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Ridge 2246 Day Hike Goldfield Mountains November 25, 2006 by Ted Tenny
We started from Willow Springs Trailhead on a lovely autumn day in the Goldfields. “Is there going to be bushwhackin’?” Our leader showed the way as we reached the end of a mine road and headed cross-country. |
 Ten terrific Trailblazers on their Goldfield adventure. |
 Teddy Bears and a rancher’s old fence mark Prevention Gap. |
There are several washes to cross on our climb up to Prevention Gap.
“It’s better to stay high,” Ted explains,
“because the washes get very steep down below.”
Sugar-frosted rocks and many colorful lichens cheer us along the way.
At Prevention Gap the view changes dramatically. We can see Dome Mountain with its spike, pointy Panorama Peak, the steep Tuff Dome, the rounded layer-cake Golden Dome, and humped peak 3141. Our route takes us diagonally down the slope toward Helmet Rock. |
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An easy climb up to the ridge rewards us with a sweeping view of peaks,
colorful lava formations, and the rocky streambed leading north to
Wishbone Junction. Soon we top out at 2246'.
The ridge has a split personality. On the northeast it is a volcanic hillside with loose boulders and cobblestones, dark soil, and abundant plant life. But on the southwest it is glorious golden slickrock, eroded into fantastic shapes that plunge precipitously down to the stream below. We step carefully among the rough boulders. |
 Whee! We climbed up to the golden 2246 ridgeline. |
 A golden slickrock ledge overlooks Wishbone Junction. |
A zigzag route down the smooth ridgeline brings us to a ledge of slickrock
east of Wishbone Junction. By this time Ted has pretty much decided that
we’ll go back the easy way instead of bushwhacking all the way back
in a rocky streambed. Everyone agrees.
Down below us is the Jeep road through Willow Springs Canyon. We get there by walking down a smooth ridge, then bailing out on the left side to avoid a rugged wash. The road is covered with sand and marked with tire tracks. |
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“Beware of side roads,” Ted advises us as we turn right and head
southeast. Then he takes on several side roads which are shortcuts to get us
away from the sand-slogging.
Our last adventure is an off-road climb over white slickrock in Willow Springs Canyon. A century ago this was ranch land, with hooks in the rock walls, remnants of fences, and pipes to carry water from nearby Willow Springs Well. Soon the road joins the canyon for an easy walk back to our trailhead. |
 Jumping chollas show the way back to Gonzales Needle. |
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Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club, Phoenix, Arizona For comments regarding this site contact . updated January 10, 2008 |