ATV 19

So there we are going for a nice ride up to Lynx Lake. I must admit it has been a few years since I ventured into Prescott and a million years since I was at Lynx Lake. Holy smokes I couldn’t believe my eyes. I heard the California crowd was heading to Prescott but they brought their bulldozers with them! The town is about ruined.

They even bulldozed a side of a mountain to put in a KIA dealership, imagine the view that big red sign provides. After making our through thick traffic including BMW SUV’s we turned to Lynx Lake,,, but Lynx lake was all paved. We went down the road for several miles and it was all paved ????? After finally getting frustrated we left and tried the other side of town off 89. I know of several places we could camp in the thick Ponderosa Forest, but that was then. It was all new houses. The part of the forest that didn’t burn they cut down. What a shame.

(Left)As we got several miles from town on our way to Yarnell we pulled over. As luck would have it we stopped almost directly across from a forest road. This is the best we have seen all day. Several of the trails faded away or became difficult, but a few of the trails were what we wanted! Finding the underpass was a bonus and took use to some fairly good trails.

OK, This is not perfect but the wife is smiling. This isn’t the thick Ponderosa Pine Forest we had in mind but it will due and best of all “no one is here”. The tree(below) is 3 pictures spliced together. Why would someone dig a mine shaft under a tree ? It almost looked like a bear den ?,,, no, someone dug through rock.

This is a horizontal tunnel it only looks vertical due to the pile of tailing to block the entrance. Sure looks like some hard going trying to tunnel through that rock.

Many of the roads in this area were nice to ride on. I wasn’t prepared to do this area so I had no maps and had no idea how far they went.

No matter what, coming this way gave use a chance to go down Yarnell Hill. I think it has been many years since I have been this way and even more for the wife, possibly 30 years? In my younger days I would race up and down this hill in the dark with my Harley. If you weren’t getting sparks from your pipes dragging you weren’t going fast enough. I guess this was before I became responsible. (LOL) I think that even a trip over here to just see the mountain would have been worth it. I had to keep telling myself that I had a trailer behind us, ,,, or the wife would remind me.

Looking on a map this area was just N-E of Wilhoit. It wasn’t the greatest but it sure tickles my interest in looking at some of the other trails in this area. I see many possibilities for future rides. I just can’t see that the roads go anywhere ,,, or maybe they do and no one knows it,,, yet. I have never heard anyone talk about this area.
The shortest way home should be through Yarnell at the top of the hill and Congress at the bottom. At the top of Yarnell Hill is this wonderful overlook. I wish I had brought my really good camera.

The trip to and from your ATV ride is still part of your ride ,,, enjoy it.

The worst day ATVing is better than the best day sitting on the couch waiting and waiting and waiting………….