Nigel Reynolds is a Courier columnist writing about Amazing Places.
Two weeks ago, I wrote about Willow Lake and some of its surrounding history. Well, with all of my helpers, I found a lot more interesting history that I will share with you in a future article. Today, we are going back to an even earlier time, to where the local Indians settled in prehistory.
Prescott’s Willow Lake is a celebrated place with many trails for hiking, running and mountain biking.
Back in July my article was about a hiking trail (Granite Gardens) that many of you enjoyed, so here is another trail you’ll probably enjoy also. With the virus still lurking, it’s good to have an excuse to get out into the fresh air.
This is probably the first time I have written three articles that have a common sequence — in this instance all related to the Agua Fria River.
Instead of reading the pipeline article, you will have to wait another fortnight because I will be writing this cautionary tale instead. I hope this will help you better prepare for any hikes you choose to do.
Happy Grandparents Day! Let’s start with some basic Spanish — Agua Fria means “cold water.” That river will be known to almost everyone who lives here. Fewer people know that it rises about five miles to the northeast of downtown Prescott in the Granite Dells.
My last article was about the first Anglo arrivals in the Prescott area in 1863 – the Walker Party and the Weaver Party. Today, I’m going talk more about the Walker Party – where they built their cabins and their search for gold.
Who were the first arrivals in Prescott and when? There were two Anglo groups — the first was led by Joseph Walker, and the second by Pauline Weaver; each came in 1863.
I have been on vacation for the past month with no columns on June 21 or July 5. I hope you all had a good Independence Day weekend, celebrating your rebellion against King George.
Today, we are back in Utah for our second visit to Hole-in-the-Rock Road (HitRR), southeast of Escalante. I gave you some of the history of this road in my last column but I didn’t tell you how it got its interesting name.
