In the morning light the field of chollas looked soft enough to hug, but Josh knew to keep his hands and feet in the Jeep as he sped down the dirt road. He was on his way to meet the Virtual Jeepsters for a day of wheeling in Box Canyon. He was late, but eventually caught up with them at the designated lunch spot. It was there that a small group decided on another destination - the Coke Ovens.
The "road" to these remote Arizona oddities required high clearance 4WD and experienced drivers. Josh was up for the challenge. Soon, he was dodging scorpions nesting in downed saguaro cactus as he made his way along the technical trail. The trio of Jeeps tackled a staircase of rocks and other bumpy terrain until it reached its destination.
The Coke Ovens are five beehive kilns standing 30 feet high in the no-man's land between Florence and Superior. In the late 1800s, the ovens were used to turn mesquite wood to coke - a type of charcoal that burns at a much higher temperature. The coke was then used to smelt gold and silver ore from neighboring mines. Aside from the Gila River and an old railroad, there isn't much but the idea of a road to ovens anymore.
They are well preserved for their age, and offer a cool rest stop, but not much else. Soon Josh and the Jeepsters were off, crossing the Gila River to a maintained dirt road and eventually, the main highway in Florence.
In true Western style, Josh said goodbye to his companions and set off into the setting sun in his trusty ride.
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