Willcox, AZ & Chiricahau National Monument (June 8, 2023)

​I had three rules for traveling on this trip cross country; (1) Driving from point A to point B should not take more than 6 hours, and always leave in the mornings to enable always arriving in daylight and time during the day for activities. (2) stay at least 2 nights so I did not feel like all I was doing was driving, and (3) no eating in the car so I took breaks to stretch my legs, and I did not unconsciously eat while driving.  When I looked at the distance from Alamogordo NM to Gilbert, AZ it was over 8 hours.  Thanks to other Vistabule owners who had just stayed at Bonita Canyon Campground in the Chiricahau National Monument, I found the place to stop. 
The drive to Chiricahau National Monument was 30 miles south of Willcox AZ through some rugged and remote settings.  The ranches and farms I saw clearly had to be self-sufficient.  I saw quite a few signs that indicated during rainy season the roads could be flooded and residents stranded on their properties.  It put in stark relief how different the needs are throughout the country.  I arrived at Chiricahau National Monument by lunch time.  I stopped at the visitor center to check in for the campsite and get information about the national monument.  As I was leaving the visitor center what should cross my path but a Coati.  These animals do not normally come out and I was told very hard to find in the wild.  I got settled into the campsite and immediately took my picnic lunch and started to explore.  I took the scenic drive to each of the overlooks, took short walk/hikes, and proceeded to the highest point, Massai Point, where I had lunch.  I walked around to the many viewpoints.  I even facetime a friend to take a walk with me, LOL.  I learned that Chiricahua Apache called the pinnacles “standing up rocks” that originated 27 million years ago when the Turkey Creek Volcano spewed ash over 1200 square miles.  The superheated ash melted together forming layers of gray rock called rhyolite.  Subsequent cooling and uplifting created joints and cracks in the rhyolite.  Weathering over time created erosion and enlarging cracks that formed the spires, balanced rocks, and shapes. 
It was too hot to hike in the afternoon, so I picked the hike I would take the next morning before leaving for Gilbert, AZ.  I got up early and hiked from Bonita Canyon Campground to Faraday Ranch.  Neil & Emma Erickson settled the ranch land in 1888.  IN the 1920’s Their eldest daughter Lillian and husband Ed Riggs took over the ranch and turned the homestead into a guest ranch from 1917 thru 1973.  Upon the death of all three Erickson children the ranch was made into an historic district within the national park.