Mark's Scenic Arizona

Sierra Ancha Ruins = June 1, 2011

With no expectations we set out for a rumored Salado ruin site

We were well rewarded for our efforts and determination.

Elephant Rock in the center
Part of Cherry Creek Rd FR203
Getting closer to our destination
We're headed to the other side
Across the canyon from our destination
McFadden Horse Mountain
A Century Plant along Cherry Creek Rd
Rocks observed from Cherry Creek Rd
Century Plant in full bloom
Century Plant closeup
View from Cherry Creek Road
View from Cherry Creek Road
View from Cherry Creek Road
Century Plant
Sample of the ground we will cover
Our destination is near the center
Nice arch in the background
Well into our climb now
Within a quarter mile of our destination
Another shot of the arch
Witch tree??
Another angle
McFadden Horse Mountain
View across the canyon
Beautiful country
Hoodoos
Nice spot for a lair
Almost there...
McFadden Horse Mountain
Rocky spot on our path
Almost there
Reminds me of arches from Ancient Greece
First glimpse of the ruins
An upper room almost obliterated
Salado wall paintings
Salado wall paintings
Salado wall paintings
Salado wall paintings
Salado wall paintings
We know animals use the ruins
Part of a wall
Possibly more around the corner
Main part of the ruins
Salado wall paintings
These were the only artifacts left
Some rooms were terraced
Salado wall paintings
Salado wall paintings
Close up of Salado wall paintings
Tallest intact wall
Edge wall of first ruins
Looking back over the main area
Spider web rock
Giant arrowhead??
Second set of ruins on the day
View from the second site
Again most of the walls were not intact
In the largest room
A possible third site around the far corner?
The arch again
Just a small sample of our route
Not sure what this is
The tree isn't about to let the rock go
A random boulder that caught my eye
View from the ravine we descended
MJB coffee
Random tree
View halfway back to the car
The parasite Desert Mistletoe
Buckthorn in bloom
Buckthorn in bloom
Buckthorn in bloom
Almost back to the car now
Zoomed you can see the Hike Arizona decal
View from Cherry Creek Road
View from Cherry Creek Road
Still on Cherry Creek Road
That's what we explored
Last shot of mountain we explored
View from Cherry Creek Road
View from Cherry Creek Road
View from Cherry Creek Road
View from Cherry Creek Road
Cherry Creek
Looks like a meteorite hit here
View along Cherry Creek Road
View from Cherry Creek Road
'Back side' of Pueblo Canyon
View from Cherry Creek Road
One of the wash crossings on Cherry Creek Rd
One of the few live creatures all day
Posing for just a moment
He's got his eye on us.
Devil's Chasm is in the center
Again Devil's Chasm is dead center
Another Buckthorn
Buckthorn close up
Claw we found in Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek
Aztec Peak from Bull Canyon TH
Some kind of road scraper?
Note the wide steel wheels
The only identifiying marks on it
View from FR 203a
View from FR 203a

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