Camp Date Creek, Congress, Az

  40miles
   We rode out of Congress, past Indian House Rock, around to the northwest. The trail is at the base of the mountains on the desert floor. Then it rises on an old road to the top of the mountain pass, what a wonderful view from there. At the top the road forks, the right goes back towards Congress and the left trail heads toward the old Camp Date Creek. The only remains are some foundations, a flattened parade area. You will also find a canyon of lava rock with the creek running at the bottom and a few minnows!

Camp Date Creek was a small post who's purpose was to guard the road between Prescott and Ehrenburg between 1868 and 1874. There were two companies of the 14th infantry stationed here and rumor has it they spent more time fixing the buildings than chasing Indians. They also prospected in their spare time and were instrumental in starting the Martinez district.
Eggs cost $2.50 a dozen, and kerosene five dollars a galloon. Just prior to Mrs. Boyd’s arrival kerosene had been $11.00 a gallon. Flour, which was priced at $5.00 a barrel in San Francisco, could be secured from Prescott at $25.00 a barrel. Oranges, available from peddlers, were $.25 apiece.

On the return trip, we check out some old mines, saw a few cattle and watched the air force practice flight with flares. There were many flowers blooming and the large rocks in this valley are beautiful We found fingers mountain and saw some large boulders which have rolled down the mountain.

Congress, Arizona

   We took a ride up the Hassayampa River to see Jim Fox, Hassayampa Jim, (he is on the internet), our group shared our lunch with him and he told us stories and how he manages out there in the middle of nowhere. He has a generator for this satellite tv and radio. In the winter he has folks stopping by on their atv's and brings him the Pepsi he likes! The river had some water in the one spot for 1 mile. We went past the Box Canyon.

March 3-5th 2014  The Dirt Devils came to town for our group ride. The first day we went to Indian rock, North of Congress. Day 2 we drove to Stanton to see the old mining town from 1886, gold was laying on the ground as big as potatoes. Up the old Stage coach road to Yarnell. This is the town that burned June 2013, and 19 men lost their lives fighting the forest fire. We toured the famous St Joseph Shrine, which was slightly burned by the fire. Came back thru the old deserted town of Weaver, but the cemetery is still there.

Day 3 we went to the Hassayampa River to the Box Canyon, where we found some old foundations at the base of huge Salt Cedar Trees. We drove up the River, where you can actually fine a small amount of water. Majority of time the river is dry, except this one area. We cut cross country on one of the many trails back to North Ranch Campground near Congress, Az.