Page 87 - Walks In The Black Range, Vol. 4

There is more relief (elevation change) along the “B” transect than along the route discussed here (which follows the pass).
7. Generally the area to the north of this route is in a Wilderness Study Area where the use of motor vehicles is prohibited. My experience in this area is limited so I am not able to access the degree to which these regulations are adhered to. On February 7 of this year we shared the route with a pair of ATV’s which seemed to be compliant.
8. Near the crest of the pass, there is a road which forks off of the Butterfield Trail and heads northwest to Frying Pan Spring. Although I knew the location of the spring, and the old stage route, I had
never really understood what the route was like for groups like the Mormon Battalion when they came through this area. After leaving Cooke’s Spring they crossed the pass on this route and camped near the detention dam, after getting water at Frying Pan spring. I had always assumed that they must have made camp and then headed up the wash to the spring. It is more likely that they took this cut-off and went directly to the spring, making camp near-by or near the detention dam (which is a large flat area). Makes sense when you walk it . . .
9. Photo below: Looking east along the route from the high point of the pass. ATV’s referenced above are center left.
10. The view of Massacre Peak is striking from this point on the route.
11. Photo top of next page: Stream cuts in the area often show dramatic geological strata. In the case of this photo, tuff (Rubio Peak Formation Trt) over other layers.
12. Middle photo next page: Mormon Tea, Ephedra trifurca, is found along the route at this point.
13. Bottom photo next page: We found this Spiny Cliff Brake, Pellaea truncata, beneath a juniper which provide some shade for a water break. This species is found in the American southwest and northern Mexico. The type specimen of this species was collected in the Mule Mountains of Arizona in August 1911 by Leslie N. Goodding. Goodding was considered a leading expert on the flora of the Southwestern United States. See www.blackrange.org for a more extensive discussion and an image of the type specimen of this species.