Dave Wells enjoys a beer at Greasewood Flat. Photo courtesy of Dave Wells.
Reata Pass – Hell, There’s Two of Them
By Dave Wells
One Sunday during the summer of 1993, Doc invited Dave Wells to go on a jeep ride through the Bloody Basin and over to Humboldt. Doc had just purchased a new Jeep and wanted to try it out.
They started going north through the Tonto National Forest and quickly left the main road. Doc wanted to show Dave a roustabout that he had found. Doc later moved it piece by piece to Greasewood Flat, and it was placed near the peacock cages, preserving quite a piece of Arizona mining history.
Then on through the Bloody Basin near a river; no roads and fewer and fewer campers seen. Of course, we shared a few beers, laughs, and even saw a bald eagle along the way. Bumping over the rough rocky terrain, we were drinking our Coors and telling war stories. What better way to spend a beautiful Sunday in Arizona!
After several hours, we found our way back to a paved road and pulled into Reata Pass. Dave said, “Damn Doc, we’re already back; unbelievable!” Doc started laughing. He said, ‘Yes Dave, it was a short trip. I guess we went in a circle.”
Actually, they were in Humboldt, Arizona, where unbeknown to Dave, there was an exact replica of Doc’s Reata Pass in Scottsdale. This Reata Pass was owned by Doc’s brother in Humboldt.
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