MESA 4 WHEELERS HORN NEWSLETTER August 2020 Mesa 4 Wheelers, PO Box 107, Mesa AZ 85201 http://mesa4wheelers.com MESA 4 WHEELERS STAFF President Norm Clark 623-742-7336 Vice President Wendi Kawa 480-860-0478 REMEMBER WHEN? 30 years ago? Secretary Pat Jenkins 480-834-0517 Treasurer Ray Jenkins 480-834-0517 Mesa 4 Wheelers 30 Years Ago Corres.Secretary Hazel Hart 480-994-1260 Membership Lori Moore 602-647-1685 Mesa 4 Wheelers 30 Years Ago Report Editor Mike Drawsky 480-502-9507 August 1990 Remembrance Gert Leible 623-869-8434 Trophies Clete Hruska 602-568-1140 There were no Trip Reports for the month of August, but there Safety Chairman John Hart 480-994-1260 were Trips. Publicity OPEN The First Trip was: Next Meeting Crown King Campout - August 18th & 19th Trip Leader: Mike Dreckman Saturday (09-12-20) Meeting place: I-17 @ Bell road at Denny’s Restaurant Location: Rimrock Meeting time: 6 A.M., Saturday August 18th For more details, see Upcoming Runs & Events Spend a relaxing weekend in the Cool Pines!!! The road to the campsite requires 4-wheel drive. Bring a pass- PRESIDENT'S CORNER a-round dish to share for Saturday’s dinner. We’ll spend a Looking forward to another good turnout for our upcoming leisurely Sunday morning at camp and head home Sunday September runs! afternoon. The second Trip was: -Norm Breakfast at Four Peaks - August 25th Trip Leader: Greg Anderson Meeting Place: Top of Four Peaks at cattle guard Meeting time: 9 A.M. Members need only to bring drinks, camp table, chairs or snacks if desired. Hosts will provide Breakfast, table service and lots of “Non Essential Information” for entertainment!! There will not be a 4x4 Run. We will be meeting for Breakfast and a relaxing morning…to be heading home before the heat. Edited by: Ray Jenkins CLUB TRIP REPORTS Flagstaff & Cider Hills OHV Run Saturday & Sunday, August 8th & 9th Trip Leader: Norm Clark & Jim Hopper Members in attendance: Jim Hopper, Norm Clark, Ray & Pat Jenkins, Mike Drawsky, Keith Fliegel, Dan & Debb Smith and Dave Rupel Guests in attendance: Don & Chris Netzel, Gary & Brian Keller, Chris & Eliesa Little and April Taylor. Looking across at Mt. Humphreys from the top of one of the many cinder cones. Meeting up at the Denny's in Flagstaff for Saturday run through the Cinders Admiring the view and cool weather! Airing down at Little Cinder Basin in Cinder Hills OHV Area From left to right: Pat, Ray, Norm, Dave, Jim, Keith, Chris, Eliesa, Don, Chris, April, Brian, Dan and Debb Flagstaff & Cider Hills (Continued) A view of Mt. Humphreys from on top of Double Crater On top of the north rim of Double Crater The Cinder Hills OHV Area was not overly crowded, allowing stops at all the vista points, along the crater rims. This weekend’s trip leader, Norm, chatting with Jim, who has been running the Cinders for over 50 years and had volunteered to lead this portion of the run. Lined up at the base of $100 Hill at Double Crater Flagstaff & Cider Hills (Continued) Gary watching the light weight razors race up the steep crater More views from the rim of Double Crater of Mt. Humphreys walls. When driving the Cinders, the safest routes for a stock Breaking for lunch at the rim of Competition Hill horsepower 4-wheel drive vehicle, is along the crater rim, not down inside the crater. Flagstaff & Cider Hills (Continued) We were surprised and delighted to see Gary and Brian show up to join us for this weekend's Flagstaff runs! Watching a razor driving down into the cinder cone. Dave, who lives in Rimrock, north of Camp Verde, traveled the Our campsite, near the base of Mt. Humphreys, a few miles shortest distance to get here. west of Snowbowl. Lining up at FR794 and SR180 to begin our second day of While the rest of us brought tents to sleep in, Jim brought his wheeling. pop-up camper! Flagstaff & Cider Hills (Continued) Trip leader Norm, going over the rest of the day’s planned route with Jim & Ray. At the intersection of FR247 and SR180, waiting for some of our group to finish airing down. Enjoying the cool 75o temps and one another’s company Breaking for lunch off KNF90 in Kaibab National Forest. Another photo of our Sunday lunch stop Enjoying a cool summer breeze with no one else in sight! Flagstaff & Cider Hills (Continued) A view of Sunset Crater from on top of Saddle Mountain. Sunday afternoon, Norm led us down FR550 and up FR550A leading us to the top of Saddle Mountain. So that all who made the drive up Saddle Mountain were accounted for, Chris took a last minute photo to capture Mike, Jim, Norm, Don and