Originally we had planned to drive to Tucson, the beautiful road # 191 north and in the national parks in the area of to hike the Colorado River. Due to cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, we decided to stay in the south and even up to the Big Bend (Big Bend of the Rio Grande) in go to Texas. Now we still had an opportunity to # 191 - traveled to - from north to south. This trip was a unique experience.
After a cold night - in the RV 3 ° in the morning - we warm ourselves from the sun and still talk with the German couple, before we leave at 10 clock. Today, we gain an hour in Arizona, because that State which, although known as New Mexico Mountain Time, summer time (daylight) does not adopt.
We drive the # 180 crossing north, the San Francisco River and go to Luna after the winter ski Alpine. Here we reach an altitude of 2400 m. From Alpine, we now ahead of our dream Highway 191 south. During the following 160 km long and about a three-hour drive through the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, we meet not only place and only in Hannagan Meadow is a small, yet hardly awakened from hibernation restaurant. The cars that we encounter are to count on one hand. The road leads right up to 2800 m, falls and rises steeply once again. Some routes are operating only at 20 MPH. Snow walls, which mainly come from the last big snowfall three weeks ago, lined the roadsides. We thrive on the dense forests. A variety of conifers, of which we know only a few lined the street. Stream, which are fed by melting water bubbling, the Road. In the distance we see again and again high snow mountains: to the east of the Tularosa Mountains, southwest of the Pinaleno Mountains with the 10,717 ft. high Mt Graham, at whose feet we will arrive today evening. We would have spent the next night somewhere in the beautiful forest, but the campgrounds are in this level all still covered in snow and therefore closed. In addition, it would be in the height between 2200 and 2400 m at night very cold.
comes after 160 km, 10 km from Clifton then, cold shower ': We hardly have to leave the National Forest, defaced, a huge mining area to the foothills of the mountains. The company Phelps Dodge Mining Company is building in Morenci copper on a surface, require for their passage we have a good quarter of an hour, starting. Since 1937, a whole mountain is worn away. Miles of water pipes and conveyor belts carry the terraced slopes along, huge trucks, the wheels of 3.6 m in diameter, can load 270 tons, cost $ 2 million per vehicle, crashing on winding trails and swirl the red or yellow dust high aloft. In Morenci and Clifton are hundreds of bald's barracks, a railway runs from the south to here. Good news: the need for the removal of water is recycled, some several times.
nature
... and technology:
The # 191 continues as a well-developed highway. At the sign to Guthrie, we suddenly see in the distance yellow ridges. Esther is shocked: she says, here are copper and gold credits. This is not so: The mountain slopes are covered in a bright yellow flowering poppy (Mexican Poppy), mixed with carpets of purple and white flowers. During the next 10 km are accompanied on both sides of the road sprawling fields of flowers.
At 17 clock we reached - after a driving time of 6 hours - Our goal: the Campground of the Roper Lake SP. A very nice place, a small, deep blue lake, behind the snowy Pinaleno Mountains. It is wonderfully warm. Many birds can be seen. A dozen Gambel's Quail run around and pick out the seeds, gliding down from Cottonwood, on the ground, Yellowheaded Blackbirds (blackbirds with yellow head and yellow breast) congregate in the trees of the square, ducks swimming in the water and come begging at our location. Swarms of swallows fly out of the reeds and the hunt for the mosquitoes.
The next day we take a short tour around the lake. Then we drive the Swift Road 5.14 Miles up the Pinaleno Mountains. The 35-mile mountain road that leads up to 3000 m altitude, is open only to miles 20th
At the Wet Canyon Picnic Area, at 1,800 m altitude, we see blooming Arizona alder (Alnus oblongifolia; Erlenart). On a small walk, we encounter countless lizards. Up to this height in the 19th Century, strong timber and beaten by brothers Jacobson processed in a sawmill. Grown are only bushes and small trees juniper (Juniper).
from 2000 m altitude, we see the familiar Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), White Fir (Abies concolor) and aspen (Populus tremuloides, quaking aspen). Small, yet surrounded by deep piles of snow holiday cottages are hidden in the forest - a fat target for forest fires! We provide the RV camping at Twilight, at 2250 m altitude and begin a hike on a trail that leads to an elevated place. But after 20 minutes we must repent, there is too much snow. While we enjoy the diversity of coniferous trees, on the other hand, we beelenden the great forest fire sites. After all, to grow certain amount senn points back to small conifers. The forest fires are usually caused by careless campers who have deleted their Camp Fire does not care. Camp Fire one of the Americans as the oversized cars, their engines rumbling, they can often run unnecessary. Even at high risk of forest fires - and there is often - may be gezeuselt, even if only with charcoal! do
Now we are on the trip to Chiricahua National Monument, although we know from our last trip here, but in which we must walk once again.
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