Goldfield Ovens Loop Trail
11/16/2013
We thought this would be a fun hike with some cool ovens along the way. Well, not quite.
It should be called "the soft sand wash trail with a short glimpse of ovens". If you have any knee, back or hip issues this trail will bring it out.
Hiking a little soft sand is one thing, 7 miles of it is way too much. The trail is also not well marked in spots. You can rely on GPS or use the tried and true method of following the wild horse poop since lots of them use this trail to get around.
Now you may ask what are ovens doing in the middle of nowhere. Well, we do not know what this one was for but similar ones were used for producing Quicklime used for manufacturing mortar and bricks for building but had other uses such as removing hair from hides in leather making and medicine.
See, you learned something.
Goldfield Ovens Loop Trail 11/16/2013
Soft sand wash. Lots of knee-twisting, back straining soft sand
First look at the oven
George is investigating
How is it in the oven?
Looking up the chimney in the oven
Looking out of the oven
Sharon's turn to crawl in
Ta-da
Nice headroom
Naturally George had to climb up to the top
This is the chimney hole
Interesting saguaro cactus
No idea what or why I was doing the "Rocky" dance
Looking at Salt River from the trail
Just some nice trail views
This is Saguaro Lake
The trial continues on the other side of these culverts
OK, which one to choose
Looks pretty clear
Good thing you can not see the garbage strewn along here. Personally, I'd get a motel
That's me at the other end
Nice scenery on the other end of the pipe
Some beautiful formations are in view from the end of the pipe
Sharon on the trail
From the high point you can see the fountain at Fountain Hills