AZ SR-260 Overgaard - Willow Wash

In August, we began mapping an 8 mile portion of SR-260 heading East from Bison Ranch in the quaint hamlet of Overgaard, AZ. Traditionally a heavily forested stretch through rolling hills and washes, this area was heavily damaged by the Rodeo Chediski Fire in 2002. This gave the job a very interesting and diverse natural landscape as well as aiding us in our use of GPS, which is normally hampered by heavy tree cover.



During the Control Survey, we occupied an NGS Control Station at the base of Deer Springs Fire Lookout.


In late August, the monsoon is fading and all of the plants, animals and insects are out to catch that last bit of summer sun.








With the fire wiping out a good portion of the tree coverage, the re-emerging life has more desert type plants returning. Against a backdrop of Denrda-skeletons, the new growth is greatly contrasted.








The fire certainly had its effect on the survey monuments and accessories as well. When in a forest, the section monuments are witnessed by bearing trees. We found these trees in all sorts of conditions; Burnt but standing, burnt and laying down, signage melted to the tree. The heat also caused some of the monuments themselves to droop over.








Yet, in many places we found everything in tact and un-disturbed like this survey stone set in 1883.


I've driven though this area many times on the way to Pinetop and never would have considered that it would be so interesting to hike around in the burn area. After 10 years of recovery, the mix of old forest and new growth was really a pleasure to see up close.








Google Earth Lat/Long: 34°22'46.20"N,110°28'19.00"W

Sunnyslope "S" Mountain

My company was asked to do a boundary survey and location map of "S" mountain in the Sunnyslope Village of Phoenix. After spending a few days surveying the boundary by myself, I got a chance to take my brother in law Michael up on the mountain to survey the "S".





Google Earth Lat/Long: 33°34'25.38"N,112°04'35.50"W

AZ SR 89 - Little Hell's Canyon

This January (2011), we began a project located 15 miles south of Ash Fork AZ. This portion of AZ SR 89 lies in the rolling juniper covered foothills southwest of Bill Williams mountain. What was originally the Prescott & Ash Fork Stage Coach Road, has only changed by the asphalt arming the same location. Closely skirted by the Prescott spur of the Santa Fe railroad, this area has a close and mostly undisturbed tie back to the foundation of Arizona itself.


The old SR 89 bridge closely paralleled by the current Santa Fe rail bridge over Little Hell's Canyon.

This area is at the headwaters of the Verde Valley and offers some amazing views.

Looking Northeast towards Bill Williams Mountain.

Having been originally surveyed by the U.S. General Land Office in 1884 and having been inducted into the Prescott & Kaibab National Forests, the area has laid untouched since that time. As surveyors, we expected to find the original stone survey monuments as well as bearing trees from the 1884 and subsequent 1910 surveys in pristine condition. We certainly did.


Original Stone Survey Monument with etchings over 100 years old.


Bearing Tree of the same vintage.

Only 3 miles in length this is a relatively small project for us, but we found ourselves wishing it was much longer.















Google Earth Lat/Long: 35°04'51.96"N,112°24'18.38"W

The Strangest of Sights.......

This past week I was tasked with staking the new Right of Way line for a portion of a new major freeway in the Valley. At the end of the day I began to recount all of the random places I found myself and things I saw. I decided it added up to one of the most multifarious days of surveying I can remember.


A Rose Farm



An Olive Tree Farm



A Palm Tree Farm



Low Flying Air Force Training Fighter Jets



And Yes, A Rhinoceros!




Google Earth Lat/Long: 33°33'11.50"N,112°25'06.55"W