In the land of Cochise & GeronimoApr 2, 2008
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The trail - roughly a 4 mile round trip - it follows...
Tracks left by the Butterfield stage as it traveled through Apache Pass.
Remains of the Butterfield stage coach station
| We are currently staying in Willcox Arizona, a short 60 miles from our previous 'home'. Todays outing will take in a couple of National Parks and a National Recreation area. First stop, Fort Bowie National Historic Site. A visit here requires a round trip walk of about 4 miles. Armed with hats, walking sticks and water we headed out. The Fort is located in the historic Apache Pass, which separates the Chiricahua & Dos Cabezas mountains. This area had been home to the Chiricahua Apaches since the 1400's. Located within the pass is Apache Springs, which is an unfailing source of water. Once 'discovered' the springs drew a long procession of emigrants, prospectors and soldiers. In 1858 John Butterfield built a stage coach stop here. The Butterfield Overland Mail stage drivers were tasked with getting mail from either St Louis or Memphis to San Francisco in 24 days. We found it very interesting that Butterfield had 2,000 employees, more than 250 coaches, several hundred wagons, 1,800 horses and mules and 240 stage stations along the 2800 mile route. Remember, this was in 1858! His drivers were only late in delivering the mail three times! The stage coach stop at Apache Pass is now in ruins but the wagon tracks are very visible. (be sure to check out the pictures!) The ruins of Fort Bowie date back to 1868. This was an active fort for over 26 years and served as the nerve center for military campaigns against the Chiricahua Apaches who were led first by Cochise and then by Geronimo. The size and scope of it was surprising to both of us. At its height it garrisoned over 300 troops. Cochise made peace in 1872. He and his people were moved to a reservation in southeastern Arizona. With his death in 1874 many of the young men on the reservation escaped and began to terrorize travelers and settlers in the area. Geronimo, while not a chief, was a leader of these renegades. He would surrender for the final time in September 1886. He and his remaining followers were brought to Fort Bowie. They were assembled on the parade ground and taken by wagons to the railroad for the long journey to exile in Florida. We spent over 5 hours here. It seems we couldn't get enough of the history that this place offers up. Just to stand at Apache Springs and think about Cochise & Geronimo being here was amazing! Imagine that you can take a drink from the same spring they did over 150 years ago. After a quick picnic lunch we headed down the road. A short 14 miles later we arrived at our next stop, Chiricahua National Monument. This park offers up some very unusual scenery. Established as a National Monument in 1924 it comprises over 11,000 acres, 86% of which is designated as wilderness. Most of the roadways and trails were built by the CCC (civilian conservation corps) in 1934. We took the scenic drive, a few short hikes and than headed out to our final stop of the day - Cochise Stronghold National Recreation area. We learned that many people come to the stronghold hoping to see some type of man made fortress. Cochise and his people had no need for anything man-made as nature had given them the perfect 'fortress'. It is believed that he is buried here - along with his favorite horse, dog and rifle. As a side note, there are no known photographs/portraits of Cochise. Current renderings are based on photographs of his two sons. After a quick stop at one of the 2 restaurants in Willcox it was back to the coach. It was a great day. For anyone who happens to be traveling through on Hwy 10 we would definately recommend taking the time to 'get off the freeway' and take in these sites!! |
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