My Grandpa (now deceased) was born in the 19-teens in the mountains Northeast of Phoenix, last year a group of us flew commercial and trekked around my Great Grandpa's old ranch lands. It was unbelievably rugged, I still have no idea how they managed to survive and we experienced the realitively mild temps in January.
For whatever reason a Department Of Reclimation photographer Walter J Lubken followed my Great-Great Grandpa, Great Grandpa and Great Uncle up to "Hells Hip Pocket" to take a picture in the early 1900's. Walter was in the area taking pictures of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam Project, the pic: (I've poured over this pic, animal skins-guns-empty tin cans-grade the cabin set on-hunting dogs-clothes)
Long story short the stone chimney still stands today, After personally making this hike I can't believe that they hauled a 1900's era camera up here. Much easier for us to take a picture.
My Great-Grandpa moved his family SouthEast of Kingman, Az around 1920 so his kids could go to school. My dad and I planned to visit this area around the Big Sandy River this Jan-March when the weather allowed, and now comes the RV related portion.
A weather window 4 days wide over that distance in Janurary is pretty rare, the wx forecast from Sun-Wed wasn't perfect but looked doable especially since I had time off from work approved till Saturday just in case. I like to have at least two "outs" in unfamiliar territory.
I waited till mid-morning last Sunday to leave some wx behind me....
I picked up my Dad in Wichita and we headed out west to Dumas, Tx (KDUX) for gas and restrooms.
Lunch was served on board enroute to Belen, NM (E80).
The Airmets for wind shear and moderate-severe turbulence were spot-on as we approached the Sandia Mountains, I went slightly south of course to follow HWY 60 over the lower part of the ridge without issue.
For whatever reason a Department Of Reclimation photographer Walter J Lubken followed my Great-Great Grandpa, Great Grandpa and Great Uncle up to "Hells Hip Pocket" to take a picture in the early 1900's. Walter was in the area taking pictures of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam Project, the pic: (I've poured over this pic, animal skins-guns-empty tin cans-grade the cabin set on-hunting dogs-clothes)
Long story short the stone chimney still stands today, After personally making this hike I can't believe that they hauled a 1900's era camera up here. Much easier for us to take a picture.
My Great-Grandpa moved his family SouthEast of Kingman, Az around 1920 so his kids could go to school. My dad and I planned to visit this area around the Big Sandy River this Jan-March when the weather allowed, and now comes the RV related portion.
A weather window 4 days wide over that distance in Janurary is pretty rare, the wx forecast from Sun-Wed wasn't perfect but looked doable especially since I had time off from work approved till Saturday just in case. I like to have at least two "outs" in unfamiliar territory.
I waited till mid-morning last Sunday to leave some wx behind me....
I picked up my Dad in Wichita and we headed out west to Dumas, Tx (KDUX) for gas and restrooms.
Lunch was served on board enroute to Belen, NM (E80).
The Airmets for wind shear and moderate-severe turbulence were spot-on as we approached the Sandia Mountains, I went slightly south of course to follow HWY 60 over the lower part of the ridge without issue.
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