Down the mountain on a Tractor

[crash325]

In 1962 I went to see my dad in the White Mountains in NE AZ, Met him near Hannigan Medows. he was on his way down to the ranch house down on Blue River. After a chit chat he says will I take his tractor down to the river. Sure, no problem.

Tractor was at Beaver Head Lodge (no longer there). They had an old gas pump that you pumped gas into then let it run into your tank. Beaver Head was right where the Red Hill road dropped down to the river. A little narrow, somewhat steep and twisty.

I Don't remember the name of the tractor, but it was a lot older than I was. Maybe from sometime in the 1930s. It ran fine and had a road gear that would let you get up to about 8 MPH. Brakes: One small problem, they were external bands around a drum. The brake pedal was to lever over a raised spot on the floor boards. The raised spots were worn all the way through so the brakes did not work. I broke a couple of branches off a tree and put them under the pedals. Now I have "Some" brakes.

On a couple if down hill "U" turns, low gear and my sort of brakes still let me go somewhat faster than was real comfortable.

Once at the bottom, almost home free. Just cross the river about 4 times, go slow on the steep ups & downs. In only about 4 hours I had gone all of 10 miles.

Just in time for a cold supper. :laughing:

 

[Baby Grand]

In 1962 I went to see my dad in the White Mountains in NE AZ, Met him near Hannigan Medows. he was on his way down to the ranch house down on Blue River. After a chit chat he says will I take his tractor down to the river. Sure, no problem.

Tractor was at Beaver Head Lodge (no longer there). They had an old gas pump that you pumped gas into then let it run into your tank. Beaver Head was right where the Red Hill road dropped down to the river. A little narrow, somewhat steep and twisty.

I Don't remember the name of the tractor, but it was a lot older than I was. Maybe from sometime in the 1930s. It ran fine and had a road gear that would let you get up to about 8 MPH. Brakes: One small problem, they were external bands around a drum. The brake pedal was to lever over a raised spot on the floor boards. The raised spots were worn all the way through so the brakes did not work. I broke a couple of branches off a tree and put them under the pedals. Now I have "Some" brakes.

On a couple if down hill "U" turns, low gear and my sort of brakes still let me go somewhat faster than was real comfortable.

Once at the bottom, almost home free. Just cross the river about 4 times, go slow on the steep ups & downs. In only about 4 hours I had gone all of 10 miles.

Just in time for a cold supper. :laughing:

Sometimes just getting there is plenty good enough! I had a memorable drive up 666 back in the 80's. I was relieved to make it to the store at Alpine.