A Touch of Fall

As we loaded up the Pioneer with supplies, the air had already taken on a chill I hadn't felt for months. We were taking my second youngest niece on her very 1st ride... and we got a late start as well, but that's Okay. We didn't want to venture too far from the staging area...lest she decide off-roading is not her thing, mid-flight.

I decided we would ride around the Mt Union area and take in the scent of pines, stop for "adventure" breaks for the kids, and just generally not get too caught up in racking up miles just for the sake of riding. Sometimes its nice just to sit and enjoy the back country. So we left the vehicle and headed up Senator highway for some recreational trail riding.

I really love this area. History is around every turn, with old mines dotting topo maps, and the remains of more than a century of back-breaking effort to extract the mineral wealth from the area. It's also home to some truly expensive real estate and homes.

Old mines. This area is littered with them.

After climbing Senator hwy to its' split with Poland road, we take a right and continue on Senator...but our trip will make a loop and bring us back to the same spot via Poland road. Shortly thereafter is a right turn on Golden Eagle rd and another turn left on FS81.

This road runs out a ridge line to the south-east for a few miles. The 1st few are shaded by heavy pine cover and the blanket of needles that accompany them. A strange site in a state defined by harsh deserts in the minds of most people...but not uncommon, actually.

Later on, the mountains become barren and much evidence of wind storms and wood harvesting is encountered. Recent rains have caused a much thicker and greener than usual undergrowth..and this spot could be mistaken for a number of areas back home in NC.
Eventually, this trail turns into single track for 2 wheeled transport. Turns out this area ( the Bradshaw mountains ) is littered with miles of ST, and they represent what must be the oldest trails in the area NOT made for horses or wagons. Reading some of the posts at ADVRider will reveal the depth of these trails, and the few hardcore souls who keep them alive. Trail history? Fascinating!

Pioneer, just yards from being about 40" too wide to continue.

After taking in the sights for a time, we reverse course back to Senator hwy and head on to Palace station and over the ridge past the long-departed Goodwin town-site where the road from Mayer joins. Another break for lunch for my new favorite trail food...cold spaghetti and meat-balls from Mr Boyardee. We spend some time here just letting the kids explore and play in Turkey creek. Remnants of mining exist all around us...both old and new.

This is about as far from the vehicle as we should go today, so we head back up Senator to a lesser used side trail marked as 9404* ( * various letters ). Unlike Senator hwy, this is a real trail that goes down to Turkey creek and follows its' drainage to the north. SxS width just before the creek thanks to erosion. ATV width in another 5-10 years...unless some roadwork happens. This trail is narrow and rutted while climbing across a ridge and into a long flat basin.This area looked to have been cleared and planted at some point. Rock walls also line one of the pastures along with remnants of barbed wire, flanked to the north by a small creek.

Lots of work.

Again, we let the kids explore for a while, climbing rock walls, picking flowers, fighting dragons. I went down to the trail to take a photo back into the field and pondered the scene. Old works in an ancient land, slowly being erased by the passage of time.
I grew curious about this area and the obvious work that went on here, and discovered that this was the site of the Dandrea Ranch with orchards...and apparently some ruins that I haven't yet seen. Road trip!
Also...that creek apparently has mercury in it!

Somewhere this trail turns into FS 706 and comes out in an area known as "5 points" where you can choose various directions and head for Walker, Poland, or Big Bug mesa. 5 Points is a saddle where you can look north and south for several miles.
I wanted to scout towards Walker road since maps show a trail heading over Union Mt from it. I had only been this way once in a Jeep 3-4 years ago...but any trail was long gone. This road looks to have been widened in the last decade or so, and that probably wiped out what was an older trail. The area towards Walker is much like Senator...home to summer homes for the wealthy.

So back to the 5 points for out last break. By this time the sun had disappeared behind Union and the temps were dropping fast. Enough that we regretted not bringing coats. Fortunately, I always keep some clothes in my gear so the kids were kept warm at least.

The nip in the air was unmistakable: fall is coming. Shadows grow long sooner. Leaves change. Wood smoke drifts over the hills. Time to trade those shorts for a warm jacket, and that string trimmer for a chainsaw.
Up FS 261 we head as the sun fades...but leaves orange hues on the lower Bradshaw's for the moment. I take in this view during an emergency potty break for the kids. As we load them back up, a strange noise in the distance grows closer and it takes me a few moments to identify. The coyote's are on the hunt...their eerie cries echoing off the canyons as I fire up the Pioneer and chug up Union mt and across to Senator hwy where the real cold hits.
Around the switchbacks as who knows what looks on from the darkness. Back to the vehicle. Another successful adventure for all including my niece, who had a blast.

Temps would warm back up, so our taste was brief. But it will hit again soon, and I hope I will be out in the middle of nowhere to enjoy it.