Today I crossed first the San Carlos Apache Reservation and then the White Mountain Apache Reservation. They are separated by the Salt River and the spectacular Salt River Canyon was the highlight of the trip.

It’s amazing to think about these canyons being formed over thousands of years. I stopped so many times just to take it all in. The alternative being trying to see and drive at the same time. 🙂 I love being in the mountains. These are the Sierra Ancha Range.

I fell in love with the mountains when I lived in Colorado and traveled Colorado, Wyoming, and northern New Mexico. If you’ll allow me just a moment of pure schmaltz, the desire to explore and the feeling of belonging I get in the mountains makes me think I was born about 150 years too late. My favorites are the Big Horns and the Tetons, both in Wyoming.

At the end of the day I landed at the Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area in Show Low, AZ. Show Low is a mountain town and it reminds me of a slightly larger version of Jackson, Wyoming. It’s the kind of place where you wouldn’t be shocked to spot an Elk right near town. Unlike Jackson, it lacks an old town center, but it just seemed to sprawl out from the intersection of three highways. The newer parts of Show Low are highly gentrified.

The campground is basically right in town. You drive through a neighborhood to find the entrance and then it just opens into a huge park area. It’s very nice here and in the mountains, so, ‘nuff said. It will be nippy at night.

Tomorrow will be a trip down to Historic Fort Apache and then Sunday will be church and a day trip up to the Petrified Forest.

I am well and hope you all are too.