IN SEARCH OF THE CHIRICAHUA SNOW

WE CROSS A STREAM OF MELTING SNOW WATER

Well, let’s get off the future Florida options and get ourselves back to the here & now in good old Arizona.  Since arriving at the Ranch a couple weeks ago we basically haven’t done much and have hardly left the property.  Today, we went in search of ‘snow’.

From the first day we rolled into the Sulphur Springs Valley I noticed a fair bit of snow in the distant Chiricahua Mountains.  Had a nice sunny day going for us so we loaded up the Pheebs and headed for the snowy peaks.  Wanted to get Pheebs out playing in the snow plus I was curious about the damage caused by the devastating forest fires early last summer.

 

PHEEBS CHECKS OUT A HERD OF CATTLE ALONGSIDE THE ROAD  

North of Elfrida we turned right on Rucker Canyon road and headed east for the Chiricahua Mountains.  Could see a fair bit of snow had already melted but we didn’t let that deter us.  This is familiar territory for me, having made about half a dozen trips into Rucker Canyon over the past 4 years.  One of my favorite places.  Anyone typing ‘Mary Kidder Rak’  or ‘Fort Rucker’ into our blogs search bar can read of our trips to old Camp Rucker and Mary Kidder Rak’s homestead.  Mary Kidder Rak wrote the book, ‘A Cowman’s Wife’ and after reading the book a few years ago, her and Charlie’s old homestead took on a nice bit of meaning for me.

 

CROSSED A FEW MOUNTAIN STREAMS TODAY

We made our way along the winding and scenic gravel road up into Rucker Canyon.  Didn’t stop at the Fort or Homestead today but rolled on by into Tex Canyon.  We saw evidence of fire damage along the road from near Fort Rucker all the way into Tex Canyon.  Not severe damage and you had to look hard to see the burn marks at the base of some trees.  Overall, everything looked fine with no change to the great scenery.

  

 

THIS HILLS WERE ONCE FORESTED WITH 'PINE TREES, AGAVE, PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS, MESQUITE TREES, ETC.

About 10 miles past the Fort we did begin to notice whole hillsides off to the east that had been burnt.  In some places right up to the road we were driving on.  Must have been quite a fire line they had along this road because the fire was beaten back and never jumped across the roadway.  We also noticed there was not a speck of snow to be seen anywhere.

IN THIS AREA THE FIRES SWEPT DOWN THOSE HILLSIDES AND WAS STOPPED AT THE ROAD IN THE FOREGROUND

Made a U-turn and headed back to the Fort Rucker area & made a right turn heading up to a camp ground we knew to be at the end of a dead end road.  Still no snow and we began to realize we were not going to find any either.  The snow was on the higher peaks to the North. 

 

A CURIOUSLY GREEN TIPPED SET OF ROCKS ALONG A ROCKY RIDGE

Last time I had been up this road was last winter when I led a couple car loads of Bisbee hikers into the area to scout out some new trails for their Mule Team Hiking Club.  You can read my post about that day here at….MULE TEAM.

 

ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL SCENERY IN ANY MOUNTAIN RANGE

This Rucker campground is really secluded and we have never seen anyone here.  A mountain stream runs right through it and it is completely forested with tall Pine trees.  It is also at the extreme end of the road.  Picnic tables, BBQ grills, steel containers for food and garbage.  Keeps the Bears away.  Wouldn’t recommend bringing a big Motorhome up the road but truck campers, Class B campers, and small Class C’s would be just fine.  I think smaller 5th wheels would be fine too.

 

 

A LAST LOOK AROUND……. AND THEN WE WERE GONE 

Time was getting on so we slipped quietly back down Rucker Canyon road and out of the Chiricahua Mountains into the long ranging & rolling grass fields of Leslie Canyon.  Just another super great scenic drive.  By 3:30 we were back at the Ranch and an hour later I had the chores done for another day.

Ranch dog Gleeson stayed for a sleep over last night and Pheebs thought that was pretty special.  I thought it was pretty special too:))  And, who knows what Motor is thinking half the time.  Pheebs really gets along well with Charlie the Cat over in the Ranch house too.  But then again, Pheebs just gets along with everything……..:))

Couple things regarding Monday night’s post.  I mistakenly put in our own link for Deb’s FIND AN OUTLET.  I have since corrected that.  Thanks Pat:))  Question about where we buy our travel insurance….Canada.  Wild Blue Yonder left a very informative comment on Monday’s post about medical insurance and dealing with hospitals, etc.  Thank you….couldn’t seem to locate your blog site.  Another question about family members.  When I referred to two family members left I meant my Aunt and Uncle.  Yes, I have one Son and 3 Grand Children.    But, that’s a whole blog or two in itself which I may write about at some point in the future.

TRYING TO GET PHEEBS TO POSE FOR A PICTURE

Three new Blog Followers to welcome today. Kathleen, AVERY'S WANDERINGS, and Mary Sprow. Welcome aboard and thanks for reading our blog.  It’s you folks who give me the inspiration at the end of each day to keep the blog current on a daily basis:))

ROLLING HOME THROUGH SCENIC LESLIE CANYON

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Five-year-old Becky answered the door when the census taker came by. She told the census taker that her daddy was a doctor and wasn't home because he was performing an appendectomy.
"My," said the census taker, "that sure is a big word for such a little girl. Do you know what it means?"
"Sure do! Fifteen-hundred bucks, and that doesn't even include the anesthesiologist!"

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