Eight members (Jeff Clyde, Jay and Diane Olson, Mike and Bill Carter, Duane Steen with guest Smiley, and Bill Strong) in 5 vehicles explored the Box Canyon area on a beautiful January day.
We had our coffee break at the city park in Florence AZ.
Jeff, our trail leader, disconnected his sway bars out on the trail. No one aired down. Our route paralleled the railroad tracks on the north side of the Gila river until we curved north to go through the lower Box Canyon. Sorry that I did not pause to get pictures in the narrow canyon. Lots of other folks were enjoying the area that day on quads, side-by-sides and Jeeps.
We turned right on the Martinez Cabin road and paused at a hillside with extra credit runs up a steep hill. Those with lockers went up easily. Those without did not try.
Here is the cheering section for those making the climb.
Next we headed up the wash on Jackhandle Road. It was a piece of cake, until we came around a curve to find this “waterfall”. No one attempted this one. There is a bypass for it.
We returned to the main road and found a good place to have lunch.
The next challenge was this “waterfall” on the main Box Canyon road. Several years ago I drove up this one in my stock Suzuki Vitara 4 dr. The road has deteriorated since then!
Mike Carter shows us how it is done – keep left!.
Jay needed a strap to get up, as did I for the second part. Duane made up up unassisted, and his did not have any locker. CONGRATULATIONS!
Here is the waterfall from the top.
We found evidence of mining along the route.
There is a small cemetery at Granny’s Pass.
We paused to look at some petroglyphs near the road explained in some signs.
Our last stop was on a side road leading to a small miner’s cabin. A mining location notice was on the cabin proclaiming it to be the Ajax mine.
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