WHITE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA: A SUMMER PARADISE

The White Mountains Of Arizona A Summer Paradise

THE White Mountains of Arizona form one of the most picturesque and beautiful summer playgrounds in this state and in the southwest. Three hundred and fifty miles of trout streams run through the White Mountains and the Blue Range, discounting the belief of the uninformed that there are only deserts and lizards in Arizona. Within easy access of Springerville is the Apache National Forest, composed of the White Mountains and the Blue Range. The White Mountain Indian reservation is in the White Mountains. In these lofty, forest covered mountains are the Black river and tributary, the White river and its branches, and the Little Colorado and its branches, and the Blue river and its branches. The ter-ritory south and southwest of Springerville is the water shed of the state, where originates a large portion of the water running into Roosevelt and San Carlos lakes. These mountain streams, formed from springs and melting snow, are alive with trout, making this region the most popular trout fishing region in Arizona. The United States Forest service, with headquarters at Springerville for the Apache National Forest, has completed the construction of several hundred miles of forest road through the White Mountains and the Blue Range. These roads lead to many attractive parts of the Apache Forest. Many fine roads have been built by the Indian officials on the White Mountain Indian Reservation, making easy of access many fishing streams where King Trout holds regal sway.

There are several small lakes in the White Mountains and the Blue range: three at Greer and one at Alpine. Two large trout lakes, known as Big Lake and Crescent Lake, have been built approximately 25 miles from Springerville. These lakes will be stocked in 1939 with one and a half million trout each, providing a constant stock of fish for the many miles of trout streams in the surrounding mountains.

Do not think for one second, though, that the system of forest and Indian reservation roads cover every inch of the vast mountain range. There are several thousand square miles of virgin country which invite and at the same time defy the most hardy sportsmen, who must pack out on horses to exercise their passion for sport. By way of parenthesis, it may be pointed out that in the fall and winter hunting seasons the White Mountains and the Blue range have plenty of wild turkey, black tail and white tail deer, and black and brown bear. It is a wild and rugged country. It's charm is in its primitiveness.

When you consider the part of the mountain streams of the White and the Blue range play in the water shed of the state you realize their expanse and their importance. The White river and the Black river flow into Roosevelt lake. The Blue river, which is a branch of the Gila, flows into San Carlos lake, the body of water held by Coolidge dam. The Little Colorado flows into the Big Colorado and thence to Lake Mead, Mohave county's "little ocean."

Springerville, the gateway to the White Mountains and the Blue range, is a modern little city more or less on the cross roads of the world. Here every need of the vacationist can be supplied. Here are modern auto courts, stores, sources of information, a theatre. The new federal building was dedicated June 1 of this year, making Springerville the center of forest activities in the adjoining mountain ranges.

Greer and Alpine, high up in the mountains, are equipped with cottages and other means of service for the vacationist. You can stay the entire summer or just a few days and you will find everything you need to make you comfortable. You can leave Globe in the morning and traveling either new "60" or lod "73" via San Carlos you can have your fishing line in the water by noon. At Fort Apache, on old "73," the sportsman gets his special permit to fish on the White Mountain Indian reservation.

Springerville, it will be remembered, is also the beginning of the Coronado Trail, which leads to picturesque Clifton. Informed motorists claim this is the most beautiful drive in the state, and one that no traveler should miss.

If you plan to spend the summer in the White Mountains or the Blue range, have no fear for a dull time. There are dances and such merriment on Saturday nights and holidays in the many little towns in and near the mountains, where you may not find the eclat of the Biltmore Bowl, but where you will be welcome and where you will have a good time.

There is much of the interesting to see, much of the interesting to do in the summertime in the White Mountains and the Blue range. Many people go back summer after summer and never find time lagging on their hands.

These high mountains, wearing forests on their backs, with their miles and miles of trout streams are veritably a summer paradise. R. C.