Out in the western United States many historic places are located on maintained gravel roads or rustic roads that aren’t maintained. Some of these “roads” were originally established during the 1800’s by those who sought out seclusion or the opportunity for prosperity. I’d even classify some as goat paths depending on their width. If visiting historic places very few others get to see, then this adventure Beyond The Pavement is something you’d enjoy, so get yourself a suitable vehicle or rent one and go!
Recently, a fellow Jeeper who is also a member of a local Outdoors Club ran lead for our trip up to Roleto Cabin. A miners cabin that is to this day is maintained and available for anyone wanting to spend the night in. While the claim apparently has played out, the current owners of the claim keep it registered to preserve ownership and the cabin.
This reminder, when you visit any site such as this cabin, leave it as you found it. Understand, anyone caught vandalizing property regardless of ownership will under state law be prosecuted. Leave only footprints and take away only memories, otherwise places like this will be removed from everyone’s enjoyment.
Roleto cabin is located between Yarnell and Stanton, Arizona off Old Stage Coach Road. Old Stage Coach Rd is a maintained county gravel road but it is twisty, hilly and rough and well traveled by local ranchers, prospectors and off roaders (mostly side by sides.)
Stanton has a nefarious history worth looking up. It is popular today with amatuer and professional prospectors looking for gold. Yarnell is a quaint small town that offers tourist and locals alike shopping and dining.
If you take this ride, plan on three hours. The trail is rated as a medium difficulty, but in and after inclement weather can change it into being very difficult. Nature has its way of rearranging rocks, sand and soil into either easily passable or impassible conditions.
You can ride along with us if you want…
Some of you are into metal detecting, rock hounding, geocaching or just love to visit historical places. We like to off-road and explore sometimes with a specific destination in mind such as historic sites, mines, ghost towns and other sites or places of interest. Regardless, your hobby interests could stumble upon the very things you seek or unintentionally find something that could solve a mystery or a criminal cold case.
A recent local news story caught my attention the other day. A cold case involving the discovery of a little girl’s body found more than 60 years ago. I guess the part about where her remains were found is what sparked my interest, it is close to where we are staying.
The news media too often provides inaccurate or misleading information, in this case the various news outlets reporting on the case gave very vague locations as where her remains were found. The Phoenix media gave the location as Wickenburg, AZ. Another said, Congress, AZ. The most inaccurate of all was and I quote “near Prescott.” Prescott’s only link was it is the county seat of Yavapai County which is as large as New Jersey! The news stories referred to her being found in Sand Creek Wash or Sand Wash Creek depending on outlet. A little cyber sleuthing led me to the actual case file and a more exact understanding of the facts.
The facts… The body of an unidentified girl approximately 3-6 years old was found partially buried in a creek/wash along Old Alamo Road west of Congress, AZ on July 31, 1960. She was dressed in white shorts, a checkered blouse and adult flip flops that had been cut down to fit her feet.
She became known as Little Miss Nobody and that is how her case is named, because no one knows who she is. This story came to light because the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office was able to allocate some funding to help offset the cost to do DNA testing. The amount fell far short, but a fund raiser posted by the company to do the testing raise the money within hours of taking it live. It may take several months yet to learn who she is. Modern technology helped to provide the picture of what she may have looked at the time of her demise.
Old Alamo Road is a heavily traveled road by off road enthusiasts, we have traveled it ourselves many times never knowing the history of this case. Many of us have stopped along this trek to check out the views, the rocks and even the wildlife. Who knows, maybe one of us will stumble upon something that might be connected with this case or another one somewhere in our explorations.
The next time you find yourself out for a hike, stroll or are engaged in the activity of your outdoor hobbies give what ever you find a little more scrutiny for what it is or might be. Mother nature can conceal as well as reveal over time. From lost jewelry to things as large as planes and ships.
If you are interested, HERE is the link to the case file. Read through the case file, its a sad tail but with modern technology and maybe some other freshly discovered tidbits such as something else of hers or belonging to those who left her might answer questions to identify her.
More info on the case from Wikipedia.
