwy.

Trail conditions:

High clearance 4x4 required on FS 362, and deep snow may be present on the Senator Hwy. The last time I took FS 362 up to Minnehaha, it was a challenging route on the lower end due to washouts and boulders. We may or may not make it to CK if it snows heavily between now and then, or if the Hasayampa River is up.

Recomendations:

Tacoma/Jeep sized rigs:
33" tires, rear locker, skid plates, sliders, and recovery equipment.

This will be much more challenging for full sized rigs due to the creek section. I'd like to see the same equipment as above, and understand there is the potential for bent metal. I'll be in a Power Wagon on 35's.

These may seem extreme to some, but I'd rather everyone be over built than do damage to there rig...

Meeting point(s):

Prescott area
9:00 AM - depart at 9:15 AM
Safeway450 White Spar Road
Prescott, AZ 86303

Hwy 89 and Wagoner Rd.
(approx 25 miles south of downtown Prescott on Hwy 89)
9:45 AM - depart 10:00 AM

Figure on a full day, w/ dinner in CK.

Comms: 2 meter FWD 2 (146.46)

Historical info:

We'll be heading up to Minnehaha and Minnehaha Flat.

1892 news clippings from Phoenix Arizona REPUBLICAN

May 26, 1892

Fred Miller and James Daly, who have been working on a small scale on the Little Mint Mine in Minnehaha Flat near Bayard* Post Office came into the city yesterday with a gold nugget weighing thirty two ounces.

*Bayard G.L.O. Map 1892, Mining camp on Humbug creek near Wasson Peak. Named after James A. Bayard, Secretary of Territory, 1887. P.O. Established, May 25, 1888, William B. Long P.M. (Will C. Barnes Arizona Place Names)

Minnehaha G.L.O. Map 1921

In T. 10 N., R. 1 W. Mining camp on Minnehaha Flat. The Minnehaha Mine is listed, 1878, in Hinton's Hand Book, Town and flat named after the mine. P.O. established June 21, 1880, Charles Taylor, Post Master. (Will C. Barnes Arizona Place Names)

We have little historical facts on Minnehaha Flats other than general writing's but Minnehaha Flats looks to be one of four cities for the workers of the mines in and about the area. It was written that there was a ranch here in Minnehaha Flat and would very likely been located at or very near Minnehaha Spring and there was water at Lapham Well a short distance to the south.

 

[toddz69]

Hope to join you on this trip, Mark.

Todd Z.

 

[1leglance]

This sounds like a good time, I am going to add it to the list but I can't say for sure yet...
I do know if you are leading Mark then we will get some great history and fun times.

 

[theksmith]

please add me to the list, thanks!

 

[SilverBullet]

Not certain yet but it is on the calendar

 

[crawler#976]

http://www.apcrp.org/Wagoner/Wagoner_Text_122307.htm

We'll go past Wagoner and Walnut Grove along the way.

Nuther interesting tidbit:

Those of you that have gone on the DeSoto Mine trail run have heard me speak about the Battle Flat fight. The tough shot up SOB's that walked barefoot to get help went to Walnut Grove. We'll go thru the same area they did, and it will turn your stomach to see what kind of terrain they went over.

Fish's manuscript gives the following account of the fight with the Indians, known as the “Battle Flat” fight. Fish says that this account was taken from a manuscript shown him by Judge Brooks in Prescott in 1900, giving the whole details of the fight. It varies somewhat from the account given by Hamilton in his work, “The Resources of Arizona,” and I am of the opinion that it is the true version, for the reason that it was taken from an original manuscript owned by Judge Brooks, whom all settlers in Prescott will remember as reliable in all respects. The account is as follows:

“In the latter part of May, 1864, Stewart Wall, Frank Binckley, DeMorgan Scott, Samuel Herron and Fred Henry, started from Walnut Grove on a prospecting trip. They took three pack animals and a good supply of provisions. They took their time passing the Hassayampa and Turkey Creek, and camped on the 2nd of June on what has since been known as ‘Battle Flat.’ About two hours before daylight the next morning they were attacked by a large body of Indians. The Indians would, doubtless, have waited until daylight, but one of the boys raising up, led them to believe that they were getting up. Every man was wounded and two of the horses killed before daylight. There was a continuous shower of arrows coming from the enemy, who were all around in fearful odds, and the boys were driven from their camp, taking up their position some three hundred yards away where they were still surrounded by the foe. The Indians took possession of the camp and made a breakfast upon the two dead horses. The boys found themselves in a terrible condition—all wounded and some of them in a frightful manner. Henry was wounded in the arm, but his legs were all right, so it was decided that he should break through the enemy's line and go for help. He took Frank Binckley, who had a ball through the bridge of his nose which drove a bone into an eye putting it out, with him. It was feared that Binckley would go insane if left. The two attempted, at about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, to crawl through the brush, but were soon discovered, and a running fight was then kept up for some distance. The men took a circuitous route to avoid being ambushed and to have the advantage in the ground. The party being aroused from their beds so suddenly, and in warm weather, had but little on, and these two wounded men made the run through the mountains from eleven a. m. until eight a. m. the next morning, barefooted. When they reached Walnut Grove a company of ten men soon started out and found the other boys, who had fought the Indians until in the forenoon, when the hostiles left, probably thinking that the game was not worth the cost. The boys were all taken in and all recovered but Sam Herron, who died nine days after.”

 

[1leglance]

Ha I knew there would be more cool stuff on this run....
I really want to get the wife & kids out on this one.
Or a new disabled participant, or both, who knows

 

[crawler#976]

Lance, I don't know if you've met Todd, but he's another Prescott local and AZ historian who has more info on this area than I do!

 

[toddz69]

Lance, I don't know if you've met Todd, but he's another Prescott local and AZ historian who has more info on this area than I do!

I'll point out the site of the Walnut Grove Dam on this trip along with a few other items that might be of interest. I've attached a couple of photos below to whet folks' appetites - two shots of the Lapham place at Minnehaha and a photo of the Button Mine.

Lance and I have been on several of your runs together, Mark and I bought a laptop from him a number of years ago.

One of my favorite areas.

Todd Z.

 

[crawler#976]

I have CRS...

:sombrero:

 

[zags]

I'll be in a Power Wagon on 35's.

A Dodge? :Wow1:

Would you be willing to take a greenhorn like me along?

 

[crawler#976]

Is this the Zags I knew from Kong's?

If so, you ain't no kanewbie...

...and you're welcome to come along in any circumstance :sombrero:

 

[zags]

Is this the Zags I knew from Kong's?

The one and only.....

I have been wanting explore that area for a long time. I am looking forward to having such a knowlagable guide.

 

[crawler#976]

Been a long time Zags!

Sold the '87 trail rig in '07, bought a Tacoma, built it, drove it for a couple years, sold it after buying the Power Wagon in '09. We wanted something bigger to travel in, and the PW fits the bill quite nicely.

 

[crawler#976]

The mountains got heavy snow last night. One of my buddies went in to CK via Goodwin yesterday afternoon, and reports the Senator Highway was getting pretty deep above 6000' by 5PM.

If we don't get anymore snow between now and the 22nd, we'll be OK. The road is on the south facing flank of mountains for the most part.

If if does snow more, we'll exit via Goodwin to Mayer.

The Snow Gage at White Horse Lake went from 2" yesterday morning to 25" at 7AM today! Guess that means the norther section of the GWT is done for the year...