Two Old Men

 Awake at five in the morning the adventure began. Kadizzle picked up Emil Kashuntz at seven and we were off to the Spanish Ruins. The transition from town to vast forest is instant here. Rumbling down toward Doll Babby Ranch the mountains surrounded us as we dropped down to the East Verde river. 

The goal was to hike to the Spanish Ruins. The name makes no sense the ruins are from native Americans, but the myth somehow got started it was an ancient Spanish settlement. Kadizzle had warned Emil it was a steep hike. Emil is 80 and Kadizzle 73. Weather was just about perfect with a little morning chill. Cottonwoods still were bright green along the river with all their leaves. With every step the view improved as we went up and up the old dirt road. The road was cut off by a locked gate by the Forest Service. 

At last we reached the top. Once through the last gate it was time to scramble up the side of the cliff to the plateau on top. This part of the hike was challenging for two old guys. One slip could result in disaster. Fortunately the coolness had the rattlesnakes inactive. This was famous snake country. 

Emil was absolutely dumbfounded when he saw the ruins and exclaimed it was the most wonderful place he had ever seen. Secretly Kadizzle thought Emil must not have seen to many places. Kadizzle explained to Emil there were many ancient sites like this, but this one was unique. The walls were dry stacked stone six or seven feet high. 

Our thoughts out loud were about why this structure was built. Kadizzle felt it was surely a fort of some sort to defend the people when they were attacked. The strange thing was there was not a single shred of pottery .  This was not a place where people lived, but a place where they ran for battle. The view was incredible. This was a three sided structure that backed up against about a four hundred foot sheer cliff. You could see for miles in every direction. 

If you want go to Youtube and you can see some videos on the ruin. Maybe Kadizzle can post one. Yep found a perfect video. Watch it. The video is two young men who made the exact trip. If you come for a visit maybe old Kadizzle can muster the ability to take you up there.