Articles
Articles of general interest and on geology written by the authors that appeared in the Kingman Daily Miner newspaper and other publications.
Wilderness Fashion
Boundary Cone where an injured hiker and rescuer spent a cold night because the rescuer had to give the hiker his jacket. The hiker had shorts and a tank top.
Psst, wanna buy a gold mine?
Inspecting claims of vast riches in the desert of Northern Mexico.
Why are some rocks red?
Red is not the only color of the beautiful sandstone cliffs in southern Utah and northern Arizona. Depending on the source of the iron, the oxidizing conditions and what happens to the iron after it’s deposited, the colors might be red, yellow, brown or a bleached white.
Surveyor’s Flagging Tape- a survival tool
Have you ever heard of anyone using surveyor’s flagging tape as a survival tool? I haven’t but I always carry a roll in my pack.
Know Your Limitations
A large part of having wilderness common sense is knowing the limitations of what you can do and what your vehicle is capable of.
You mean I can’t dig gold on my land?
While 4-wheeling with friends in an area where early prospectors had found placer gold, I was asked if it was legal for us to do some panning. I answered “yes,” a person can pan for gold on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, if it’s not claimed, and then realized my friends might not be familiar with the 1872 Mining Law. This law was instrumental in colonizing the west and is still on the books.
Are You an Experienced Driver?
Tackling roads that are beyond your experience can get you killed.
Adits and Shafts
Mining played a major role in Arizona history. It’s reported by the State Mine Inspector that there are over 100,000 abandoned mines in the state. Today, old mines are both a joy for history buffs and a danger for curious explorers.
An Ounce of Prevention
The best way to prevent a survival situation is to be prepared and use wilderness common sense. From what I’ve seen, the difference between those that make it out of a tough situation and those that don’t is preparation and state-of-mind.