Chris, posing at the top of Saddle Ray and Pat. Mountain. Moments later, Gary caught up with us and Mike shot this photo of them, with Mt. Humphreys in the background. Senator Highway (Crown King to Prescott) Saturday & Sunday, August 8th & 9th Trip Leader: Mike Drawsky Members in attendance: Walter & Gert Leible, Jim Kawa, Norm Clark, Linda Drawsky, Keith Fliegel, Dan & Debb Smith and Ralph Koepke Guests in attendance: Don & Chris Netzel, Chris & Eliesa Little, April Taylor, Brian & Tricia Nishimoro, Brett & Jackie Anderson and Ron Koeple. A little before 9 AM, the majority of the day’s group arrived in Crown King. While waiting for the rest, trip leader Mike, encouraged those who have never been here before to visit the Crown King Saloon to view the many historical photo hanging on the walls. By 9:30 AM our caravan of eleven vehicles had all arrived and were ready to begin the 37-mile drive along the Senator A bit of Cleator history: Cleator was established in 1864 as a Highway, from Crown King to Prescott. placer gold mining site under the name Turkey Creek Mining The history of Crown King: An estimated $2,000,000 in gold District. A post office was established at Turkey Creek in July was taken from the Crowned King Mine alone; the mines have 1869 but closed within three months. been closed since the 1950s and for the past half-century Turkey Creek was renamed Cleator in 1925 after James P. tourism has been the only reliable source of income in the Cleator took possession of the town from Levrett P. Nellis. He area, despite the fact that the unpaved, mountainous access then named the post office after himself. The post office closed roads are rocky, rough and slow to drive. July 15, 1954. Cleator's population fell in the 1920s as mining The first recorded gold claim in Crown King was "Buckeye" and in the area declined and the town was put up for sale by James was filed by Rod McKinnon on July 1, 1875. Over the next 40 Cleator in April 1949. It then had about 60 residents. James P. years, more than 15 mines or claims were made in the area. At Cleator's son Thomas bought the town and lived there until his its height, the town had 500 buildings, including several stores death in 1996. He kept the small bar open most of the years he and boarding houses, two Chinese restaurants and a post lived there. After his death everything was inherited by his office. The town was electrified by 1897 and had one telephone sister Eleanor and her son. The bar is still open and a favorite at that time. stop along the dusty road for recreational ATV drivers and weekend tourists. While an active mining town, Crown King was served by the Bradshaw Mountain Railroad. Rail service to the area Mike, has Don, pose for a photo in front of the Crown King began in 1904 upon completion of "Murphy's Impossible Saloon. This was Don and his wife, Chris’s first time here. Railroad" — a series of switchbacks and trestles that ascended the mountain terrain between Cleator and Crown King. The History of the Crown King Saloon: Of the buildings still railroad began in Mayer, Arizona, connecting with Murphy's standing and in use in Crown King, the Crown King Saloon has Prescott & Eastern and extended for 28 miles amid the rocky maintained its place as the center of activity in town. The terrain. Saloon was originally constructed and operated in the nearby Crown King was the terminus (1904–1926) of the railroad, built mining town of Oro Belle (now also a ghost town). In 1910, it by Frank M. Murphy to serve the mines of the southern was disassembled and brought to Crown King piece by piece Bradshaw Mountains. However, these mines were never very after the mine at Oro Belle had played out. The building was productive, and the BMRR was a financial failure. The line was home to a brothel and bar in both towns and now serves the abandoned in 1926. Much of the road to Crown King uses the public as a hotel, cafe, and bar. old railroad bed. Senator Highway (Continued) Drifting smoke from the California fires limited long distance Just as we arrived at the Palace Station, a kind gentleman visibility along the Senator Highway. outside our group, volunteered to take this group photo. Walter & Gert’s new Dodge 4X4 on its first off-road trip Palace Station History: Palace Station, located 17 miles south of Prescott, is one of the most famous stage stops in Senator Highway History: The Senator Highway was built in Yavapai County. Having been built in 1875, its history is long 1866 as part of the Prescott and Lyn Creek Toll Road.