White Mountains
August 15-22, 2023
It's been a cruel, cruel Summer. A repeat of 2020, something we hoped we'd never see again. The monsoon hesitated, then just turned around and walked away. We logged .01" of rain in June, .56" in July and .12" so far in August. Fruits shriveled on the branch. Plants fainted despite copious hand-watering. Birds lost their natural reserve and perched on our fence, screaming for water. By mid-August, we were desperate for cooler temperatures and the patter of rain on the roof. When we proposed a camping trip to the White Mountains, two batches of friends — one from Silver City and one from Tucson — eagerly signed on.
Miss Bea Haven at our favorite camping spot.
Ken gives us a tour of his custom-outfitted Sprinter. Slick!
Dennis and me relaxing in camp.
There are countless great options in the area, but we often prefer to bushwhack from camp. The first afternoon, we followed an old forest road to an overlook, then meandered back along Bill Riley Creek. Along the way, we saw a herd of more than 50 elk, charging through the woods in a tightly packed formation.
Meanwhile, Val and J arrived. Let's get this party started!
The next morning we did our usual hike to the summit of Wahl Knoll, 9768'.
Tres Amigos on Wahl Knoll.
Hiking back to camp through an aspen tunnel.
The next day all five of us took a walk over the ridge to a lush wetland that is the source of the South Fork Little Colorado River. But I took a wrong turn that dead-ended on an adjacent hillside, and we had to hightail it back to camp ahead of rainstorm. MacDougal Verbena in the foreground.
Our Silver City friends headed home on Friday, and an earnest rainstorm moved in to fill the void. It rained all afternoon, and well into the evening. This is what we came for!
We headed north to rendezvous with Matt and Susan, dropping out of the mountains and into the the vast crater-pocked plain on the far side of the Little Colorado River. Sunset walk to Tunnel Reservoir in Greer.
Potluck in camp at Rolfe C. Hoyer Campground. We normally eschew campgrounds, but this one exceeded our expectations. Spacious and quiet in a dense Ponderosa pine forest.
There was a network of trails right next to camp along Benny Creek. The wildflowers were mind-blowing. Susan snapped this photo of Dennis and me dancing the The Too-Close-to-the-Edge Two-Step.
Susan, out standing in her field.
For the final hike of the trip, we explored a social trail that runs along the West Fork Little Colorado River.
It had rained almost every day for a week. The creek was roaring, and the banks were awash in Summer wildflowers.
Fritillary, variety unknown.
Owl's Claws.
Richardson's Geranium.
Red Osier Dogwood.
Wax Currant.
Cutleaf Coneflower.
Salt Spring Checkerbloom.
Thistle with an unusual deep violet cast.
Parry's Gentian.
Scarlet Cinquefoil.
Luscious Wild Raspberries.
We hiked to an old dam along the West Fork Little Colorado. Nearby was a lot of old piping, and what looked like the lid from an old boiler. It surely served some past industrial purpose, but I haven't been able to learn its history.
We were most fortunate that backwash from Hurricane Harvey followed us home to Silver City, finally producing a scant .03" of rain, cooling the air and easing the transition from the cool pine forest to our parched high desert home. It was a fantastic getaway! We loved the time with friends old and new. And at least one of us is thinking that next summer we should spend a lot more time in the White Mountains!