Madera Canyon

We have been to Madera Canyon a number of times and each time is a new experience.  The first time we went - a couple of years ago - we were struck by the beauty of being in a forest in Arizona.  Once we were there in the middle of summer and the difference in elevation proved a blessing, a difference of 20 degrees, and shade.  And once we were there early March and ran into quite a bit of snow heading on the trail to Mt. Wrightson, a 9,456 feet tall mountain south of Tucson, nearing the Mexican border, and it is part of the Sky Islands (southern part of the Rocky Mountains.)   This area is in the Santa Rita Mountains. Very family friendly, hiking, picnicking, camping.  

Heading to Santa Rita Mnts

Trail cleaned and smoothed out

Turn off to Mt. Wrightson

As we started our climb (we would eventually go up 3,000 feet) we noticed from the last time we were there that someone (Boy Scouts? Rangers? Friends of Madera Canyon?) had greatly improved the trail to the fork where you continue to the saddle, or go on up to Mt. Wrightson.  We had tried to go as high as we could on that trail prior time, to us pretty challenging, but really didn't enjoy that trail as much as the one to Agua Caliente spring (saddle), which is still a pretty steep and rugged trail.  We went so far, taking lots of pictures and enjoying the snow even though the temperature was in the low 50s.

Very impressed with trail's improvement

Started to see snow

Arizona Sycamore

Lovely hike, and the smells of forest

Mt. Wrightson, 65 years ago, had a tragedy.  Six Boy Scouts began to hike up the trail to the top of the mountain and an unexpected snow storm came in.  Three of the 6 turned back while the other 3 continued on and 19 days later, their bodies were retrieved.  We have always thought to hike to the spot where the memorial is, but never got that high on the trail.  And it gets pretty rocky at the point we stop, but every year family and friends of the deceased hike up to the spot and pay their respects.  Sad.

At this point we went 2500 feet up

Our lunch spot

Madera Canyon has become one of our favorite places to visit.  We always pack a lunch before and find a nice spot to enjoy nature.

Photo of photographer

Doesn't look bad, but was dicy here

Was surprised at how, relatively, easy the hike up was.  Coming back down, stepping down over rocks and man-made steps of stone, a bit more dicy.  All in all very pleasant.  Wanted to see water flowing down from the mountain but there still was quite bit of snow the farther we moved up.  Still lovely.  And we keep coming back.

Agua Caliente

For the past couple or months Dave and I have been out roaming around, trying to find different places to hike or casual walk. Sometimes we have gone back to our known haunts such as Boyce Thompson which is an arboretum north of Oro Valley, or to Madera Canyon about 20 miles southeast of Tucson. We also go to Ramsey Canyon which is much farther south, not far from the Mexican border and that is a hummingbird paradise. But, I wanted to go to a yarn store north of Tucson and it's on the way to Mount Lemmon. Found Agua Caliente and we were blown away.

Who knew something like this is in the middle of the desert? It's located north of Tucson, and it's where a fault in the earth has made hot water (caliente is hot in Spanish, agua is water) seep out and down the mountain. They have had archealogical digs and found that peoples were in the area over 2000 years ago. The Army had a fort south called Fort Lowell, an historical neighborhood still in existance today,just north west of downtown. On our way to Agua Caliente I knew that we were not far from the ranch that Paul McCartney and his wife Linda owned (he still owns it) and visited over the years.

Were able to tour the ranch house (saw some neat quilts) and learned more of the history of the ranch over th years from when the Army came through to conservation to ensure it continues to function as a sanctuary. Just gorgeous. I was astounded at the number of turtles. Lots of photographers taking pictures of cormerants, of various duck species, lots of birds. It is known as a fly-way for migrating birds in the fall and spring.

Alpine, Arizona

When we were traveling full-time in the RV, we often found ourselves gravitating towards mountains.  We were very comfortable visiting Colorado, Wyoming, Montana.  Always seemed the higher the mountains, the better our stay. Now our horizons have expanded by visiting Alpine.

