Historical Riding and Recreation. Pondering Past Pioneers.

[100Acre]

Do you guys and girls ever immerse yourselves into the history of a particular area before or during it's exploration by you and from the pioneers of the past? Sometimes I think it lends a little more intrigue to an otherwise interesting landscape. Knowing who inhabited an area in the past, wether they be Indian or Wild West outlaws only increases my further need to explore.
Looking down from the ruins of the Gros Ventre Hunting Lodge in Wyoming.

 

[DG Rider]

Do you guys and girls ever immerse yourselves into the history of a particular area before or during it's exploration by you and from the pioneers of the past? Sometimes I think it lends a little more intrigue to an otherwise interesting landscape. Knowing who inhabited an area in the past, wether they be Indian or Wild West outlaws only increases my further need to explore.
Looking down from the ruins of the Gros Ventre Hunting Lodge in Wyoming.
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Yes.

 

[Montecresto]

That’s cool. That area right there, the Green River valley, hosted several of the mountain men rendezvous during the 1820-1840’ when beaver hats and coats were all the rage and Americans began to flow into that region following the reports of Lewis and Clark of the abundance of beaver in the Rocky Mountains which they never fully expected to encounter considering Jefferson’s commission to find an all water route to the pacific.

 

[Montecresto]

Do you guys and girls ever immerse yourselves into the history of a particular area before or during it's exploration by you and from the pioneers of the past? Sometimes I think it lends a little more intrigue to an otherwise interesting landscape. Knowing who inhabited an area in the past, wether they be Indian or Wild West outlaws only increases my further need to explore.
Looking down from the ruins of the Gros Ventre Hunting Lodge in Wyoming.
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You would appreciate the area which we ride near our property in New Mexico because it’s rich in history. For one the city of Santa Fe was already thriving (under Spanish control) when the Mayflower landed. Some of the mountain men that worked the Rockies in the very early 1800’s observed a different way of making money noticing that Santa Fe didn’t have merchandise that existed in the United States (which went no further west than Kansas City at the time) and vise versa. A mountain man named William Becknell opened up the Santa Fe trail in 1821 bringing American made goods and trading for Spanish goods. 60 years later the railroad followed the same trail. These are pictures of some of the ruins we see along the Santa Fe trail while riding.

 

[100Acre]

A mountain man named William Becknel

I read about him recently. I think it was in 'Blood and Thunder' the recent biography of Kit Carson.
Very cool post, thanks for sharing that!

 

[Montecresto]

I read about him recently. I think it was in 'Blood and Thunder' the recent biography of Kit Carson.
Very cool post, thanks for sharing that!

You’re welcome. It probably was in Blood and Thunder. Carson’s house is still standing in Taos!!

 

[Montecresto]

And today.

 

[DG Rider]

To elaborate on what i said earlier (now that some pics have been uploaded), yes.

Whether i know the history, or am just left to wonder what the history is, it's always a big alure for riding destinations for me ( And this is something thats really missing from riding back east again ).

The mysterious Baca Float #5 was "absorbed" by the ORO ranch in the past. Few are allowed in, but one of my last riding trips in AZ was to go check out the locked gates that keep Kong in. Very unassuming...

Then there was this homestead on Henderson flats. Try as i might, i could never find out much on it...

Further down the trail, there is a different dwelling...

Other things are well known. Like Bradshaws grave. The man who lent his name to mountain range in central AZ. The consensus is that his body was probably washed down the hill long ago...

One of my favorite things was combining a love of railroads/history and riding. This is limestone canyon and the original route of the Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix into Prescott (and eventually Phoenix) AKA-the "Peavine". The rock rubble you see 1/2 way up the ridge is the old ROW that eventually circles around to where I'm standing via several trestles, of which only the pilings remain. Trust me when i say pics DON'T do this justice. It looks more like a roller-coaster ride than a route for trains.
Several ties are still laying on the ROW, laid well over a century ago. I can't even fathom a steam train coming down this, but thats exactly what happened. It also came "off" this, thus the need for a better route a few miles to the east, still in use.

