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Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - High Plains Drifters
40 miles. Safford, AZ to Ponderosa Campground, 2.5 miles south of 191
and 75 junction.
We left the campsite at about 8 after relaxing in the
clubhouse using its stove and utensils instead of our own.
There was a peculiar ground haze obscuring our view of
the surrounding mountains and an ADOT worker assured us that it was most
unusual. We left U.S. 70 after seven miles, turning on to S.R. 191 and
began the long, gradual ascent of the day, about 2,000 feet. In front of us was
the obelisk-like height of Guthrie Peak (elev. 6,571 ft.). We slowly
snaked around it and Thumb Butte to the south climbing to a pass of about 4,600
feet between the two. It was noticeably cooler and the vegetation changed
from desert scrub to short grass prairie with lots of prickly pear cactus along
the dry washes. At the top were water troughs and enclosures but no
cattle. The scene reminded me of an Eastwood film. You could imagine
the Apache coming over the next ridgeline.
After the 14 mile climb came the shorter, steeper
descent down Tollhouse Canyon to the Gila River. The first drop was
an easy coast with little breaking with high bluffs flanking the road. This
gave way to a steep, hand fatiguing drop to the Gila River which actually has
water in it here. We continued on to the the deserted campground and an
all you can eat salad bar at the unexpected nearby restaurant. We got our
money's worth.
Often this campground is full with construction workers at
Morenci copper mine 10 miles to the north but they are not needed right now.
This mine must be a sight to behold. It is at least five miles
across and an astounding 7,000 feet deep! It is the largest open pit mine
in the U.S., if not the world. Much of the traffic that passed us today
were tankers carrying acid to the mine to help extract the copper. They
use a lot of this acid.
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