Curly 946 Posted November 15, 2022 5 members of ORP spent Veterans day weekend running the Devil's highway. After meeting up in Ajo and airing down just off pavement, we headed for our first stop, Bates well. The road was in good condition and we made good time. Bates well is the remains of a cattle operation that finally closed in the mid 70's. I was happy to see some restoration work going on. Bates Home An old cabin stabilized An old cabin that has practically been rebuilt. Watering tanks After Bates well, we headed to our first night's camp, Papago well. I've never camped here before. It's a nice large area with picnic tables. Perfect spot to spend the night. Look closely, you will see a ~25 ft travel trailer. The trail has been groomed and improved to the point that it is passable by most stock vehicles now. Sunset Friday night more................ 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Curly 946 Posted November 15, 2022 Saturday morning we headed for Tinjas Altas (spelling?) or High tanks. Along the way we visited some graves that are along the road as well as taking a short detour to see a memorial to a party of travelers who died crossing the desert in the 1800's. The memorial is from the 1800's and the story behind it isn't clear, but it is referred to as the "Circle of 8". (I'll see if I can find more info on it and add it later) When we stopped at Tule well for lunch, I was very disappointed to see what the Border wall construction has done to the trail. It has been graded wide and flat. 45 mph in 2wd was easy. Very different from the other times I've run the trail. We ended the day at the High tanks. O'Neils grave, he drowned in a bucket of water. Another grave, the a name looks like Nameer, 1871 The Circle of 8 High tanks Woody checking out the lowest tank. The road from Tule well and out towards Wellton looks like this, only wider! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Curly 946 Posted November 15, 2022 Sunday, we headed out and took a little used track from the East side of the Mtns to the West side. Gearhead (Mike) left us before taking the pass and exited at Wellton. We stopped to check out the Fortuna mine (no pics) and then headed out for home. We stopped to check out Yodaville from afar. (A bombing target made of shipping containers) Yodaville. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shellback91 1,832 Posted November 15, 2022 Great write up @Curly ! I read somewhere last night that the Nameer was probably a fella that could have been part of a group of middle Eastern camel ranchers that worked with the military back in the day. The information available is sketchy at best. I am doing some research myself because I'm curious about that whole deal. At Tinijas(Spelling is shown a few ways) Altas the flat mesa on top is referred to as "Mesa De Muerte". Per TrailsOffroad there are over 40 graves up there, kinda creepy. Do you still want to camp there again @Ken Ford ? 🤣 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Curly 946 Posted November 15, 2022 I found this info on the Circle of 8. I know I read about it in Desert magazine, but can't find that issue. Anyway, I found this info: Mile 77.9. 32°15'24"N, 113°53'21"W. Parking for an easy walk of about ½ mile south to the Grave of Eight. The spot is also about 8 miles from Tinajas Altas and slightly more than 8 miles back to Tule Tank. In 1896 surveyor and soldier David D. Gaillard reported that "an entire Mexican family of six or eight persons" had the calamity of its glass demijohn of water breaking about eight miles east of Tinajas Altas; all perished and the site is now commonly known as the Grave of Eight. "The wagon tracks made when the [unfortunate] Mexican drove his exhausted team to one side of the road, were plainly visible thirty years afterward...." From here: https://cabezaprieta.org/destinations/el_camino_del_diablo_page_4b.php 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Ford 214 Posted November 15, 2022 I was wanting to camp at Tinijas Altas again some time by myself....... but knowing the top is referred to as "Mesa De Muerte"..... not sure now It was a beautiful campsite none the less with wide view across the desert. Added some pictures of our campsite on the 2nd day. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Ford 214 Posted November 15, 2022 Some pictures of Tulle Wells. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Ford 214 Posted November 15, 2022 Grave at Tulle Wells that I literally stumbled upon right next to the road. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Curly 946 Posted November 15, 2022 10 minutes ago, Ken Ford said: Grave at Tulle Wells that I literally stumbled upon right next to the road. I looked for this grave when we were there. I saw it on one of my previous visits, I think it is fake. If you look closely, it says the cause of death was Littering. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Ford 214 Posted November 15, 2022 LOL..... I hope so cuz I literally stumbled over it 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
