Over the years we have done this hike a couple of times, always in the winter because the trail is very exposed and would be hot in the summer. For some reason I come here in honor of my dad, whose birthday would have been this coming Saturday. He would be 104 years old. Whew! He never visited us in Arizona (he passed away in 1996, long before this adventure), but except for the elevation changes of the trail (he was a flatlander after all), he would have liked it here. It is very, very quiet.
The hike is at the beginning of the Monument, where the rock formations are not as spectacular as further in, but the photos should give an impression. It is the only trail where dogs are allowed, so there we go.
A tarantula enjoying a bit of sun.
In 2011 the Chiricahuas, including the Monument, burnt long and hard, which is one reason we have avoided the place lately. Evidence of the fire are everywhere, and the pines in the valley at the end of the hike are almost all gone except for the very end. Mom is working on the repairs however, and there were new grasses and small little pines already growing.
We had lunch at trail's end, at the view of the Natural Bridge, and it was a grand day.
2 comments:
The "stuff" you all have in the southwest is just over-whelmingly beautiful to this eastern girl. Would love to see just a tiny bit of it. thanks so much for sharing pictures of your visit.
Come and see sometime :-).
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