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Back Country Areas of Arizona and the West |
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Ernie Parks(Toysx2)
Welcome! This website is my opportunity to share some of the trips that I have taken into the backcountry areas of Arizona and other Western states in recent years. Many of these trips have occured since I retired in 2003 as a high school science and vocational teacher. With more free time now available, I have been able to get out more often and range farther from my home base in Tucson. The trips listed below reflect what I enjoy doing most--going to interesting natural areas and checking out old mine sites.
This is the origin of my screen name that I use on a couple of Internet forums:
Toy #1 |
+ | ![]() Toy #2 |
= | ![]() Toysx2 |
Here are some of the places that we have visited in the last few years.
2007 Trips:
Several other Mines in the Hayden/Winkelman Arizona area
Lutz Mine and the Pomona Mine in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona
Mine Sites in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley, California
Royal Arch Route Backpack Trip--Grand Canyon
Backpack to Tony Ranch--Arizona
2006 trips:
New Army Pass Loop Backpack Trip-Eastern Sierras--California
Boundary Peak Dayhike--State High Point--Nevada
Escalante Canyons--Slot Canyons and Arches--Utah
Verde Hot Springs and Mogollon Railroad Tunnel--Arizona
Several Old Mines and Charcoal Ovens of Eastern Nevada--Pioche and Ely Nevada
Several Old Mine Sites of Northern California--Mono Lake to Downieville California
Several Old Mine Sites in Western Nevada--Dyer Nevada
Old Mines within a 20 Mile Radius of my Hometown Area--Hayden/Winkelman, Arizona
Two Trips To A Couple of Old Mines and Cabins in the Sierra Ancha Mountains--Arizona
Rides with the kids and their trucks
2005 Trips
Hannah Hot Springs in the Blue Primitive Area--Two Backpack Trips to Arizona's second Hottest Spring
Dinosaur Tracks--San Pedro Valley--Arizona:
Gillard Hot Springs and Water Wheel--reported to be Arizona's Hottest Spring
2004 Trips:
Mount Whitney Day Hike--State High Point--California
Humphrey's Peak Day Hike--State High Point--Arizona
180 Miles on the Arizona Trail--Mexican Border to Tucson
Wilbanks Road Kofa Wildlife Refuge--Arizona
Arizona Strip and the Grand Gulch Mine--Northwestern corner of Arizona
Trips 2003 and earlier:
Dayhikes of Escudilla Mountain and Mount Baldy --White Mountains of Arizona
Diamond Creek Road to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon--Arizona
Bainbridge Ashfork Steel Dam and abandoned Railroad Tunnel--Arizona
Mexican Border to Lake Mead on BackRoads--Arizona
Aravaipa, An Old Mining Camp--Arizona
Martinez Mine and the Coke Ovens--Arizona
2000-Crossing Arizona on Backroads from California to New Mexico
My Traveling Partners:
I often travel alone, but whenever I have traveled with other folks more often times than not it has been with two old high school buddies--Mike C. and Neil F. My run with them began when we were teenagers in the same Explorer Post in Hayden Arizona in the early '60's.
![]() Mike C. |
![]() Neil F. |
Neil and I have an equal affection for Vibram as well as BF Goodrich. We are the "heels and wheels" guys. If there is foot travel involved he and I will gladly participate. Mike's belief is that a person has two feet--one for gas and the other for clutch.
Contact me at: parkse@theriver.com