the arizona desert can be a harsh place to drive, especially 50 years ago…radiators would overheat, tires would swell and go flat and the lack of air conditioning would test the endurance of the most hardy…then, after almost 1800 miles, there were the mountains…route 66 reached the mountains in western arizona…here the going got even worse…switch backs up and over and down would put a worthy vehicle to the test…there at the base was cool springs, the last oasis before heading up and over…here you could get fresh water, a cool drink and have the car looked over before the grueling climb toward california…pictured here was the alternative…for those unable to make it, their only hope was to be towed back to the start and get patched up for another try…