To the Monument and Out Again

Probably not the "heavenly gate" there (above), but to me the views all along this highway between Dos Cabezas and the Chiricahua National Monument are heavenly, so Sunny and I went for a little drive last night, had a quick picnic inside the Monument, and then drove back home into the sunset. If you click on each photo to see it full-screen, you'll get more out of the trip.

 

Running Across Water (Literally)

 

There are signs in places along many county roads that say DO NOT ENTER WHEN FLOODED. My husband could never imagine floodwater across those roads, but at last I saw it. Above is the Kansas Settlement Road on March 1. I was headed (with my dog, of course) for the Mustang Mall (which is not what you think of as a mall at all, and I'll have to do a whole photo-essay on that place one of these days), and our route took us down this road to connect with AZ191. After a stop for gas and coffee, we (dog and I) took the road north toward the Chiricahua Mountains, and I thought we might explore a little way up Turkey Creek, because surely there would be water there -- and there was! I remember how excited David and I were the first time we saw Turkey Creek....

Turkey Creek is always exciting and hard to leave behind, but the wind was so fierce that the freshly graded road surface was exploding in dust devils, so it was back to the highway in the direction of Chiricahua National Monument. And every place that my husband and I had occasionally seen water crossing the road -- but none at any of these places in  November-December 2021, a very dry winter -- it was now pouring in sheets. So beautiful!

Do you think I would have had enough of water by that point? No, I decided Sunny Juliet deserved a chance to stretch her legs, and so into the Monument we went and for a little walk along Bonita Creek. There were wild turkeys that Sunny, happily for the turkeys, did not notice. She had seen some from the car earlier, along Turkey Creek, and barked at them, but these Bonita Creek turkeys ambled away undisturbed into the brush. The turkeys have paired up now, by the way, and are no longer in their large winter flocks.

Ah, but Bonita Creek! So often have I seen it a dry, rocky bed that it was intoxicating to see the water tumbling and rippling along between the banks. 

Only months (or years, I'm sure) of desert living can explain the lift of the heart at the sight of naturally running water! Can you back in the Midwest even begin to imagine how thrilling these sights are in Arizona?

But the wind was exhausting. It turned out there had been a dust storm warning in effect all the early afternoon while Sunny and I had been out on the roads, but we had survived and were now on our way back to the cabin. This sign mentioning the distance to the ghost town always makes me smile.

Only one more ford, and then we're on dry road the rest of the way home, with Chiricahua in the rearview mirror. I needed to get indoors and rest. It had been a long, difficult day, owing to memories. But the flowing water helped, at least for a while.

Sunny Sunday Expedition: Chiricahua National Monument

On the way out, a favorite sycamore

 I need to start using my camera again. Sunny Juliet needs a chance to explore new territory. So this Sunday morning I bundled us into the car with a very simple picnic, and off we went down the road to Chiricahua National Monument. 

So beautiful, always

The way is broad in some places, narrow in others.

Surprise: a savannah in the mountain forest

Rocky path, distant view

Bark

Lichen

Overhead view (from bench along path)

Grass

Cluster of dead leaves on rock

Tired puppy takes a break

Back to the Visitors Center parking lot...

...and a beautiful drive back home.

A Saunter Halfway Down the Easy Trail

 

I wouldn't take a dog on a leash on the Echo Canyon Loop that my neighbor and I hiked two years ago. Even the trail going up from the Visitor Center was no fun when another friend and I tried it with Sarah. But from Faraway Ranch to the Visitor Center an easy trail beckoned, and the other day I tried half of it, beginning at the Visitor Center and walking halfway to Faraway Ranch. Had I not left my phone at home, I could have walked the whole distance and called David to pick me up at the other end, but when I left him at the parking lot I didn't know how long the trail was or how much of it I wanted to explore that day. 

It was so lovely! Chiricahua Monument was busier than we expected on a weekday (spring break?), but the trail was wilderness-quiet and empty. I saw the deer before I had time to get my camera in position -- and then didn't want to alarm them. Just stood and watched. They stood and watched back. Magical moments with time standing still. 

There were, however, signs of not-so-peaceful times: forest fire struck here not all that long ago.

Burned tree

Most trees, though, were flourishing, and many were gigantic, especially along the bed of the creek, dry at present.

Occasional openings in the canopy give way to spectacular mountain views.

There were stretches of lovely, open stretches of savannah, but whether in these parklike areas or along the dry creek, the trees are the stars of the trail.

Though sometimes my eye was attracted to smaller scenes at ground level or only slightly above.

Silver Spur Meadow: evocative name, beautiful place!

Every so often a bench had been placed at the side of the trail, and a couple of interpretive signs gave some history along the way. The "tree army" sign brought my Uncle Paul to mind, as he served in the CCC during World War II while his brothers were in the Army and Navy. Paul, who had lost much of his hearing from measles in childhood, was not considered fit for the military, but he did good work for his country, and I was always impressed by his knowledge of trees.

Were these monumental twin fireplaces part of the old CCC camp? I should have read the sign more thoroughly, but I will go back another time better prepared to linger.

Next photograph may not look like much to you, but to my eye --. Look closely! Evidence of horses!!!

Were my boots made for walkin'? They did quite a bit of it on Thursday. The dust tells the story. 

Maybe I'll start at the Faraway Ranch end next time....