May 17 - Apache Trail - Wow !!
We drove the Apache Trail today, which is not for the faint of heart. The trail is 44 miles across from Roosevelt Dam to Apache Junction and follows the Salt River.
Thirty six miles of the trail is rugged and unpaved.
For the main part the road is rough and is not short on hairpin curves, steep ledges and breathtaking views (absolutely no railings anywhere) At one point you arrive at the Fish Creek Hill. You can see up the side of the mountain if anyone is coming and then go for it. The hill is literally cut into the side of the mountain, rises 1000 feet at 15-17% grade for about two miles.
You hug the edge (passenger side) all the way. We passed two cars and a guy towing a house trailer on the way down (unbelievable).
There is a great feeling of euphoria when you reach the top and for me I may never again feel challenged by any drive (Warren, we need to find another one like this). Here are our pics driving across this incredible road: Apache Trail
Prior to arriving at the Apache Trail, we traversed some beautiful ground up to the Roosevelt Dam
Here are some additional photos: Roosevelt Lake
This was a great day and we ended up In Mesa, Arizona, where Bill and Kathleen had their winter home for 12 years. Found a steak house and washed them down with a few beers. We will be catching up to our old friend Garry Cooney tomorrow. Lookout, this threesome is trouble !
B + B, I am quite simply running out of adjectives!
ReplyDeleteSpending this time with you today, Saturday, I can almost feel your euphoria with all that you are seeing, smelling, hearing... experiencing!
The photos are wonderful and really strike at the heart of anyone who cares about the majesty and beauty of our world...
By the end of this day, I think you both deserved a nice steak, washed down with a few beers.
I loved my one and only visit to Mesa, to see my Mom and Dad, and have very fond memories of outings they planned for us in and around the area. It was perfect... You hear that, Mommy, it was perfect!
Hugs
Brenda ♥
Your adventures and pics on the Apache Trail look and sound spectacular with just the right amount of good scary excitement! The scenery is magnificent over the past few days. Come across any scorpions yet? ...Always check under stones before you sit on them :-) Bev
ReplyDeleteThe picture albums really show off the diversity and beauty of the area.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we can find some exciting roads, Bob!
Wow is RIGHT!! Your photos of the Apache Trail are amazing and scary....they remind me a bit of the drive Patty and I took last autumn from San Diego to Palm Desert on Highway 74, the "Pines to Palms" Highway through the San Jacinto Mountains in southern California. The views where fantastic but the driving was so toe-curling scary-dizzy that we had to stop at vista points just to calm down enough to finish the drive down the switchback into Palm Desert! The BIG difference on the Apache Trail is that it is an unpaved "one lane" "byway"...VERY scary! Just for comparison interest you could scope out some images of Pines to Palms Highway: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LjA3Z9u_WE" and "http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/Tsurai/893" . Have a fun drive B & B et al!
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