My friend Lori and I had originally planned to do some exploring out here Saturday the 2nd but after the "abuse" she put herself through Friday we bumped our ride up to Sunday so Lori and JJ could have a day to recover. She went on a 13 mile ride near Wickenburg and didn't realize they were going to go through some very rugged country.

  We rode a little over 11 miles (round trip)...

  We headed out on the trail about 10:30 from the end of Hall Street and followed the wash heading West.

We rode farther than we went last time, following the wash around to the other side of Winchester Mt. to "Desert Queen Mine". 

  I hadn't been there for at least a few years when I drove out with my husband in the 4X4. I was disapointed that most of the last standing building was no longer standing..

 This is what it looked like a few years ago...




 Here is how we found it today...




 We rode on around the hill to the actual mine where we decided on stopping for lunch arriving about 12;30. Which made it about a 2 hour ride to get to that point.

  Lori giving JJ a drink...

Mocha enjoying his lunch break...


There are 3 vertical mine shafts there so for anyone who want's to ride out there in the future I would recommend bringing a horse that behaves VERY well...


1 of the shafts was mostly covered with RR ties but the other 2 were open with no fence around them.




You can see the shaft to the right of Lori - VERY close to the road...


 And on the other side of the road is a ledge, take your pick...


Great view from 1/4 mile road that leads from the shack to the mine...








Headed back about 1:30. We hadn't gone but a half mile when I noticed I didn't have my cell phone so Lori called me on hers and sure enough, no ring. So we rode back up to the shack. If we couldn't find it there we would have to ride along the ledge back to the mine. But luckily it was near the shack..


 We followed the wash  we came on. There is a dirt road that parallels the wash and often crosses back and forth over the wash. I prefer riding the wash. It is a little more rocky than the road but with the sand at least the rocks have some give. ..


























There are several  sandy straight-A-Ways in the wash that are great for trotting out or cantering ...















One of the wash crossings...






JJ seems to be glad it's over while she is getting sponged down before their drive home...