Route 66 Oatman Arizona - Off Route 66

We returned to the outlet of the canyon and tried our luck in the canyon directly east of the Boundary Cone peak. We visited the remains of the Lazy Boy and Paragon mines. But, once again, the road narrowed, and then ended near the wilderness boundary. The early winter sunset was forcing us to seek another accommodating wash so we reluctantly turned back toward Oatman.

Although it had been a busy and fascinating day, the short hours of December daylight didn't really give us enough time to explore the Oatman area to our complete satisfaction. We now know where some of those alluring dirt roads off of Route 66 lead to, but there are still many left to explore.

The `Teddy Bear' Cholla covering...        read full caption The `Teddy Bear' Cholla covering the hillsides is rather inappropriately named as one certainly doesn't want to cuddle with it. It is more suitably known as `Jumping' Cholla and it is a particularly nasty customer if you come in contact with it.	This adit penetrated the same...        read full caption This adit penetrated the same Moss vein only a few feet from the spectacularly lucrative initial strike, but similar riches proved hard to duplicate. Much of the mining in the Oatman area was quite shallow or in fine grained porphyry that took very little timbering to support. A good thing, as wood had to be hauled a long distance.	This steel head frame at the...        read full caption This steel head frame at the Moss Mine dates from much later than the initial 1860's strike. The old `drop the rock' test told us that the vertical shaft went down a long way. There were many holes in proximity to this shaft as operations attempted to duplicate the first rich strike. Claims in the area are again being bought up so the Moss Mine story may not be done yet.
This earlier photo (circa...        read full caption This earlier photo (circa 1921) shows a wooden head frame at the same site. It also shows the series of holes penetrating the Moss vein outcroppings. John Moss's original hole was one of the holes to the right. Photo by F. L. Ransome, from the U.S. Geological Survey collection.	As we worked our way north...        read full caption As we worked our way north over hills, down washes, and through canyons, we encountered a few places that required some care in 4WD. Most routes look like they are used quite regularly by 4WDs, ATVs, and motorcycles.	As the road drew closer to...        read full caption As the road drew closer to the Mount Nutt Wilderness boundary, the terrain grew reminiscent of Moab with highly eroded buttes and towers dominating the skyline.