Friday, April 25/2014

We awoke to more wind today.  Gosh, I don't think the wind ever really stops blowing here!!
Today we are headed to Eagle Canyon and then off to check out the historic site of the Copper Globe Mine.
We dressed according to the wind and headed out.   Looks like there will be more wind burn to deal with.  Gosh…..the three of us just got over our windburn!!
We had about 10 miles of "fast" trail to do across the bench lands then,  accessed the trail that would once again take us past Swasey's Cabin.  Once we were on that trial, it was low gear and four wheel drive.  Much of today's ride was on this kind of rough trail.
We accessed Eagle's Canyon and found the arch that is displayed on all the trail signs around here so that was awesome.  Kay actually saw it and pointed it out.   John drove right past it!!  Kay and I of course stopped for a picture and while there, a dirt bike dude came by, stopped and asked us to take a pic of him as well.  With that done, we continued along the bottom of this picturesque canyon.  We were surrounded by tall sheer walls of rock.
We eventually caught up to John and continued on under the huge bridge that supports Interstate 70 across the canyon.  It was awesome to look up and see all the traffic on the bridge.
We continued on to the Copper Globe Mine site and checked out this historic site.  Man, I really do not think I would have been a very brave miner "back in the day".  Just from what is left at the site, I can only imagine the harshness that had to be endured.
We continued on towards the Lucky Strike Mine but the signage on the trails was sorely lacking and it was so very easy to get off on the wrong trail.  In this area all the wrong trails were dead ends, often ending on a very high, very windy mesa with no way down.  Well, you know me and ledges…..
Although we tried several trails, we never did find the right one.
We met another couple of riders also trying to find the mine and they too were confused.
Despite the wrong turns, we were once again blessed to see many of the wild horses that call this place their home.  There was a newborn with this herd and it was awesome to see.  I did a quick "google" of the wild horses here in the San Rafael Swell and learned that the Bureau of Land Management keeps the herd at about 125 animals as they feel that this environment can safely sustain this many.  Every few years or so, some are rounded up and sold so that the herd remains healthy.  They keep the burro count at around 70 animals as well.
Anyway, despite of lost wanderings, we managed to see one of the most incredible herds of wild horses.
We backtracked and soon were riding the trail that would eventually take us back to the underpass of I-70.  It has been a long day and we have been sandblasted all day!!   The wind never let up and the blowsand was unrelenting.  It is fine, fine sand that resembles icing sugar and it easily whipped around with the wind.  We will all have windburn again tonight.
We made it back to the arch that John had missed earlier in the day and I was able to get pics of him and the quad with it.  Once that was done, we head towards home.   Man, it was soooo good to finally get out of the damn wind.
We watched a bit of the Stanley Cup Finals then John made grilled cheese sandwiches and we soon all took our tired, whipped, windblown asses to bed!!    Man, what a day but….we saw the wild horses and that somehow made it all worth while.      Life is good!!

Eagle Canyon Arch

In the canyon

Support beams for I-70

Note the semi on top of the bridge

Narrow canyon trail

rocky, bumpy trail

once again, we are headed under I-70

Blow sand

the miner's house

a foundation for a long gone building

winter wood

the mine shaft

Inside the miner's cabin.   I had to duck!!

View from on top of one of the many dead end Mesas

A long forgotten piece of equipment

the wild horses

Holy Shit……that is a LONG way down

A closer look at the wild horses

John at the arch

John at the arch (minus the damn light!!)

Marie and Kay at the arch

The Icebox (often called Swasey's Office)

The path to the Icebox.

some sort of sluice??

Another old car left abandoned and lonely