Darren's Rides

Hassayampa River Preserve

Located at the Corner of Tegner (US-93) and Wickenburg Way (US-60)
This mesquite tree is over 200 years old and once served as the town jail

Hassayampa River Preserve

Headed to Hassayampa River Preserve outside Wickenburg Az on Thursday Nov. 12 2009 with Mike from Southwest Bikes. A special piece of Arizona’s natural environment is being protected and restored at the Hassayampa River Preserve near Wickenburg Az.

For most of its 100-mile course through the desert, the Hassayampa River flows only underground. But within the preserve its crystal clear waters emerge, flowing above ground throughout the year. This lush streamside habitat is home to some of the desert’s most spectacular wildlife. Yet many of them have become dangerously imperiled as riparian areas have disappeared from the Arizona landscape.

In the Sonoran Desert, riparian areas nourish cottonwood-willow forests, one of the rarest and most threatened forest types in North America. An estimated 90 percent of these critical wet landscapes have been lost, damaged or degraded in the last century. This loss threatens at least 80 percent of Arizona wildlife, which depend upon riparian habitats for survival.

For All Other Photos Of The Trip

Hassayampa River

The End..

Stanton, Arizona

Headed to Stanton Az with my Mom and Dad last Wednesday Nov. 11, 2009. My Dad seen a story in the paper one day telling about how it use to part of the old stage coach wrought with some old buildings. Once known as Antelope Station, Stanton experienced gold rush fever in 1863 in the form of a gold strike. What was once a stage stop transformed over night into a western boomtown thanks to its rather large deposits of gold. Located about twenty miles north of Wickenburg, Stanton is, today, part of an RV park, but still retains its ghostly allure for travelers in search of an authentic Arizona ghost town experience.

After Stanton we headed over to Congress Az for a bight to eat at the Congress Café the service sucked but the food was awesome.

Congress Az is another two building town two restaurants and a small general store. Congress Az is a gold-mining ghost town, now serves as a retirement and bedroom community for nearby Wickenburg. Gold was discovered at Congress in 1884. By 1893, the Santa Fe Railroad passed within three miles of the mine, at Congress Junction. Congress boomed, and remained prosperous until the mid-1930s, when the mines closed. Total gold production at the Congress mine exceeded $8 million, at the then-current price of $20.67 per ounce—or about $400 million, at the 2007 price.

A Windmill outside Stanton Az.

Old Rock building in Stanton Az

Directions To The Stanton Ghost Town.

From Phoenix. Take US 60 (Grand Avenue) Northeast to Wickenburg which is about 53 miles from Phoenix. At Wickenburg, take US 93 West to Arizona 89. Take Arizona Route 89 North. Turn right onto Stanton Road and travel about 15 miles to Stanton.

West Fork Trail Call Of The Canyon

Road Trip #-10 took us back to Call of the Canyon north of Sedona Az on 89-A on Oct. 29, 2009. Myself & Mike from the Southwest Bicycles headed back with me. We made it back to Call of the Canyon also known as the West Fork Trail a Wilderness area so no bikes aloud. It’s Thursday about 8:30am and there is two other cars in the parking lot. Not like last week on Wednesday when we couldn’t even get into the parking lot.

Check out the rest of the photos for Road Trip #-10 here:

Me and Mike started the hike back into West Fork Trail. The plan was to just hike all the way back as far as we could get then on the way back shoot photo‘s. Well that was the plan but as we headed back had to stop at the foot bridge to shoot photo’s. The bridge had a dusting of snow on it from the night before & also on the ferns around the area.

Came to the old Mayhew Lodge that once stood near the creek but not much standing now. Took some more but better photo’s of the old lodge and some video on the way out.

Mike setting up to shoot some photo's

So we hiked back in on West Fork trail as far as you could hike. Well I did I lost Mike some where on the trail heading out. Came to some spots that I had to stop where the creek was frozen over and where I found ice cycles hanging. I knew if I didn’t stop now that they night not be around on the return trip out.

Well I came to the end of the trail well the dry portion of the trail I should say. At the end I had to hike up the pant legs and wade through 1 to 2 feet of freezing cold creek water that was wall to wall may be 200 yards long. I mean the creek was cold enough to still have ice chunks floating in it. As I head further back came to some cool camping spot that was under a over rock hang. Also found this wall covered in mud that was built by birds for homes. The birds that build these home are the Cliff Swallow. I also found this cool black and red caterpillar a Pyrrharctia isabella. First time I have ever seen one this far south.

That's Me Darren.

Reminds me or looks like Fruity Pebbles cereal

The end of the dirt trail

Pyrrharctia isabella

Well the trail is starting to get harder to hike and know one really knows how far I am in. So I decided to head back and hook up with Mike. On the way in I took photo’s so on the way out I shoot some video of the trail and the old ranch. So made it out right before dark and heading home.