The mountains call us - east of Safford, AZ

Twisty curves going into New Mexico

Being fall, the pull of the mountains was great so we planned a little trip to Alpine, Arizona which is 4 miles from the border of New Mexico, in the upper northeast corner of the state.  Elevation was 8000 feet plus at times.  But, oh what  wonderful place!  On our drive home (was just 260 miles away or 5 hours) we said that with Alpine so close, we don't need to gravitate back to Colorado which we were doing the past couple of years.  Now, visit Alpine, get our fix and then plan other kinds of vacations.

Lunch spot - 1 mile from New Mexico

Welcome to Alpine, AZ

Our morning visitors

Big Daddy sniffing the girls

We rented an Airbnb cabin, fully equipped, 2 bedrooms but could sleep 9 people if need, just outside town.  Beautiful weather, we left Tucson in 100 degrees and when we checked in it was 65.  At night it got chilly, for us. to 42.  The colors of the aspen trees just turning gold, the Arizona oaks and the cottonwoods lining the rivers we visited.Tall evergreen trees, pines, but lots of burned stumps and tree skeletons from the Wallo Fire of 2011 which is still the largest wildfire in Arizona history, burning more than 522,000 acres. Eight neighboring communities were evacuated and the regrowth from the fire is slow.  Such a shame.  It started by a campfire that was mis-managed, the 2 men were found guilty and had to pay over $109 million in damage.  We had experienced the burns from our visit to Greer 2 years ago and also visiting Big Lake where we saw some of the burn-out.

She was staring in thru the window at us

Passed these 2, later saw them come to campground

Burned marks from fire, Aspens growing below

Friday morning started before sunrise with elk grazing right in front of us.  I had heard something moving outside the cabin about 2am and woke Dave up and we turned on the outside lights and elk were right by the door, grazing.  They eventually moved away.  But pretty awesome to see. More than 50 elk - we just couldn't keep up with counting.  Bugling, the huge male snorting after the females who ran away from him.  I looked out the back window and 2 elk were standing near the window looking in at us. Peeping Sallies (female).

Lunch spot - so peaceful

Squirrel bugged us - feed me!

Been a long time since I have seen a wooly bear!

We stopped by the Forest Ranger's office Friday morning to get info on where to see and how to get to the East Fork of the Black River, and to the West Fork.  We chose the East Fork for that day.  Oh, so pretty.  Found the river, sat and had lunch by it, and traveled along the dirt road and drifted to Big Lake, a 20 minute ride north.  During the ride we came across big horn sheep grazing along the road.  A truck was stopped and as they went by the man said he lives near 'here and I've never seen so many big horns in one area!' Huh.

Big Horn Sheep

He would not move - stubborn

On or way out of canyon to Big Lake

Short visit to Big Lake, will come back next day

Saturday started the same with seeing elk grazing in the meadow in front of us.  Headed out to visit the West Fork of the Black River, and saw really burned out land - after 13 years still has not regrown.  Eventually we dropped down into the canyon and was about to give up when we saw a man with a fly fishing rod - and said - there's the river, how do we get to it.  About 1/2 mile further we found a nice spot to stop by the river.  And a few minutes later a young woman with 2 small children on an ATV stopped.  I first thought they were going to tell us we were trespassing, but she was bringing the kids to wade in the water.  They were camping not far from where we turned around - the road was getting pretty rough.  We could see the campground but thought, oh well.  She told us that in 2 weeks the area is shut down.  Timing!

More wooly bears

Lunch spot Saturday

Lady and her 2 small children 

Adorable

Crawfish skeleton - reminds me of my youth, catching these

Lunch spot - had 4 ATVers lunching near by

The Goat resting, very dirty

We then spent time at Big Lake, we briefly stopped there the day before, but decided to end the day there, watching folks fish and the boaters/kayakers moving on the water.  

Evidence of trying to get pine trees to grow (protectors)

Fire tower

Big Lake

That night we could hear the elk calling, could see them in the distance, but they did not come close to the cabin.  And in the morning, they were not to be seen. How lucky we saw them the first 2 nights and mornings.  Drive home was relaxing, we said we now can get a quick fix of the mountains which will now open us up to going back to the Pacific Northwest next summer.