In a Land of Lakes and Forests

In a Land of Lakes and Forests Apache Trail and Tonto Basin Route Offers Attractive One-Day Trip From Southern Arizona to Flagstaff

ONE of the most famous highways in the nation is the Apache Trail which stretches east from Phoenix. As widely known as the Malahat of British Columbia or the Corniche road of Southern France, this surprising roadway follows the course of the Salt River to Roosevelt Dam, traversing a mountainous region of rugged beauty and historic importance.

Paved state highways lead east to Tempe, crossing the recently dedicated highway bridge into this thriving community, which is the location of one of the state teachers' colleges. Our road takes us past the impressive buildings and grounds of this unit of the state's educational system, and out into the level fields of the farming area which contributes to the town. Rich fields and pasturage evidence the fertility of the land.

Ahead is Mesa, called by the Spanish term meaning 'table'. This district is the highest point in the flat Salt River Valley Irrigation project, and nearby is the diversion and distribution point for the network of canals which carry the waters of the project to the 240,000 acres of the agricultural area. Founded by Mormon settlers in 1878, the town is the site of a large Mormon temple, imposing in a setting of gardened grounds.

Mesa is the center of an area which is becoming important for its produc-tion of citrus, dates, and winter vegetables.

Beyond lies the desert, with its bewildering variety of arid vegetation, a striking contrast to the carefully tended fields of the towns we have passed. The grotesque sahuaro, rising sometimes to a height of 40 feet, is crowned in spring with a ring of blossoms which are the official state flower. These are generally a creamy white, but Carveth Wells was correct in his radio broadcast when he referred to the "warlike red" of the sahuaro flower, for oссаsionally a scarlet flower is seen. The tall whiplike clusters of ocatillo which are tipped in fiery red bloom in spring, the tall stalk of the flowering yucca, the squat and distorted prickly pear and cholla or "jumping cactus" are other members of the desert family whose sharp thorns are their protection.

The pale green branches and foliage of the palo verde, the mesquite and greasewood, combine to give the desert an aspect of verdant loveliness as we cover the smooth highway stretching out toward the bulwarked fastness of Superstition Mountain.

This mighty pile of rock dominates the scene as we enter the mountainous eastern end of the valley. To our left rise the Four Peaks, high point of the Mazatzal range, and the red bulk of McDowell Mountain looms to the north. Superstition Mountain comes honestly by its name, for this maze of sheer cliff and breathless canyon is imbued with the sanguinary history of the (Continued on Page 21)