LETTERS AND E-MAIL

letters

Appreciative Hiker When I received the September 2002 issue, my heart sank as I read “Canyon Express.” This year I was supposed to go to the Grand Canyon - my third year in a row and hike the Hermit and Kaibab trails. Unfortunately, I had to have an operation, and three days before my departure the doctor told me I couldn't do my trip. The article ended up being a great consolation for me because there was a description of what I was supposed to achieve this year. Every month your magazine provides information about places in Arizona that I don't know, great articles, funny stories and, most of all, beautiful photos.

Misnamed Mountain Peaks I believe you incorrectly identified the mountains in Randy Prentice's lovely picture of the Willcox Playa as the Chiricahuas (Table of Contents, September '02), when in actuality, those two peaks in the center of the range are the Dos Cabezas (“two heads”) of the so-named range.

Seeking Maps I enjoyed “Cochise's Bloody Ambush” (September '02). However, the article does not even say in what state this battle took place. Please include a detailed map showing the location. Otherwise, the articles become meaningless.

Motivating Tacos I have visited the Cameron Trading Post (“Destination,” September '02) several times over the years, usually while participating in the annual Grand Canyon-to-Mexico Almost Across Arizona Bicycle Tour. I think the Navajo tacos were my favorite thing about Cameron. The thought of having one of those delicious, filling treats for dinner was just the sort of thing a tired cyclist needed to motivate his or her exhausted muscles to pedal the final few miles to Cameron.

Great Writing You may, if you like, color me amazed at seeing thearticle “Unearthing a Mystery” (September '02). A few years ago I had occasion to write a rather long scholarly article with many pages of footnotes on the Silverbell artifacts for another magazine. I had the great privilege of meeting Tom Bent Jr., the son of one of the finders, and of being allowed to examine the artifacts myself. I remain fascinated (and equally puzzled) by them to this day. At that time, I considered writing a second article on the artifacts and submitting it to Arizona Highways. After a few tentative tries, though, I gave it up, concluding that there was no way to tell so complex a story clearly and accurately without voluminous footnotes, and within the length limitations required. I was astonished and delighted, therefore, to find that Leo Banks accomplished what I had tried and failed to doand that he did it very masterfully. My hat is off to Mr. Banks.

Cell Phones and Smoke Signals Gene Perret's essay on cell phones (“Wit Stop,” September '02) was delightful, as many will agree. The users of those infernal devices should be sentenced to communicate with smoke dense, thick smoke.

I have read every story in each issue of Arizona Highways for a number of months, and always everything is interesting. Gene Perret's “Wit Stop” on smoke signals was the most fun.

Happy Subscribers Just wanted to say we have subscribed to Arizona Highways since 1949. We have spent a lot of time in Arizona, but it's never enough.

Simply wanted to express our thanks for our subscription. We are extremely pleased with how well you put everything together.

Great Drive We have driven most of the pretty routes in Arizona, but State Route 78 (south of Clifton) from U.S. Route 191 to the New Mexico border is one of the best kept secrets in our great state. It's short, but what great scenery.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS FEBRUARY 2003 VOL. 79, NO. 2