photo by Mike
Mike, Laurie, Richard, Kristin, Ursi & Doug (also known as MR KLUD)
It was a cool, slightly overcast morning as we headed out on the Main Loop Trail. The path is lined with a plethora of plants including many we didn't recognize. Fortunately, quite a few of them have signs identifying them so we were able to get some ideas for our yards.
Even in winter the arboretum is full of green plants... and some of them are blooming!
We thought this coot (the bird...) was a hoot with his huge green feet. He's a lake swimmer but doesn't have webbed feet.
Another nice feature at the arboretum is the abundance of benches along the paths. It's a great place to hike, but it's also a great place to just sit and be still... to meditate... to soak in the beauty of God's Creation.
There are wrought iron benches, composite benches made of recycled materials and wooden benches. Many of them have been donated in memory of a loved one or to commemorate an important event. This was my favorite one... love is, indeed, grand!
It was a great day to be outdoors. The first part of our hike was easy with paved paths part of way, then graded dirt paths. Interesting rock formations and creeks with water were cause to stop to marvel at this thing we call "nature."
There was something new to look at around every bend!
photo by Mike
Can you tell we have fun together??
About 2/3 of the way into the Main Loop Trail we came to a suspension bridge over Queen Creek (yes, there actually is a real Queen Creek!). I am not a fan of walking across bridges of any type that sway or "give" when you're crossing over them. Mike was the first one on the bridge and it swayed and bounced as he crossed. Peer pressure can be a good thing; not wanting to seem a wimp, I stepped onto the bridge and crossed. The bridge bounced and swayed but I kept going. Half way across I stopped to look at the view... and realized that walking across the bridge really wasn't so bad.
The Main Loop Trail continues on the north side of Queen Creek before crossing over the bridge. We opted to take the High Trail (designated a "difficult" trail but it wasn't that bad) which began just across the bridge. This trail was rocky and narrower as it climbed along the side of a mountain- and totally worth it for the views!
After returning to the Visitor's Center, the guys decided to do a plant hike with an Australian botanist while the gals did the Australian Trail tour (it was Australia Day!). Both tours were enjoyable. All that hiking made us hungry so lunch was the next order of business. We had a delightful Mexican food lunch at a hole-in-the-wall place in Miami (Guayo's El Rey) before Doug and Ursi had to head back home. Mike and Laurie continued with us (or us with them?) on our second adventure.
The general route of the Apache Trail (#83) has been used for centuries by several different Native American tribes and has at times been known as the Tonto Trail and the Yavapai Trail. The original roadway, completed in 1905, began at a Mesa railhead and ended at the Roosevelt Dam site on the Salt River covering a distance of 62 miles. Today, the Apache Trail begins in Apache Junction and ends at the intersection between Globe and Miami on US 60. We traveled the Apache Trail from the Globe/Miami intersection to Apache Junction.
The paved road from the intersection of U.S. 60 and Globe/Miami provided a smooth ride as we watched the terrain change from gently rolling hills to mountains and canyons. The sunlight played along the mountains highlighting ridges and creating shadows as we were presented with one outstanding view after another.
Soon we could see Roosevelt Lake, the largest of the lakes on the Salt River.
And the we came to the dam that created Roosevelt Lake. Construction of Roosevelt Dam began in 1905 and was completed in 1911. It was the world's largest cyclopean masonry dam, a Greco-Roman style of building that uses huge, irregular blocks. In the early 1990's the height was raised 77 feet and the entire dam was resurfaced with concrete.
At the same time the dam was remodeled, a bridge was constructed just upstream of the dam due to safety concerns with vehicle traffic crossing on top of the dam. In November 1995, the Rossevelt Lake Bridge was named one of the Top 12 Bridges in the Nation along with the well-known Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge. It is the longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge in North America spanning 1,080 feet across Roosevelt Lake. Impressive? YES!
Just west of Roosevelt Dam we began the 22-mile stretch of dirt road that hugs the side of the mountains as it weaves its way through the canyons and valleys. We followed the Salt River as it came out of Roosevelt Lake. It quickly became a wide river before backing up into Apache Lake.
The panoramic views were breathtaking. I think President Theodore Roosevelt hit the nail on the head when he said, "The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon and then adds an indefinable something that none of the others have, to me, it is most awe-inspiring and most sublimely beautiful." (1911)
As we crossed Fish Creek, we wondered what lived in the cave. And then we began the ascent up Fish Creek Hill where the road hangs on the side of a high-walled canyon.
From the top of Fish Creek Hill we could see parts of the road below that we had just traversed. This section at the top had a tiny guardrail, but most of the road did not. It is not a two-lane road so passing oncoming traffic was an adventure with one vehicle pulling over to allow the other to pass. It's definitely an E-ticket ride!
As we continued on the dirt road I could imagine cowboys and Indians racing along the trail on horseback or dusty prospectors searching for the mother lode in the scenic canyons. Could the road be paved? Certainly. But I think it would be a huge mistake; it would take away from the beauty of the experience. People would hurry along missing the subtle nuances of the trail.
Just before we reached Tortilla Flat (and paved road!), the sun began setting. We stopped for dinner at Tortilla Flat followed by a prickly pear ice cream cone and then continued on the remainder of the Apache Trail. We had done that portion (from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat) MANY times as it is one of our favorite Miata drives so we weren't disappointed to be doing it in the dark. We could see lights twinkling on Canyon Lake and even some stars before we approached the city. It was a perfect end to a great day!
Thumb Up or Down: Absolutely Thumbs UP!
Miles Round-Trip: 168.0 miles
Miles To Date: 2982.7 miles
Percent of List Completed: 27%
Date of This Trip: January 21, 2012
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