I arrived in Arizona June 6, 1985. Came south from Flag, backed into a Bumble Bee Mine Road cholla taking a photo of my wife and child in front of a sahuaro. There was no I-10 to US 60. US 60 was a few miles of 6 lane hints. We drove Van Buren East until we got on Main Street, Mesa. We drove that through Apache Junction, finally catching 2 lane US 60 to Superior and the Queen Creek Grade and tunnel.
Oak Flat is at the top of that climb up the grade. I have loved it since my first glimpse of the turnoff.
It has been here millions of years. The Oaks of Oak Flat are Gamble Oak, yielding a delicious, not too tannic small acorn, a base for mush, dumplings, stews and other excellent foods.
It has been a primary place for Western Apache people for centuries. It is a great place for family camping, a good base for hunting.
If you love the outdoors, this is an easily-reached, cooler, woodland forested area.
Superior is backed by a tall cliff named, "Apache Leap." Oak Flat is at the east side of this mountain. Various stories say the firces of Army General George Crook drove many Apache people to leap from this summit in 1877, Near the base of Picket Post Mountain near the Boyce Thompson Arboretum are volcanic tuff feposits containing black obsidian stones. These got named "Apache Tears" by rock salesmen - the tears of Apache widows mourning the men leaping to their deaths as they escaped Oak Flat.
I was going to work with Apache people in 1985. I've known a few, plus their children and grandchildren.
They are not fearful, suicidal cliff jumpers. Want Stong? Say, "Apache Woman."
It turns out the soldiers saw Apache people leaping doen the rock face - to their escape grom the Army.
https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/02/sparkys-quill-the-apache-leap
The area has been home to the Magma Mine for over a century. The mountain's privately-owned areas are honeycombed with once-rich metals deposits. Mining interests have been swapping other lands for 7,500 acres of Oak Flat land for decades. One of the nations richest copper and other metals deposits lie beneath Oak Flat.
What is more important to Our Family Human? Oak Flat as a natural feature, recharging groundwater, being what it has been for millions of years, or Oak Flat mines?
Plenty of examples exist. From Pinto Valley. Miami and Globe to Clifton, Morenci and other Sonoran Desert locations.
The choice is on the table for our elected and appointed leaders Right Now.
Visit while you can, no matter what the outcome is. read more