| Arizona 177 winds around the western edge of Apache
Leap, so named because when a expedition was sent to round
up Apaches in the 1870s, the Apaches decided to leap to
their deaths rather than be arrested. Photo taken June
17, 2007. |
| Arizona 177 was realigned in 1972 to take it further
away from Apache Leap, and level the road out significantly.
Photo taken June 17, 2007. |
| Arizona 177 begins by travelling near Arnett Creek.
Photo taken June 17, 2007. |
| The first major descent along Arizona 177 is a doozy,
dropping from the headwaters of Arnett Creek down into
Walnut Canyon. This is an advance warning of the upcoming
10% grade. Photo taken June 17, 2007. |
| Trucks and vehicles hauling trailers are advised to
stop and check brakes before descending on the first 10%
grade down. Photo taken June 17, 2007. |
| Nothing like cresting a hill! This is a roadcut between
Arnett Creek and Walnut Canyon, with Lime Point to the
right (southwest) of us. Photo taken June 17, 2007. |
| It's a wild ride down to the bottom of Walnut Canyon.
Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| It's a very scenic and challenging drive
down into Walnut Canyon. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| This curve, at the bottom of Walnut Canyon, passes Walnut
Spring. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| Distance sign to Kearny (11 miles) and Winkleman (21
miles). In the background are the first signs of the open-pit
Ray mine. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| Mining operations at the Ray site began in 1884. The
mine moved in fits and ebbs until 1953, when a massive
expansion program led to open-pit mining and the discontinuation
of underground mining. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| Arizona 177 passes next to Corral Creek enroute to Kearny.
Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| The scale of the Asarco Ray mine is quite impressive
as one drives by the edge of it. Photo taken June 17,
2007.
|
| Arizona 177 (before pavement) used to pass through the
towns of Sonora and Ray, which catered to mining operations.
As part of the expansion of the Asarco Ray mine, both
towns were swallowed up by the mine, and a new town of
Kearny was established (see next photo). Photo taken June
17, 2007.
|
| Arizona 177 enters the town of Kearny here. Kearny is
a small mining town, established in 1958 with the expansion
of the Asarco (Kennecott) mine. There is a small commercial
strip to serve the local residents. Photo taken June 17,
2007.
|
| Kearny is a company town, built by Kennecott to serve
miners and their families. The majority of the residents
of the town still work for Asarco, who now operates the
Ray mining complex. Arizona 177 never passed through downtown
Kearny, but the main street is located paralell to Arizona
177. Tilbury Drive is the main street through Kearny,
leading into the residential streets. Photo taken June
17, 2007.
|
| Now past Kearny, Arizona 177 sticks close to the Gila
River and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Photo taken
June 17, 2007.
|
| Across the Gila River are the Tortilla Mountains. Photo
taken June 17, 2007.
|
| This is the final reassurance marker along Arizona 177.
Notice that none of the shield have cardinal direction
signs attached to them. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| Arizona 177 enters the town of Hayden here. Hayden is
a mining town, named for one of the senior members of
the company who founded the town. Today, the mine is owned
by Asarco and operated in conjunction with the Ray mine.
Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| The pipeline above Arizona 177 connects the smelter
and the railway line. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| Advance signage for Arizona 77, 1/2 mile. Photo taken
June 17, 2007.
|
| The last town Arizona 177 enters is Winkleman. Winkleman
is a town at the junction of the Gila and San Pedro Rivers,
named for an early settler. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
| Arizona 177 ends in the town of Winkleman at Arizona
77. Travellers heading to Tucson turn right on Arizona
77, while travellers heading to Globe can turn left on
Arizona 77. Photo taken June 17, 2007.
|
Page Updated June 18, 2007.
