On the morning of November 5th, 1871 a stagecoach belonging to the Arizona Stage Lines was ambushed by 15 presumably Yavapai Indians from the nearby reservation, killing all 8 on the stage. While there is a Historical Marker not all that far away on US 60 on the western fringe of the City of Wickenberg, Arizona, one doesn’t get the real feel for the scene until you stand and see where it actually happened.
Throughout North America each year dozens of cities play host to RV and Camping Shows. They all feature two common things…RVs of all types and sizes and people…plenty of people.
Our first visit to the Tampa RV Show early in our journey as full-timers. So much better than the Hershey, PA show in our opinion.
We started off February with another great trek through the desert in the local area around Wickenburg, Arizona. Morristown, AZ is located on highway US 60 just northwest of the greater Phoenix area, not far from Wickenburg. There are several destinations in this area between Morristown and Vulture Peak accessible only by foot or Off Road vehicles. These include mountains, caves, natural arches, mines, wildlife and plenty of trails to access them.
This time we give you two different videos of this trek, first is an overview of sorts of our ride, this gives you a sense of the terrain we traverse that is often lost in our “dashcam” videos as everything appears flat.
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.
This is track we took too and from the cabin. Both starting and ending on Old Stage Coach Rd.
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.
This is the general area along Old Alamo Road where she was found.
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.
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