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Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022
Please reserve by Oct 19.
In 1863, one of the early parties of gold-seekers traveling to the Prescott area followed an otherwise obscure desert wash eastward from the Colorado River. They discovered, on the way, what leader Abraham Peeples (after whom Peeples Valley is named) called a “Garden of Eden”. This drainage, rising high in the Weaver Mountains of western Yavapai County, became known as Date Creek, after the date-like fruit of the Yucca found along its course. Shortly after this a military post, Camp Date Creek, was established where the upper forks of the creek join, also an important early wagon road junction. This post was active into the early 1870s before being abandoned. We’ll talk about this early history (including a 1915 train wreck in the area), and about the Yavapai people displaced by settlers, while hiking into the old fort site and into part of the upper canyon of Date Creek, where water flows year-round. We’ll see ancient rock art in the canyon, and to the north of Date reek an interesting and little-known historic rock art site. About two miles total hiking, largely with no visible trail and some rocky and steep sections. Activity Rating 3.
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 8AM from Prescott Campus.
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Division of Lifelong Learning