The Rim Country

DURING THE TIME of fabled Atlantis it is not inconceivable that many of Arizona's mountains were scattered islands in the then vast watered wastes that covered much of what is now the state. There is one quite sizable area that still bears evidence that the state was once at leastin part a portion of the ocean's floor. The many marine fossils found in the rim country, in the heart of Arizona, indicate that possibly the Mogollon Rim was once the shore line of one of the then many islands that now are our scattered mountain ranges. Actually the Mogollon Rim connects up with the Mogollon Mountains of South-western New Mexico. It can be traced in fact to the breaks of the Grand Canyon. However, what is generally regarded as the rim coun-try is a stretch that extends from the headwaters of the Verde River near Fossil Creek to the head of White River. The other portions of the distinct rim take on local names. This pine-clad portion of the state might well be called the top of the roof of Arizona, as it divides the water between the Colorado and Salt Rivers. All from the north side flows into the Colorado and to the south into the Salt River drainage.

This spectacular fault, extending over 100 miles in the center of the state, is, in places. over a thousand foot drop of nearly sheer cliff. On the top side is the most extensive unbroken Ponderosa pine forest in the world, while from the foot break forth many of Arizona's permanent streams. It also is the dividing line between the broad. sparsely populated plateau forest and range lands of the north and the broken, rough mountains, containing a wealth in minerals, broad. thickly populated, irrigated valleys, and browseclad range lands to the south. The geographic location of the rim country therefore represents two distinct trends of thought. To the population of the northern part of the state it represents a means of livelihood from the reaping of the crops this country produces in the way of forest products and pasturage for thousands of sheep and cattle that use this area during the summer. To the population of the mining centers and irrigated valleys and cities of the southern section it means an area of escape from heat.one in which to relax in the solitude of pine, fir and spruce, amid the music of babbling brook and held by the majesty of scenery hard to excel.

The products of the area on top of the rim account wholly for the existence and prosperity of McNary. This thriving sawmill town gets the logs for its hungry saws from the Ponderosa pine forests of the Sitgreaves and Apache For-ests and the White Mountain Indian Reserva-tion. Lumber produced here goes to many states other than Arizona to help fill the nation's lumber needs.

To the people of these communities the rim country represents their means of support. Hundreds of these residents run cattle and sheep, the financial return from which represents their livelihood either wholly or in part. Many of them get part-time employment in the woods or at the sawmills, to gain funds to improve their way of life.

The products from this area keep the railroads and truck lines busy getting them to market. The needs of the industry keep the supply centers of Holbrook and Winslow up and coming towns.

To the vacationist the greatest product of any locality is what it has to offer in the way of relaxation and interest and that it be different from his everyday surroundings.

No place in the country meets these requirements better than the Mogollon Rim and its immediate surroundings. The colorful exposure of cliffs from beneath, added to variety of vegetation, the ruggedness of mountain exposure, and clear, sparkling streams shaded with alder, oak and sycamore, afford ample opportunity to relax in the forest primeval. The views from on top are comparable to those on the brink of the Grand Canyon. The panorama lacks the vertical depths, but the distance of horizon exceeds that of the Canyon. The attributes of the rim country are such that they attract the varied fancies of many people.

From the foot of Fossil Creek Hill to the elevation on top, your route by car takes you from desert vegetation, through grassland, chaparral-made up of oak, mountain mahogany, Ceanothus and other associates, pine, and finally into the alpine forest made up of fir and spruce, The Rim Country of central Arizona-under the custodianship of the U. S. Forest Service, this great area is coming into its own as a vacation and recreation center. (Photo above by Josef Muench, below by U. S. Forest Service.)

The historic cattle town of Payson, in northern Gila country, is situated under the Mogollon Rim This is a hunters' and campers' supply center. (Photo by U. S. Forest Service.) Road below the Rim near Pine. The extension of gravel roads through the area is helping to popularize the Rim Country. (Photo by Josef Muench.) and occasional clumps of aspen, gambel oak and maple to add variation in the summer and turn the mountain into a riot of gay color in the fall.

The presence of live, cold, clear streams, such as Pine, Webber, East Verde, Dude, Chase, Tonto, See Canyon, Haigler and Canyon Creeks has an especial appeal to the trout fisherman. Two state fish hatcheries in the area do their utmost to keep the streams stocked with fish.

Big game abounds here. The area on top was stocked with elk in 1912 and now claims an elk population of better than 4,000. Deer, both white-tail and black-tail, may be seen without too much effort. Wild turkey, although not too plentiful, are numerous. Brown and black bear are plentiful in this one of their natural habitats. Such predators as mountain lion and coyote are plentiful. An occasional lobo or wolf is sometimes still found in the vast forested region.

This area is a veritable paradise for the hunter with either camera or gun.