Her name is Sharon Lee Gallegos (age 4), who was abducted from her grandmother’s backyard in Alamogordo, NM on July 21, 1960. A sad note, very soon after her remains were discovered, the Alamogordo PD reached out to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office believing the little girl they found was that of Sharon. Because of the different clothing the child was wearing compared to what she had on when abducted plus the miss assessment of the age of the discovered child due to decomposition she was thought to be 7 not 4. The family now has closure and her remains can be laid to rest nearer to her family. Great job by those working this difficult cold case thanks to evolving medical and crime investigative technologies.
I’m not sure when I was first exposed to Biscuits & Gravy, not to be confused with SOS (Chipped Beef on Toast) but the one thing is, it is harder to find a place that serves really good Biscuits & Gravy.
Being a second-generation US Air Force Veteran, I was probably first exposed to it as a kid. I know I ate my fair share while I served in various Chow Halls where I was stationed and not all of them were particularly good. (Oh, I might want to point out, Chow Hall was old school name for the dining facility…It was renamed Mess Hall which many of us agree it best described what they were serving us to eat.)
I know that while in Korea, our Mess Hall there suffered from a major issue…food with flavor. It wasn’t until a new Superintendent was transferred in to take over the operation did the taste and quality of food actually improve. His recipe for Southern Fried Chicken was tops and that probably was why the Biscuits & Gravy went from wall paper paste to WOW!
As the military shifted to follow better dietary practices to promote better health among the troops, Biscuits & Gravy all but disappeared from the Mess Hall menus. Out in the world (outside of the military) Biscuits & Gravy was not always available everywhere either. When a Bob Evans restaurant opened near where we were living, I once again found myself in Biscuits & Gravy heaven. Their version of the dish became my comparison standard as to flavor, consistency and serving size. They refer to theirs as Biscuits and Sausage Gravy which is a great description as the gravy contains a plentiful amount of sausage pieces in it.
I have found some better, but for the most part I have found most places that serve Biscuits and Gravy fall well below my expectations. So, what is the perfect Biscuits & Gravy? It consists of three key items. First, the biscuits need to be light, flaky, golden and tasty on their own and made with love like my Grandma used to make them. Being a sour dough biscuit is a plus too. A biscuit that you love eating with butter or with butter and honey. Second, a good quality sausage. Not with too much or too little sage flavor. A sausage you’d save for last bite when served with eggs, hash browns or pancakes just because they taste that good and that’s the flavor you want to savor all day. Lastly, the gravy has to be full bodied. Not milk thin or like wall paper paste. It has to flow over the biscuits like molten white lava, not run like milk from a pitcher or plop like oatmeal cookie dough.
It is a balance of three wonderfully crafted foods that come together to make something memorably delicious, that is filling and sustaining.
I write this post after eating breakfast at a diner in Sturgeon Bay who offers a Biscuits & Gravy dish…but its one I would never order again knowing what I know after watching it being prepared and tasting it. Something about gravy that comes from a plastic container and pre-made biscuits with sausage and cheese that comes pre-made from a package. There is no love in that…and there is no pleasurable taste either.
Know of a place that makes the perfect Biscuits & Gravy?..share it with us by posting a comment. Name of the place and location (city and state is fine, but if you know the street address include that too). Tell us what makes it so good in your opinion.
Harquahala Mountain, (Hark-wa-hala) is a 5681’ peak near Aguila, Arizona. It is located southwest of Aguila, Arizona between US Highway 60 and Eagle Eye Rd which intersect in Aguila. To access the mountain’s peak you start at the trailhead off Eagle Eye Road. There you will find a parking area as well as informational plaques, picnic tables and a pit toilet. This is the only toilet on the route!
The “Byway” up the mountain to the peak is recommended for Off Highway Vehicles or 4×4 vehicles. The trail/road is gravel with areas of loose rock, sand and dirt. This trail/road is not recommended during inclement weather, especially periods of heavy rain or snow. It is a shelf type road along most of its length, meaning there are steep drop-offs alongside. There are pull offs to allow vehicles to pass going in opposite directions or to allow faster moving ones to get around you. Some of the switch back turns can present a challenge for longer wheelbase full-sized vehicles.
The problem with anything mechanical, it will become worn and eventually fail. Take the cargo and equipment bay door latches. Even though they are sealed on the outside, dirt and debris will find its way inside the door panel and eventually cause wear and tear causing reduced reliability and even complete failure.
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