A trail running along the ridge of Mingus Mountain above Clarkdale
1 WOODCHUTE TRAIL
2 We start on the top of Mingus Mountain, in the saddle where 89A crosses from Jerome to Prescott
3 The trail runs along the top of Mingus toward the summit. The original trees on this ridge were all logged off during the nineteenth century for mine supports; these trees are second growth.
4 The "woodchute," which is long gone, was a dry flume used to funnel logs down the hill to the mine in Jerome.
5 Looking over the Chino Valley side
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7 Because our leader lives in Clarkdale, she has a wealth of historical information
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9 A horned toad
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11 And a stray cow!
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15 On the Verde Valley side, we see glimpses of Clarkdale and Cottonwood
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22 Bushes in bloom
23 The Verde Valley
24 Toward the uppermost peak on the ridge
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26 We start to see ponderosas
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29 MOrning break with ants, so we mostly stay standing
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32 Old ranch fencing
33 Wild irises
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38 A yucca bloom spiking
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40 These green pine needle tufts are left by feeding squirrels
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44 Clarkdale
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46 Closeup of the cement plant
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49 Time for lunch
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54 A mullein plant. The SInagua used these leaves as potscrubbers
