DEAR EDITOR

dear editor Canyon Leaves Big Impression

I just received my June 2007 issue (“Grand Canyon Guide”), and it really hit home for me. I've been a lifelong Arizona resident and grew up in Grand Canyon National Park. My husband just accepted a new job in South Dakota, so we'll be moving in a few weeks. I can't imagine not having the Grand Canyon close by anymore. Everything in the issue brings back great memories. I've camped at Marble Canyon Viewpoint several times, and definitely agree that the views are amazing. I've been up close and stood under the waterfalls while on a river trip. I worked at Kolb Studio and the Yavapai Observation Station and watched California condors soar around right in front of me. Back when I was fearless, I climbed onto The Battleship. I swore I'd never do it again, though. I will absolutely look forward to each and every upcoming issue of Arizona Highways. I always keep several issues on my coffee table so when I have guests I can share my experiences with them. Thank you for making the June issue my going-away gift. As a child, I lived near the mighty Colorado River and was impressed by boating under trees with the river in flood stage, ducking snakes that had been washed onto branches. In later life, 1968, we hiked Bright Angel to waiting boats, immediately courting disaster at a raucous Horn, where plywood bottoms held by chains splintered, gashing one fellow traveler over an eye. A Henderson, Nevada, doctor had one stitch in his wallet, stuck driftwood between her teeth and sutured the cut. Our next trip began at Lee's Ferry. The most unforgettable trip, however, was with Georgie's [White Clark] Royal River Rats. [We've also] hiked from the North Rim to South Rim, staying at Phantom overnight-the day had taken us from freezing temps at the North Rim to more than 100 degrees at the Canyon's bottom. We've spent several anniversaries at the Grand Canyon, including our 60th. Plus, every now and then we just go over to watch the sun come up over the Canyon. Your June issue was wonderful. It's our favorite spot.

Steward of the County

Thank you for not having any articles on Cochise County in this edition (May '07). We would really like to have you cease publishing anything to do with Cochise County, as my wife and I think of that corner of Arizona as our little getaway, and we don't want you to encourage any more people to move there. We'd like to keep it as it is for when we retire and move down there. Please take this tongue in cheek, but no more articles about Cochise County. We can all appreciate and respect Jeff Kida's lifetime of photography compared to that of a cowboy. Both are essentially a work of desire, not necessarily correlated with material rewards, albeit seemingly offering very satisfying rewards to those who make that choice. However, for those of us who know Pat Lauderdale ("Viewfinder," May '07), and, I'm sure for many who do not, we would have enjoyed reading a bit more about this real cowboy. Sincerely proud of his heritage, he is a truly resounding character, well-read, engaging and entertaining in any gathering. Pat has more unrehearsed stories than any man or woman we have ever encountered. Thank God for the Pat Lauderdales of this world.

Real Cowboy Tells Great Stories Flock Value

In your May 2007 issue, in the “Back Road Adventure,” Janet Webb Farnsworth writes in “Scenery Blossoms” about a “herd” of sheep on the Navajo Indian Reservation. This is not correct. Sheep live in flocks.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

Inquiries or orders Toll-free: (800) 543-5432 Phoenix area or outside the U.S. (602) 712-2000 Or visit arizonahighways.com For Corporate or Trade Sales Dolores Field (602) 712-2045 Letters to the Editor [email protected] 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009

Governor JANET NAPOLITANO

Director, Department of Transportation VICTOR M. MENDEZ ARIZONA TRANSPORTATION BOARD Chairman Joe Lane Vice Chairman S.L. Schorr Members Delbert Householder, Robert M. Montoya, Felipe Andres Zubia, William J. Feldmeier, Barbara Ann "Bobbie" Lundstrom International Regional Magazine Association 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000 Magazine of the Year Western Publications Association 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001 Best Travel & In-transit Magazine Society of American Travel Writers Foundation 2000, 1997 Gold Awards Best Monthly Travel Magazine Arizona Highways (ISSN 0004-1521) is published monthly by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Subscription price: $24 a year in the U.S., $35 elsewhere; single copy: $3.99 U.S. Send subscription correspondence and change of address information to Arizona Highways, 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009. Periodical postage paid at Phoenix, AZ and at additional mailing office. CANADA POST INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT (CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION) SALES AGREEMENT NO. 41220511. SEND RETURNS TO QUEBECOR WORLD, PO. BOX 875, WINDSOR, ON N9A 6P2. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Arizona Highways, 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009. Copyright © 2007 by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The magazine does not accept and is not responsible for unsolicited materials.

highways on tv

Arizona Highways magazine has inspired an independent weekly television series, hosted by former Phoenix TV news anchor Robin Sewell. For channels and show times, log on to arizonahighways.com; click on “DISCOVER ARIZONA”; then click on the “Arizona Highways goes to television!” link on the right-hand side.