On April 9 we took friends Rosa and Lindsey Ashby on a Jeepers Creepers run to Harquahala Peak. It is the highest mountain in the southwest quarter of Arizona at 5600 ft. Nancy and Jerry Grout were able to join us. The road is 10miles long, one way, and the same road must be taken to get back down the mountain. As with many 4 wd roads, this one has deteriorated since the last time I drove it at least 4 years ago.
Left to right, Jerry and Nancy Grout, Jo, Rosa and Lindsey Ashby at the sign at the bottom of the road. Nearby is a trail head with a privy and picnic tables.
This shot was taken in my old Canon A1100 IS and is the last one it will take. Bouncing around in its case on the floor of the Jeep while climbing the mountain must have caused the lens to stop telescoping out when turned on. The 1100 IS is a model first made in 2009, so I have had years of use from it. The rest of the shots are in my cell phone.
View from one of the parking lots at the top. We usually use the lower one for Jeepers Creepers lunch stops.
The Grouts turned around at the most challenging spot in the road and returned to the lower country. Our Jeep spun its wheels there as well, but I was able to find another route over the obstacle.
The Central Arizona Project built this array of solar panels to produce electricity for its communication system.
Above and below are shots looking west and southwest.
The metal structure encloses the modest building built for the Smithsonian Institution employees living quarters while making solar observations from the peak from 1920 to 1925. Everything had to be hauled, except what little rain water could be caught from the roof for the cistern.
It is too bad that the explanatory signs on the posts are all gone now, so new visitors will not be able to read the story of the solar observatory.
Laura and daughter Katie at the dinner celebrating Katie’s 21st birthday held at Buca di Beppo restaurant.
From left to right – me, Jo, Mike Williams, Barbara Williams (Katie’s grandmother) Laura, Katie and Jeff Clyde.)
No comments:
Post a Comment