Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Hiking Sabino Canyon



On February 21st, we set out with a bunch of friends from Indian Skies RV Park, to go hiking on Sabino Canyon. Our friends Steve and Ann from Collingwood organized the trip for us. Once again we took several wonderful pictures.




Sabino Canyon’s history is as diverse as it is fascinating. The Santa Catalina mountain range began its formation over 12 million years ago, 7 million years before the earliest known human being walked the face of the earth. In around 5 million B.C., the mountains ceased formation around the Tucson area, setting the stage for future ecological action. Plant life first appeared between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago, and some of the earliest predominant human occupants of Sabino Canyon were the Hohokam people.








An earthquake centered in northern Mexico in 1887 dislodged an array of massive boulders lining the canyon walls, which crashed down and came to rest in the valley below. In 1905, the Forest Service was first created and began overseeing Sabino Canyon and during the Great Depression, the bridges over Sabino Creek and the Sabino Dam were constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corporation (CCC).








The first trams in Sabino Canyon began operating in October, 1978. From that point on, access to cars was restricted to allow visitors to reach Upper Sabino Canyon by foot, bicycle or tram. Sabino Canyon Tours was founded in May, 1985 and provides young and older visitors alike with the opportunity to experience the exquisite beauty of Sabino Canyon.





Saturday, February 18, 2012

The Apache Trail


On February 18th, we toured the Apache Trail. Through the trail we saw Tortilla Flats, Canyon Lake, and Goldfields. Needless to say once more the views here were also spectacular. Here are a few pictures from our trip:











The Apache Trail in Arizona was a stagecoach trail that ran through the Superstition Mountains. It was named the Apache Trail after the Apache Indians who originally used this trail to move through the Superstition Mountains.

The current Apache Trail links Apache Junction at the edge of the Greater Phoenix area with Theodore Roosevelt Lake, through the Superstition Mountains and the Tonto National Forest.

Today, much of the Apache Trail is paved, and the section east of Apache Junction is known officially as State Route 88. It is also the main traffic corridor through Apache Junction, turning into Main Street as the road passes into Mesa, and regains the Apache name by becoming Apache Boulevard in Tempe, ending at Mill Avenue. Prior to the completion of the Superstition Freeway in 1992, the Apache Junction portion of the Apache Trail was part of US Highway 60, which was rerouted to the Superstition once it was completed.

The Trail winds steeply through 40 miles (64 km) of rugged desert mountains, past deep reservoir lakes like Canyon Lake and Apache Lake. The narrow, winding road is unpaved from just east of the town of Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt Dam; there are steep cliff drops and little in the way of safety barriers. The trail requires caution when driving and it is not recommended for large RVs, SUVs, or caravans. Some large RV rental companies in the US do not allow their vehicles to be taken on this route.






Tortilla Flat

Based on available records Tortilla Flat got its start because of the road construction to Roosevelt Dam in 1904. There was a need for a stagecoach stop for freight haulers on their way to the construction site at Roosevelt Dam and Tortilla Flat served that purpose. Shortly following the construction of the road, Roosevelt Dam became a big tourist attraction. At that point Tortilla Flat was a stage stop for tourists and mail carriers through the 1930s.

The name "Tortilla Flat" originated from the cowboys who used to drive cattle from Globe to Phoenix. While in Phoenix, rancher Mr. Cline and his fellow cowboys celebrated their sale, and, having a little too much to drink, forgot to get supplies while they were in town. They ended up with only flour to make tortillas when they camped at the flat and were stranded.

Forest Service records show Tonto National Forest being established in 1905 as kind of a "package deal" with the Salt River Reclamation Project. The Forest Service was needed to manage the land and protect watershed for the dams because cattle grazing had denuded the land. The freight camp at Tortilla Flat, as well as the other camps along the road to the dam, were, therefore, on U.S. Forest Service land. Folks who decided to make Tortilla Flat their permanent residence kept up the lease on the land in later years whenever it came due.

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake is one of four reservoirs that were formed by the damming of the Salt River in the U.S. state of Arizona.

The lake was formed by the Mormon Flat Dam, which was completed in 1925 after two years of construction. Canyon Lake, with a surface area of 950 acres (380 ha), is the third and smallest of four lakes created along the Salt River. Two others, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake are upstream. The fourth, Saguaro Lake, is downstream.

Canyon Lake lies approximately 15 miles (24 km) up the Apache Trail from Apache Junction, Arizona and 51 miles (82 km) east of Phoenix. It is within the Superstition Wilderness of Tonto National Forest and is a popular recreation area for the Phoenix metropolitan area. Recreation amenities include hiking trails, camping, and boating, all managed by the United States Forest Service. Canyon Lake is a popular stop along the Apache Trail route from Apache Junction, Arizona, passing Tortilla Flat, Arizona, before reaching Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake behind Theodore Roosevelt Dam.

