And then there's Johnsons tunnel, a more recent abandonment...

The tunnel itself is on a grade and curved, forcing trains to slow to avoid being flung off into the canyon upon exiting. As such, several accidents occured and lives were lost in this tunnel. Some say it is haunted, but i saw and felt nothing strange in the several times i visited it....though we did experience what smelled to be a cologne smell once, with no obvious source.

This is the remains of a guard shack from WWII. Since this was a major transcontinental route for war supplies, it was felt it needed constant protection from saboteurs.

The thing with trains stuff is the insane amount of labor that goes into to it, and then it's just left by the wayside. This is a promotional film for the realignment that ended the use of this tunnel...

Just the tip of the iceberg. Everytime i went out, i found old mining remains or and old line camp building, and couldn't help but wonder how or why.

It'll never stop, but that is the blessed wanderlust...

 

[100Acre]

To elaborate on what i said earlier (now that some pics have been uploaded), yes.

Whether i know the history, or am just left to wonder what the history is, it's always a big alure for riding destinations for me ( And this is something thats really missing from riding back east again ).

The mysterious Baca Float #5 was "absorbed" by the ORO ranch in the past. Few are allowed in, but one of my last riding trips in AZ was to go check out the locked gates that keep Kong in. Very unassuming...

View attachment 74828

Then there was this homestead on Henderson flats. Try as i might, i could never find out much on it...

View attachment 74832

Further down the trail, there is a different dwelling...

View attachment 74829


Other things are well known. Like Bradshaws grave. The man who lent his name to mountain range in central AZ. The consensus is that his body was probably washed down the hill long ago...

View attachment 74835
View attachment 74834

One of my favorite things was combining a love of railroads/history and riding. This is limestone canyon and the original route of the Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix into Prescott (and eventually Phoenix) AKA-the "Peavine". The rock rubble you see 1/2 way up the ridge is the old ROW that eventually circles around to where I'm standing via several trestles, of which only the pilings remain. Trust me when i say pics DON'T do this justice. It looks more like a roller-coaster ride than a route for trains.
Several ties are still laying on the ROW, laid well over a century ago. I can't even fathom a steam train coming down this, but thats exactly what happened. It also came "off" this, thus the need for a better route a few miles to the east, still in use.

View attachment 74836
View attachment 74837

And then there's Johnsons tunnell, a more recent abandonment...

View attachment 74838

View attachment 74839

The tunnel itself is on a grade and curved, forcing trains to slow to avoid being flung off into the canyon upon exiting. As such, several accidents occured and lives were lost in this tunnel. Some say it is haunted, but i saw and felt nothing strange in the several times i visited it....though we did experience what smelled to be a cologne smell once, with no obvious source.

This is the remains of a guard shack from WWII. Since this was a major transcontinental route for war supplies, it was felt it needed constant protection for saboteurs.

View attachment 74840

The thing with trains stuff is the insane amount of labor that goes into to it, and then it's just left by the wayside. This is a promotional film for the realignment that ended the use of this tunnel...

Just the tip of the iceberg. Everytime i went out, i found old mining remains or and old line camp building, and couldn't help but wonder how or why.

It'll never stop, but that is the blessed wanderlust...

Super freaking cool. It makes me wanna go there and soon!

 

[Montecresto]

To elaborate on what i said earlier (now that some pics have been uploaded), yes.

Whether i know the history, or am just left to wonder what the history is, it's always a big alure for riding destinations for me ( And this is something thats really missing from riding back east again ).

The mysterious Baca Float #5 was "absorbed" by the ORO ranch in the past. Few are allowed in, but one of my last riding trips in AZ was to go check out the locked gates that keep Kong in. Very unassuming...

View attachment 74828

Then there was this homestead on Henderson flats. Try as i might, i could never find out much on it...

View attachment 74832

Further down the trail, there is a different dwelling...

