THE BLUE

the Blue River and its valley are located in the Apache National Forest, almost in the center of it and close to the Arizona-New Mexico State line. The Blue is a winding little river roughly flowing from north to south and falling about fifty feet a mile. Hence it is always singing . . .

We saw it first, all of a sudden, as we rounded a sharp curve in the mountain road. There it lay like strings of huge sapphire beads side by side, unmatched beads in size and coloring but all possessing a rich, vibrant hue. As our eyes dropped deeper and deeper into the ultramarine dyed canyon we caught a glimpse of the shining silver cord that was the river. The about-noon sun was bright in a cloudless sky, as blue as any Arizona sky ever was, but the sky was no match for that bright blue haze staining the beads. We knew then where the Blue Range and the Blue River got their names. No artist would dare paint any portion of the picture that blue-even if he could find the pigments.

Story and Pictures by Gaston Burridge.

staining the beads. We knew then where the Blue Range and the Blue River got their names. No artist would dare paint any portion of the picture that blue-even if he could find the pigments.

The Blue River and its valley are located in the Apache National Forest, almost in the center of it and close to the Arizona-New Mexico State line. The Blue is a winding little river roughly flowing from north to south and falling about fifty feet a mile. Hence it is always singing. It is always singing, too, because it weaves a serpentine course over and around boulders and strata-rock, between isles of big cottonwood trees where beavers use their roots for small dam foundations.

Blue River is formed when Campbell Blue Creek, having been joined by Turkey Creek, makes an almost right hand turn to meet Dry Fork Blue Creek, which is never dry and which has picked up Pace Creek and Freeburn Creek on its way out of New Mexico. When snow is melting on the slopes after a heavy summer rain, Blue River goes a little mad for a while but generally is peaceful and clear enough for anyone. The deep shaded pools in the Blue and in its larger, constant-flowing tributaries contain trout worth anybody's trying for.

Blue Post Office is located, as the natives say, "down on the Blue," at the end of the good Forest Service road, about halfway between where the river sources and "The Box," which is the name given to those narrows formed where the river cuts through the eastern end of the Mogollon Rim. Blue Post Office, presided over by its genial Postmaster, Slim Joy, was established first as Whittum, in July, 1894. Isaac F. Casto was the first postmaster. The name was changed to Blue in November, 1898, and Max A. Blake, who was the second postmaster of Whittum, became the first postmaster of Blue. Since establishment, Blue has had six postmasters, three of them women. The location of the post office has moved up and down the river with its various appointees. It has remained in its present location since January, 1932. Below Blue Post Office there is a road. This road fords the river many times but can be traversed if your car is not too low swung or the river is not too much in flood. North from Blue Post Office, up the river, thence out to Alpine via Turkey Creek road, one finds easy grades, not too sharp curves and room enough for two cars to pass comfortably. Along this road the creeks and river have been bridged by the Forest Service. If you have steady nerves, good brakes and are satisfied with fifteen miles an hour, you can get down to the Blue country and the Post Office from the Coronado Trail by taking the left hand road (going south from Alpine) at Jess Burke's Beaver Head Lodge. It is twelve miles packed with panorama so highly colored you can't believe your own eyes. It is twelve miles you will never forget.

The Blue River Valley has a floor altitude of about 6000 feet at its northern end and about 5000 feet at "The Box." Blue Post Office is about 5600 feet. The mountains rise some 2000 feet above the valley, to the east-much higher to the west-in steep, quick successions of undulating woods. Often they leap with sheer red and white sandstone cliffs. The western yellow pines frequently join the cottonwoods, native walnut, Arizona ash and oaks on the valley floor. Cedars, junipers and the symetrical Arizona cypress crowd the lower reaches. There are heavy stands of pine covering all the higher slopes with aspen seeking out the moist places.

Within these mountains and forests live such game animals as mountain lion, black bear, mule and white tail deer and flocks of wild turkeys. This vicinity also contains competent guides who have good hound-packs for lion and bear hunting as well as outfits for pack trips into the deeper back country, of which there is a great deal. The Apache National Forest Service headquarters in Springerville, Arizona, will provide full information.

Among the cliffs of this Blue River country have been found the remains of ancient Indian dwellings. There have also been explored the crumbling foundations of several small pueblos along the valley floor. When the white man first started to settle the region the Apaches considered it a hunting ground worthy of many bloody contests. Yes, history has spun its web around this half hidden area for a long, long time.

Much of the country below Blue Post Office has been made into the Blue Range Wilderness Area because of its remoteness from transportation facilities, its very rugged terrain and lack of mineral resources. Here are many creeks and canyons, sheer cliffs and broken ledges of red, white and orange sandstone covered with pines and brush and sun. There are some small lakes and a waterfall to remember and so it is good to know that it will remain in its present natural state for those who enjoy being alone with God.

Arizona's Blue River country is a region of vivid colorings and sculptured details, all softened by a veil of ever-present indigo haze. It is a place where life is slower, has less tension. A land where a kindly sun and soft, pine-scented breezes play among the cottonwoods to bid a stranger welcome.