Multi Shots from the trail.

[DG Rider]

At this point I started consulting my topo map app to see what to explore next. After looking South, something caught my eye in the form of "Ripsey ranch ruins", so off I went.

On the way, I passed through private property, and Arizona fish and game forces you to sign in and out...

After passing through the property, I turned on a trail marked on topo maps as "old Florence road". Interesting.
I should note here that this area (at least where I started) is known for a massacre, and the last known sighting of the Apache kid.

Florence-Kelvin Highway was scene of Old West murder

There’s only one spot where the murders and prisoner escapes could have taken place. A steep stretch of road west of the Gila River is undoubtedly where sheriff Glenn Reynolds

www.eastvalleytribune.com

 

[DG Rider]

Once to the site where the ruins were marked, I confess I was slightly disappointed. There are what appear to be a few foundations in the area, but mostly modern corral equipment, storage tank, and a windmill...

 

[DG Rider]

On the way back North in Hackberry wash, I stopped to take a picture of a piece of equipment...

I toyed with trying to pull it out until I realized it was halfway buried in the sand.

It's hard to tell from this picture of the shelf road into it, but Hackberry wash is really more of a wide canyon. This is certainly one of the biggest washes I've ever been in, and it would be interesting to see what it looks like during a hard rainstorm.

I had intentions of exploring another road that led up to the Hackberry mine site, but daylight was just running out, and navigating unknown shelf roads in the Arizona desert at night can be a sketchy proposition, so I decided to save it for another day. This was one of those days where it felt like I didn't really have much time, even though I spent a good eight hours out on the trail. I got started late, but didn't get back to the vehicle till well after dark.

 

[wrhii]

On the way back North in Hackberry wash, I stopped to take a picture of a piece of equipment...

View attachment 231825

I toyed with trying to pull it out until I realized it was halfway buried in the sand.

View attachment 231826

It's hard to tell from this picture of the shelf road into it, but Hackberry wash is really more of a wide canyon. This is certainly one of the biggest washes I've ever been in, and it would be interesting to see what it looks like during a hard rainstorm.

I had intentions of exploring another road that led up to the Hackberry mine site, but daylight was just running out, and navigating unknown shelf roads in the Arizona desert at night can be a sketchy proposition, so I decided to save it for another day. This was one of those days where it felt like I didn't really have much time, even though I spent a good eight hours out on the trail. I got started late, but didn't get back to the vehicle till well after dark.

View attachment 231827

Enjoyed the tour Bud. Still cant get over the stone building. What, maybe mid to late 1800s? Maybe a reroof sometime between. Anyway appreciate ya 👍 🤜

 

[DG Rider]

Enjoyed the tour Bud. Still cant get over the stone building. What, maybe mid to late 1800s? Maybe a reroof sometime between. Anyway appreciate ya 👍 🤜

Thanks.
I really have no idea, but I don't know if it's that old. Really nice stonework on it.

 

[DG Rider]

Looks like I missed the best stuff...

Ripsey Mine, Florence Lead and Silver Mine - Jeep the USA

Jeep, 4x4, 4WD and ATV trail near Kearny and Winkelan. Trail description with photos plus GPS and gpx tracks.

www.jeeptheusa.com

Allegedly and "old pumphouse".

 

[JimmyA]

Very Nice Pictures from the trails, Thanks!

 

[RB3offroad]

A few pics from the Talon Takeover

 

[Gorms]

Got some snow today, ground is still warm and soft under. Back yard trails were nice.

 

[wrhii]

Got some snow today, ground is still warm and soft under. Back yard trails were nice.

View attachment 232655

Perrty pic.

 

[Mudwing]

More outlaw trails in the Nickel. This is the city tour. 😉😎

 

[DG Rider]

Ripsey mine and Florence lead and silver mine (yes, that's the name) didn't disappoint yesterday...

 

[gullyjumper]

Got some interesting pictures there.

 

[DG Rider]

More from Ripsey mine. Lots of equipment scattered about.
I saw at least three separate shafts, not including the horizontal one pictured. Don't know how useful that horizontal shaft would be since it doesn't seem big enough for a human. Maybe they dug up from the bottom, as there was a small regular shaft next to it.

 

[Lil_Steve]

Cool stuff. My buddy and I were riding our bikes around Florence on Friday, next time we're out there we'll do some more exploring.

 

[DG Rider]

At least somewhat surprising find was the Florence silver and lead Mine. Ripsey has lots of articles and pictures of it, but this one less so. The last documents seem to be from the early 80's, so it's entirely possible the owner(s) have passed.

On the way up the ridge to the mine I discovered what may have been a small home site or line shack. That's where the chassis was located.

 

[DG Rider]

Further up the hill I rounded the bend, and there was another small structure. I stopped to check it out, and once I went around to the front door I realized that I was basically to the mine.
Looks like everything was run off propane, and that water heater said Sears "Hercules" brand. A little Google searching shows that Sears stopped using the Hercules name sometime in the 60s.

As you saw above, the entrance of the mine was concreted and looked to be sturdy. There was stuff everywhere...

All in all, a great ride with some good discoveries.

 

[DG Rider]

Cool stuff. My buddy and I were riding our bikes around Florence on Friday, next time we're out there we'll do some more exploring.

Technically, this area is probably closer to Kearny or Kelvin.

 

[TripleB]

Further up the hill I rounded the bend, and there was another small structure. I stopped to check it out, and once I went around to the front door I realized that I was basically to the mine.
Looks like everything was run off propane, and that water heater said Sears "Hercules" brand. Hello Google searching shows at Sears stop using the Hercules name sometime in the 60s.

View attachment 232998View attachment 232999View attachment 233000View attachment 233001View attachment 233002View attachment 233003View attachment 233004

As you saw above, the entrance of the mine was concreted and looked to be sturdy. There was stuff everywhere...

View attachment 233005View attachment 233006View attachment 233007View attachment 233008View attachment 233010View attachment 233011View attachment 233017View attachment 233018

All in all, a great ride with some good discoveries.

I remember old mining equipment and vehicles sitting all over the mountains here in Tennessee when I was a kid(early 80s). When scrap metal price went up sometime in my teens it all started disappearing. Maybe it was never worth the money there because its so isolated.

 

[Lil_Steve]

Technically, this area is probably closer to Kearny or Kelvin.

I searched online for "Ripsey Mine" and found a Jeep site that has a gpx file of the area. I downloaded it so we can check it out next time we're out there. Friday's ride started in Florence and was a 50ish mile loop that ended through Box Canyon. Finally nice enough weather to ride in the valley.