Goldfield

Back in the 1890's Goldfield boasted 3 saloons, a boarding house, general store, blacksmith shop, brewery, meat market and a school house. Just when it looked like the town would outgrow Mesa, the vein faulted, the grade of ore dropped and the town died a slow painful death. After several unsuccessful attempts to reopen the mines, the town did come to life again from 1910 on and off until 1926.

After more than 115 years, travelers from all over the world still visit this gold mining town located on the historic Apache Trail and enjoy the excitement and grandeur of Arizona's wild west !






Saturday, February 11, 2012

St. Anthony's Monastary and Florence AZ



On February 11th, 2012, we set out for a short 20 mile trip to Florence. Florence is a historic old western town.

Just outside of town is St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastary. The landscaping on the Monastary grounds was nothing short of spectacular. As you can see from the photos, we were asked to dress conservatively out of respect for the religious surroundings. They actually provide the necessary clothing for you to wear.

Here are a few photos from our trip:







Welcome to St. Anthony's Monastery Web Site (Kalos Orisate!)





In the summer of 1995 six monks arrived in the southern Arizona desert to establish St. Anthony’s Monastery, carrying with them the sacred, millennial heritage of the Holy Mountain, Athos. Since early Christian history, this steep and rocky peninsula in northern Greece proved to be a haven for ancient Egyptian, Cappadocian, and Constantinopolitan monastics. Thus, it enjoyed a direct link with the greatest monastic establishments of ancient Christianity, preserving intact the wisdom of the holy fathers and the sacred tradition of the ancient Church. Today, the Holy Mountain consists of 20 independent monasteries, and numerous sketes and hermitages, housing Orthodox Christian monks from all over the world.









Elder Ephraim, a disciple of Elder Joseph the Hesychast, having restored and repopulated four Mt. Athos monasteries and having established several men’s and women’s monastic communities throughout Greece and North America, transferred six Athonite monks to the Sonoran Desert to start a new monastery. Upon their arrival the fathers began with the necessary construction work, building first the main church, living quarters for the monks, the dining hall, and guest facilities. A vegetable garden, a small vineyard, citrus orchards, and an olive grove dot the landscape. An elaborate system of gardens, pathways, and gazebos with Spanish fountains truly render the monastery and its extensive grounds an oasis in the desert.










The monastery is dedicated to St. Anthony the Great, the father of monasticism, the renowned 3rd century anchorite. There are chapels dedicated to Saints Seraphim of Sarov, Demetrios of Thessalonica, John the Baptist, George the Great Martyr, Nicholas the Wonderworker, and Panteleimon the Healer. The main church is dedicated to Saints Anthony and Nectarios the Wonderworker.







The monastery follows the coenobitic rule of monastic life: a brotherhood of monks and novices holding all things in common follow a daily schedule of prayer and work under obedience to the abbot, their spiritual father. The monks’ daily program begins at midnight with personal prayer time and spiritual reading, followed by the cycle of morning prayers and the Divine Liturgy. After a light breakfast and a rest period, the monks begin their work day, attending to prayer and their tasks till evening. Tasks include, among others, construction, groundskeeping, vinedressing, gardening, woodworking, publishing, food preparation, and offering hospitality. The day ends with evening Vespers followed by dinner and Compline.

† May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you!

Florence




"Elevation 1493 feet. One of the first settlments in Pinal County. County seat. Levi Ruggles settled here, 1866, as Indian Agent. Elliot Says: "Charles G. Mason built the first house, 1866. Town named by Governor Safford in honor of his sister, Florence." Hinton says: "Regular stages leave here for Silver City, Pioneer, Globe, San Carlos, Camp Apaceh; also East Phoenix, Wickenburg, and Prescott." Of Florence, Poston writes: "Fair Florence Wreathed in Green, A City yet to be, I ween For here, e'en more than at Tucson It's always, always afternoon."
Barnes, Will C. Arizona Place Names. University of Arizona Press 1997
p. 164




"Levi Ruggles (b. Ohio), who came to Arizona as an Indian ageny in 1866, patented land from which he transferred title for the town of Florence on October 30, 1875. The first house had already been built in 1866 and the town was firmly established by 1869. Ruggles had three daughters, whose names were Cynthia, Flora, and Florence, and having deeded the land, he named the town to honor at least two of them. According to another story, Governor Richard McCormick, asked to name the town, did so after his wife. Others belive that Anson Pacely Kileen Safford named it for his sister. In 1921 completion of the Ashurst-Hayden Diversion Dam made irrigation water available and the town developed into an agricultural center. Florence became Pinal County seat on February 1, 1875. P.O. Est Aug 19, 1869, Thomas R Ewing pm."