PAGE FOURTEEN Sheer exposure of from one to two thousand feet of the earth's strata has much to offer the student of geology. Such conditions are readily available along under the Mogollon Rim. The presence of many marine fossils in this region readily presents an interest to those who are interested in paleontology. Coupled with the natural attractions of this locality is found an excellent summer climate with temperatures seldom exceeding 95 de grees and in the higher reaches below that and only a couple of months that have frost free nights.

To those vacation bound who choose this section of central Arizona to hunt, fish, or just relax and see the country, accommodations are as varied as the country and are available at prices to meet any purse. These accommo dations range from cost-free public camp grounds constructed on National Forest lands by the Forest Service, a bureau of the depart ment of agriculture, to moderately-priced camp cottages, inns and hotels in Payson and Pine and a good hotel at the Natural Bridge which can accommodate as many as 35 guests. Cabins and meals are also available at Kohl's Ranch on Tonto Creek.

The Horton-Tonto Creek Forest Camp is simply improved with such camper conven iences as fireplaces, tables, water piped to the various sets, and sanitary facilities. The store and cabins at Kohl's are very conveniently located near the forest camp. Fishermen use this camp a great deal. The Roosevelt Council, Boy Scouts of America, Camp Geronimo is located adjacent to the Horton-Tonto Creek Forest Camp.

The Scouts annually occupy Geronimo dur ing June and July and over 1200 boys spend an instructive, pleasant vacation here, hiking, riding, camping, and learning their way in the woods, and how to take care of themselves.

Sycamore Forest Camp, located between Payson and Pine near the East Verde on Sycamore Creek, is a convenient, sycamore shaded spot on the highway and is frequented by both traveler and vacationist. Water is Arizona Highways Tonto Basin as seen from Oxbow Hill. All this vast area is noted for its historic background and is now the center of ranching and mining activities. (Photo by Josef Muench.) The road through Tonto Basin. In the middle distance is the Tonto, winding its way to Roosevelt Lake. (Photo by Josef Muench.) available for this camp at a spring in Sycamore Creek.

Pine Forest Camp is on the highway adjacent to the village of Pine and just across the road from the Pine Ranger Station. This pine shaded camp is used extensively for picnics by local people and as a rendezvous for camp ers who like the proximity of a post office, stores, garden fresh vegetables, fresh milk, eggs and the like available in the community. Water is piped to the various camp sites.

Kohl Spring Forest Camp on the Coconino National Forest is on top of the rim. This "Top of the World" setting is a natural, tiny park, its rustic, old-fashioned rail fence and ultra-cool atmosphere make it ideal for sum mer camping. The open stand of timber lends a possibility of seeing elk, deer and turkey.

The local people in any area can add to or detract from the natural attractiveness of it.

Payson might well be called the gateway to the Mogollon Rim. This small village of around 250 population takes its name from Senator Payson of Illinois, who secured a post office for the settlement in 1882. Prior to that it had been known as Green Valley. When you are at Payson you are truly in the old west.

NOVEMBER, 1941 The hospitality and friendliness still remain. The local talk is of mines and cattle. Gold is the principal ore sought for and found. Tales of the Grand Prize Mine and old Marysville may be heard from the old-timers. Other de posits are being worked today with varying success, in such mines as the Zulu, Oxbow, and many others. Cattle raising has been carried on extensively since 1877. Payson boasts of good stores, garages, hotels and cafes. Accommodations for the traveler are available and the only shortage might be when they put on their August rodeo, but even then the hospitality of the community would not let you go in want.

The village of Pine is located at the base of Milk Ranch Point, a part of the main rim that juts out between Pine and Webber Creeks. Back in the Indian days no doubt the strategic location of this small valley, protected on the north and east by the great rim, prompted the hardy pioneers to settle here. The farms along Pine Creek and the village closed in on all sides by a pine forest make this area hard to excel as a place to rest amid magnificent scenic surroundings and yet have the proximity of a quiet community, with stores, inns, post office, and a restaurant. Pioneers settled here permanently in 1876. The first settlers lived on the farms scattered over quite an area. However, in 1882 an Apache scare caused them to gather in Pine for their mutual protection and they have since lived in the village for the benefits derived from such needed com munity service as school and church and closer social contacts.

The Natural Bridge is one of the points of interest in Arizona that attracts many visi tors. The owners have an excellent hotel for your convenience. It has been referred to as one of the most restful places in the state to really enjoy a quiet, interesting vacation.

Unfortunately, no paved highways lead to the rim country except U. S. Highway 60, which crosses it where a feasible route is possible and it is naturally less spectacular. However, roads lead to the more interesting part from the Globe-Miami district, Prescott via Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Winslow and Holbrook, and from Salt River by way of Payson.

The approaches from the north are the easiest and also the shorter. For instance it is only 57 miles from Winslow to the rim near Pro(Continued on Page Forty-three)