BACK COUNTRY BYWAY - ARIZONA

 Rolling on the throttle and leaving Oatman behind, the ST and I plunged back out into the open desert. Still heading west. Even though the exhilarating hairpins through the Black Mountains were all conquered, this stretch of dessicated desert was impressive in it's own way. Plus it was relaxing and serene.



Oatman was approximately the half-way point on the 42-mile Route 66 Historic Back Country Byway. This byway starts about 5-miles south of Kingman in McConnico and then ends to the southwest at Topock/Golden Shores. So, I was only about 25-miles from crossing the Colorado River into California !







In the middle of the desert, in a gravel parking area, was a kiosk containing some historic information pertaining to Route 66 over the years. I'll share the light-reading "Americana" history with you.



The Changing Decades ...

In the decades between the 1930's and 1950's, travelers along Historic Route 66 changed markedly ... along with their hopes and dreams, their vehicles and accomodations, and their perspective of the Black Mountains.

Dust, Depression, and the Promised Land:

A half-million people migrated from the Dust Bowl states to the fertile California fields during the Depression Era of the 1930's. Carrying all their worldly possessions in their Model A or Model T Fords, these hearty migrants feared the steep, winding grades of Route 66 over the Black Mountains. Many even hired local residents to drive or tow their car over the dreaded Sitgreaves Pass in the cool of evening before crossing the Colorado into the Mojave Desert.

Glamour, Convertibles, and Adventure:

As prosperity followed World War II, military convoys were replaced by convertibles and the glitz of Hollywood. Movie stars joined other travelers on Route 66 seeking the adventure of the open road, and the roadside camps of the 1930's grew into businesses to serve the new fun-seekers. Their view of the Black Mountains changed from an obstacle of nature to an adventurous challenge. Here too, crossings were not only east to west, but also west to east - and back again !

Gateway to the Southwest:

The 1950's brought a surge in that new American phenomenon - the family vacation. Route 66 enticed travelers to and through the heartland of the scenic Southwest. Although improvements in the family station wagon made driving easier, drivers also wanted faster roadways through flatter landscapes. In 1953, Route 66 was officially rerouted through Yucca and away from the Black Mountains - one less obstacle to cross-country travel.
A New Vision



While the popular television program "Route 66" ran it's course, the view of the Black Mountains shifted from winding barrier to one of scenic beauty and valuable resources. The mountains still hold visions of America's past, such as remnants of the mining community of Gold Road and the nostalgic flavor of Oatman. But the mountains also house 150,000 acres of wilderness and the largest herds of wild burros and desert bighorn sheep in Arizona. Clearly the Black Mountains have remained a constant in a changing world.

Get Your Kicks ...

Whatever brings you here - scenic beauty, history, or nostalgia - follow the Main Street of America through the Black mountains. Witness the striking beauty of the mountains at sunrise, hear the bray of a distant burro, spot bighorn on a rocky crag. Whatever you want, you'll likely find it ... ON ROUTE 66.