Wanderings and Side Trips travel blog

Here we are - on another rock!

Wes found one that fit him perfectly!

The China Boy rock formation

Gary and Jo Ella ambushed us with snow balls.

The Organ Pipe formations

Look at this handsome guy

Sherri is having fun too

Snow on the Sugarloaf trail

and more snow on the peaks

Another amazing view

Is it a bird - or a sea lion?

This one looks like a rose bud

A view from the Echo Trail

A perfect perch for Gary

The Arizona Medrona bush

After the apple pie...


Today was a perfect day!! The sun was shining, the weather was warm, and we were on another outing with friends. Today we drove southwest of Willcox to the Chiricahua National Mounument. We drove across beautiful grasslands and up into the park to the visitors center. It was like a different world - actual mountains are here. I admit I had been having pangs of homesickness this past week, but today's trip took care of that! I felt like I was back in the Rocky Mountains. There were all kinds of trees and bushes and streams and deer roaming around. The rock formations are absolutely fantastic!! I have posted lots of photos, but like the Colorado Aspens in the fall, no photograph can do them justice. You will have to come and see this place for yourself.

We drove through the park stopping frequently to take photos and then we started up the winding road to the top. We stopped at a viewing area and climbed around on the rocks for a while and hiked around the area. Wes was in heaven - he loves to climb rocks. After we had seen enough here, we drove on up higher to another viewing area where several hiking trails depart and we had our picnic lunch. There was SNOW here!! I didn't realize how much I had missed snow, until I actually saw some. Gary and Sherri built miniature snowmen. Wes had met a couple on the trail from England and so he was busy talking.

After lunch, we took a short hike along the Echo Trail to the grottos. Some of us were slow pokes and didn't make it all the way, but we had a good time climbing more rocks and taking more photos. Wes and Sherri and I were taking our time on the return trip and as we rounded a corner, we were ambushed by Gary and JoElla throwing snowballs. Of course, return fire was in order.

We headed back down the mountain and stopped to take photos with the sun in the west this time. As we returned to Willcox, we stopped for Mile High Apple Pie at a little shop. The pie was great and the cinnamon ice cream was just the right touch.

We returned home tired and rejuvenated all at the same time. As I said before, Chiricahua National Monument is an incredible place. We will return here often.

Note: Thanks to Jo Ella for some of the photos.

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