|
Where is New Year's Spring? Here is section of Whipple's Railroad Survey map showing New Year's Spring due west of Leroux Spring. Note: Camp 90 on this map is within the modern city limits of Flagstaff, Arizona:
In an unpublished research note titled "Where Was New Year's Spring," Dr. Andrew Wallace has determined that Hitson Tank is the location of New Year's Spring. To get to Hitson Tank, take Interstate 40 west out of Flagstaff or east out of Williams and exit at Pitman Valley Road, exit 171. Take Pitman Valley Road (County Road 74) north about three miles to the compressor station, where the pavement ends. continue north on the dirt road about .3 mile and turn left onto road 74A. After about 1.2 miles you'll come to a fork. Follow the left fork, road 055. At this point you'll be skirting the eastern edge of a clearing. Hitson Tank is in the middle of this clearing. It is apparently a spring-fed tank as there is no well there and very little inflow from runoff. If you follow road 055 a little farther around the hill you'll come to another clearing, just south of Radio Hill and west-northwest of the compressor station. This clearing is probably where Whipple camped in 1853-54. Here are sections of the USGS maps:
New Year's Spring pages: Whipple places: |
