The plan for this year's Veteran's Day was for the Tuff Writer crew to go 4Wheeling. Peachy, Joe and myself we in. Chris was somehow convinced that he had class (he didn't and was proven wrong when he showed up for class only to realize that school was closed and no one as there) and couldn't make it. I did ask the usual suspects (Jeyr and Dave) but they had work (suckers). This meant that is was going to be the three of us in two rigs. That plan worked for me.
Peachy was busy working on the new ads for DuPont Registry, FMG and RECOIL Magazine so trail selection fell to Joe and myself. After looking over the Wells book and numerous other trails we've been eyeing we ran across a little known trail called Asbestos Point (named after the abandoned asbestos mines). I could only find limited references to it online but the few pictures I did see looked promising. This wasn't the usual desert trail but more of a wooded forrest road. Joe said this was it and so we tacked down some GPS coordinates and broke out the TOPO maps.
We left at 8AM and headed out for Globe. Now, the drive to Globe via I-60 is excellent. As it turns from a freeway to a divided highway and gains altitude through the mountains you begin to see trees and forrest. This is a wonderful drive and I used to ride it on my motorcycle back in my impetuous youth. Now that I'm older and wiser, I take the Jeep. On the way we stopped by the town of Miami for some fuel and hit the local Taco Bell for some grilled chicken goodness (I haven't had Taco Bell in years but it's not as bad as I remember). We then turned north for 20-odd miles and finally east for another 17 or so miles via Highway 288. This was an eerie trip since we didn't see a single vehicle from the time we turned north until we were nearly to the trail head (a lone woman in a Tacoma, who refused to even look at us, returning from what we imagined was burying her now ex-husband's body).
Over the river first and only then through the woods:
We did stop at a vista point just short of the trail head to admire the stunning vistas:
One we got to the start of the trail we aired down and enjoyed a few minutes in the cool winter air.
The trail had a rustic quality with winter shadows falling across the dirt and rocks. The ever changing fall colors added a richness to the scene while the evergreens filled the air with their scent. It was truly a sight to behold:
The fall colors were bright and a real treat for those of us who don't always get to see them:
Joe's rig, occasionally out matched on the lower desert rock-crawling trips we sometimes ask of it, looked perfectly at home in this landscape and threaded easily between the tree trunks and boulders which littered the route:
As we continued on the trail grew rutted quickly and we could see boulders and fallen trees along the side of the trail:
The further we went the rougher the going. As we ascended the rocks grow into boulders and grew ever present beneath our wheels:
Recent rains must have softened the soil and caused a good degree of erosion. In addition the rocks being more pronounced we saw more and more trees in our path (both fallen, cleared and in a state of suspension above the trail). One large trunk was precariously suspended above the trail by a much smaller tree:
The trail grew more littered the higher we went:
This continued until we finally ran across a massive tree suspended securely above the trail. This giant trunk was a gatekeeper of sorts under which out rigs had to limbo:
The Short JK had about 4 inches to spare and the 4Runner not much more (missed by thiiiiiiis much):
The wooden path got progressively rockier the closer we got to the summit but we didn't run across anything we weren't able to overcome:
We passed by "the ovens" and stopped by for a picture:
Once at the top we were rewarded by a spectacular view:
As well as some rusted out old mining equipment:
Peachy looking adorable in her flannel:
At this point we decided to park the rigs and hike a bit. As we walked the outside of the mountain we noticed various mine openings:
Joe insisted we do a little light exploring so I followed while Peachy waited outside (I stayed a few feet in case something collapsed and I had to pull Joe out by his legs):
We ventured in a few hundred feet to a larger opening which split off into other smaller tunnels but I wasn't interested in losing sight of the main entrance we came in through.
After some further hiking we ran into what would have been, in the rigs, and insurmountable outcropping of large boulders. These appeared to be places specifically to prevent anyone from driving further in the middle of the trail and so we turned around.
We did procees down another trail until we finally hit a circular summit:
From here it was all downhill as we turned back around and started our measured descent. Down is always easier (gravity means you're going to make it down, the only question when you're 4Wheeling is in what shape you'll be in when you get there) than up although sometimes more dangerous. In this case it was a simple affair of re-tracing our steps and we enjoyed being able to go through the woods once more.
What can I say? This was one of the most beautiful trails I've ever been on. The weather was near perfect, the scenery amazing and the trail itself had a little bit of everything. I'm amazed so few people know about it. Joe's determined to come back for an overnight camping trip and wants to explore some of the other trails which litter the area.
Me? I couldn't this of a better way to spend the day off. Damn, it's good to be alive.
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