View attachment 74829


Other things are well known. Like Bradshaws grave. The man who lent his name to mountain range in central AZ. The consensus is that his body was probably washed down the hill long ago...

View attachment 74835
View attachment 74834

One of my favorite things was combining a love of railroads/history and riding. This is limestone canyon and the original route of the Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix into Prescott (and eventually Phoenix) AKA-the "Peavine". The rock rubble you see 1/2 way up the ridge is the old ROW that eventually circles around to where I'm standing via several trestles, of which only the pilings remain. Trust me when i say pics DON'T do this justice. It looks more like a roller-coaster ride than a route for trains.
Several ties are still laying on the ROW, laid well over a century ago. I can't even fathom a steam train coming down this, but thats exactly what happened. It also came "off" this, thus the need for a better route a few miles to the east, still in use.

View attachment 74836
View attachment 74837

And then there's Johnsons tunnell, a more recent abandonment...

View attachment 74838

View attachment 74839

The tunnel itself is on a grade and curved, forcing trains to slow to avoid being flung off into the canyon upon exiting. As such, several accidents occured and lives were lost in this tunnel. Some say it is haunted, but i saw and felt nothing strange in the several times i visited it....though we did experience what smelled to be a cologne smell once, with no obvious source.

This is the remains of a guard shack from WWII. Since this was a major transcontinental route for war supplies, it was felt it needed constant protection from saboteurs.

View attachment 74840

The thing with trains stuff is the insane amount of labor that goes into to it, and then it's just left by the wayside. This is a promotional film for the realignment that ended the use of this tunnel...

Just the tip of the iceberg. Everytime i went out, i found old mining remains or and old line camp building, and couldn't help but wonder how or why.

It'll never stop, but that is the blessed wanderlust...

WOW!!! Very very cool right there.

 

[Montecresto]

Riding in the Kit Carson National Forest at the southern tip of the Rockies near Las Vegas New Mexico we came upon the remnants of a depression era homestead. The first picture is the dug well that appears to have had a roof covering at one time. And in the third pic, it’s still holding water, clear. I judged it to be 15-20’ deep. In the picture with the foundation you can make out the date in the door stoop.

 

[JCMINIS]

You folks are killing me with all these cool pics !

 

[Montecresto]

You folks are killing me with all these cool pics !

Better schedule yourself a ride out here!

 

[JCMINIS]

Headed to Utah in sept. However are trying to plan another westward trip spring of next year for 2 weeks.

 

[Montecresto]

Headed to Utah in sept. However are trying to plan another westward trip spring of next year for 2 weeks.

Fine, be happy to host a ride for you.

 

[Mudder]

Would say that @100Acre ’s Bayleaf has seen more of America than many of us! Great pics all.

 

[100Acre]

Riding in the Kit Carson National Forest at the southern tip of the Rockies near Las Vegas New Mexico we came upon the remnants of a depression era homestead. The first picture is the dug well that appears to have had a roof covering at one time. And in the third pic, it’s still holding water, clear. I judged it to be 15-20’ deep. In the picture with the foundation you can make out the date in the door stoop.

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Have you ever heard of Magnet fishing for relics river and wells? Takes a strong Neodium but it's fun and I don't think the NF system has any laws pertaining to Magnet Fishing on NF lands.
For Metal Detecting-
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5261774.pdf

 

[swsebek]

these pics are cool as all heck,You guys could combine your photos and come up with a cool destination book.

 

[100Acre]

these pics are cool as all heck,You guys could combine your photos and come up with a cool destination book.

I'm game.

 

[Montecresto]

Have you ever heard of Magnet fishing for relics river and wells? Takes a strong Neodium but it's fun and I don't think the NF system has any laws pertaining to Magnet Fishing on NF lands.
For Metal Detecting-
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5261774.pdf

Funny you mention that. I hadn’t heard it referred to as such but the old man I ride with in Arkansas just told me about this last ride. Says he’s going to get into it. We’re you thinking about that well I posted a picture of?