March 02, 2010

Chiricahua National Monument, AZ

Day 1: We rolled along the interstate to the Walmart in Abilene, Texas.
Day 2: We rolled along the interstate to the Walmart in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Now here was a first: the security guard was meeting all the rv’ers and showing them where he would like them to park. There were more than twenty rv’s there Monday night! How welcomed we felt!

Day 3: We rolled along the interstate to the Elk’s Lodge in Willcox, Arizona. What a nice rv parking lot they have! We hooked up to the electricity, unhooked the rv, and were off to explore the Chiricahua National Monument. Here we found the snow we had seen for many miles!


This is an isolated mountain range that rises above the surrounding grassland in an area 36 miles south of Willcox. The Chiricahua Apache, led by Cochise, at one time controlled the land.


We passed on the hiking trails but did drive to Massai Point where we were in the snow.
The sun was shining and it was 62 degrees. What a way to say goodbye to Winter!


The rock pinnacles were formed from volcanic ash. This is balanced rock!


Swedish immigrants settled here in 1888 and by the 1920s they had turned their home into a guest ranch. They took visitors on horseback rides or hiking trails through the “Wonderland of Rocks” and lobbied for the area’s protection. They were rewarded for their efforts in 1924 when the national monument was established.










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