Saturday, February 14, 2015

Arizona & New Mexico

Although Kent and I lived in Flagstaff for 30 years we had never been to Cochise County in southeastern Arizona. In February we covered a 2000 mile loop through Arizona and parts of New Mexico. It was a great time of visiting with friends, as well as exploring some new places. Kartchner Caverns and Chiricahua National Monument each provided us with some fun filled days. We also took in some mine tours in Bisbee and Tombstone. More adventures awaited us in the Gila National Forest near Silver City, New Mexico. We enjoyed the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and hiking into Lightfeather Hot Springs and a side trip to Mogollon Ghost Town. We circled back through the White Mountains on our way to Flagstaff; reminiscing of our time spent there over the years. After being delayed by a snowstorm near Jacob Lake, it felt good to be home...especially when we discovered we had a nail in our tire! Yikes!

A welcoming sight......we're almost to Flagstaff

We had a good visit with friends, Mike & Peggy

At Chick-fil-a we ran into Carolyn & Arlene Potter

Pinto Creek Bridge spans Devil's Canyon along HWY 60

Randy and one of his toys......wow!

Border Patrol Security Checkpoints are a common sight in Southern Arizona

This tethered surveillance blimp could be seen from miles away

We toured the Rotunda/Throne and Big Rooms at Kartchner Caverns; cameras are not allowed in the caverns

This map shows the area we were visiting

It's hard to believe that the caverns are located in these hills along the base of the Whetstone Mountains

We hiked a 3.5 mile loop that surrounds the caverns

Hiking along

Looking towards the Chiricahua Mountains

We were fortunate to see a hummingbird

Remnants of Fairbank, an old Railroad Town

Tombstone Courthouse



We walked the streets of Tombstone

If only this safe could talk

We toured the Good Enough Silver Mine in Tombstone

Veins of silver

Colorful ores

The famous Boothill Cemetery

Bisbee, a quaint town nestled amongst the Mule Mountains

The Lavender Pit, a former open pit copper mine

Into the Copper Queen Mine we go.......

Other than our flash lights, there were no lights in the mine


Ridin' the rails underground.....we almost look official.....huh?

A potty mining car....two at a time!

Lowell, a suburb of Bisbee

I remember shopping at Sprouse-Reitz years ago

Nice mural

Lowell, cute as could be

Bonita Canyon Drive at Chiricahua National Monument

Our first coat-mundi sighting

They were not happy with each other, you should have heard the ruckus

The Chiricahua's are known as a 'Sky Island"

Starting out on the Echo Canyon Loop

This was a fun trail to hike

Different shapes and colorful formations

Colorful pinnacles in every direction

It was an easy trail

Mushroom Rock

Tall columns reaching for the sky

We completed an 8 mile scenic loop

Faraway Ranch


We are in New Mexico now

We hiked an easy 1 mile loop in Cliff Dweller Canyon

The homes were built in 5 natural caves

Small doors for small people



Awesome craftsmanship



This is the only way to reach Lightfeather Hot Springs

Yes, I was crazy enough to follow him

The Hot Springs bubble out of the ground at 150 degrees......add the river water for the perfect temperature

A view of the pool from up above



Buildings on Main Street

Hearst Church built in 1898

Adobe church wall

An old vacant house

We are heading towards Mogollon Ghost Town

The road we traveled


The ghost town is nestled in the valley

We talked to a couple of woodworkers who are helping restore the town from recent floods

Ceiling in the woodworking shop



Weekends during the summer a few businesses are open, this being one of them


See how much dirt the creek pushed up against the buildings

Restoration work being done after the recent flood

It was a narrow winding road

Morenci, AZ Mine is the largest Copper producer in North America

From Pinal Point we could see Mt. Graham in the Pinaleno Mountains to the south



Mule deer

Rose Peak Lookout Tower

Looking east toward Mogollon, New Mexico

We spotted these antelope near Eagar

Then we saw these big horn sheep walking along the highway

A semi-truck was stuck and blocking the entire highway at Jacob Lake

Yea...for snowplows!

On the road again.....heading home!

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