UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS

 

WE THOUGHT 6500 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL WAS ABOUT IT FOR THESE WHITE MOUNTAINS, UNTIL WE REALIZED THAT SURPRISE SKI RESORT WAS JUST 30 MILES EAST, AT 8500 FEET.

COOL, OR MAYBE I SHOULD SAY “COOLER”.  THAT’S HOW IT IS HERE IN THE WEST, FOR EVERY 1000 FEET YOU GO UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS IT GETS ON THE AVERAGE 4 DEGREES COOLER.

WE FOUND SEVERAL LITTLE TOWNS ON THE EASTERN SLOPE, GREER, EAGAR, SPRINGERVILLE, AND ALPINE.  NO SUPER WALMARTS OVER HERE, BUT WE DID FIND A DAIRY QEEN AND A SAFEWAY STORE.

TO GET THERE WE HAD TO CROSS A SECTION OF THE APACHE INDIAN RESERVATION.

 

BESIDES THE INDIAN RESERVATION THERE IS ALSO THE APACHE-SITGREAVES NATIONAL FOREST, SO WE STOPPED TO TAKE A HIKE.

 

 

WHOA !!!! HOLD IT !!!! HIKING AT 8000 FEET?  OH MY GOD, I WAS PUFFING LIKE A STEAM ENGINE.  IT’S TRULY BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE WERE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

 

IT WAS A GREAT ROADTRIP WITH LOT’S OF BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN SCENERY, BUT AFTER OUR HIKE I WAS GLAD TO RETURN TO THE CABIN AND THROW BURGERS ON THE GRILL.