Eastern Sierra

Eastern Sierra
Eastern Sierra snow October 2010

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Arizona trip, Part 1~ to Payson




Hubby and I just returned home from 9 days in Arizona~3 in Scottsdale and 5 nights up on the Mogollon Rim.  For those of you not familiar with Arizona, the Mogollon Rim, at one time, was below sea level.  It was gradually pushed up and is now over 7,000 high.  This is one of Arizona's forest areas, with huge ponderosa pines and squirrels and elk and deer.This area extends from Payson to the New Mexico border.  And, yes, unfortunately, this summer's Wallow fire was right in this area~down by Springerville, Alpine, and Hannigan Meadows.  Acres and acres of thick forest were burned and one day, hubby and I took a drive down that way.  It was depressing. But, back to the beginning!  We drove up Highway 260, which runs from Payson across the Mogollon Rim.  At this ranger station (we ALWAYS stop here...), you can park and walk out and see the view from the rim.  You can literally see for miles and miles and miles...nothing but pine trees.  We always like this little station because they have very informative items there.  Unfortunately, somebody broke in during the spring and stole some items, so they don't have much right now.  They did have this collection of bird skeletons and bones and feathers.  Oh, and this beautiful poster of Arizona's rattlesnakes (I've yet to see one of them, thank goodness!)  We did see several logging trucks, which we don't see here in Southern California, and hubby shot this photo right out of the car windshield.  While we were there, we saw a sign which announced the Payson rodeo over the weekend.  Unfortunately, we left yesterday, but we did drive by it and I've NEVER seen such huge horse trailers!  My goodness!  Hubby saw the Wells Fargo coach and team while I was pumping gas.  We did drive by it as they were loading the coach into an 18-wheeler.  So, part 1 of our trip was from Scottsdale to Payson.  Payson is at about 5,000 feet.  There were thunderstorms every day we were there and, on this first day, thunderheads were overhead.

4 comments:

Pat said...

That is a beautiful area. We drive through it on our way to Mesa where we spend the winter. Each January the Hashknife Pony Express is re-enacted from Holbrook to Payson. Read all about it here: http://www.hashknifeponyexpress.com

We didn't go up and see the riders last year, but I hope to do it next January!

Louise said...

I wonder if that was the rodeo where the bucking horse got totally out of control and crashed through the fence surrounding the arena? The video was scary to watch, but no one, not even the horse, was hurt. I can see why you like that ranger station so much. It's lovely.

Randy said...

I love Payson but I hate the snakes. There is a beautiful lake near there called Woods Canyon. The best place for a nice weekend of camping.

Cassy said...

I admire those views. It seems a very good place to live or to spend a vacation.

Cassy from Advanced Guitar Lessons