The history of this area is fantastic.  A thousand years ago the Indians who made the Mimbres Pottery lived here.  It is rumored that folks dig up burial sites in their gardens, and then quietly rebury the remains; little mention is made of it, unless you want your property to suddenly become offlimits to you.  Later Spanish ore trains wended their way thru, and the Apache attacked.  There were mines everywhere, towns of many thousands where nothing exists now, forts that are forgotten.

A few hundred yards up-canyon from us is what is left of an old house.  I would guess it was a Mexican family that farmed beans in the flats along the wash.  There are many such places all thru here, almost unknown.  How long ago was this?  Who could say?  We find bits of iron from harness, and tools, after heavy rains.

It was a small house, probably not much over a hundred ft. square.  The stones are simply cobble from the wash, and the mortar is the red adobe clay. It has held together for a long time for such simple materials.

When we arrived, 6 years ago, the leading edge of the wall was several feet back from the edge.  Now it almost balances on it.  I just wanted to commemorate this bit of masonry before it returns to the earth.

While not wanting to have a hand in its destruction, I must admit that I have taken a couple of stones and incorporated them into my own walls.

When heavy rains fall to the north, up toward the Gila Wilderness Area, Stitzel wash can roar.  It will be enough that we dare not cross it, but it rarely runs over 24 hours and then is gone.  Wet sand, some silt, and new rocks to sort thru and build with; that is what it leaves us.  I am careful down in the wash when there are storms north of us.  I have seen the wash come up fast on a sunny day.