APACHE NATIONAL FOREST

BY: R. B. Ewing

Once upon a time, Arizona had more water than she knew what to do with. That was when the "high country" of these days was lower than a whale's belly. It was down at the bottom of a prehistoric sea.

But you can't keep a good State down. A century of Sundays ago, the land now known as Arizona came up a-buckin' in one of the greatest rodeo performances of all time.

The northern half got more of a boost, or the southern half did some backsliding. Anyway, a plateau 5,000 to 9,500 feet above sea level now forms the northern half of the State.

If you don't believe what the geologists say about that, try climbing the Mogollon Rim. This magnificent escarpment, in some places more than a mile higher than desert spots of southern Arizona, is the plateau's southern edge. On this plateau is the Apache National Forest, with 679,000 acres in Arizona and a large acreage across the line in New Mexico.

Its northern boundary is close to U. S. 60 and Springerville, where the Supervisor's Office is located. Westward are the Sitgreaves National Forest and the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation. To the east is New Mexico. South is the adjoining Crook National Forest. Location on the high plateau explains why the Apache Forest has such a bounty of water, timber and forage. Along with the fine stands of ponderosa pine the Forest has large areas of fir and spruce, typical of high mountain country. Natural open "parks" break the monotony of travel in the timber. The White Mountains, the Blue Range and several lesser ranges are in the Forest. High country gets heavy rain and snow; that, along with the conservative use of these resources, is what makes big timber, high grass and big trout in snow-fed streams and lakes. The whole set-up makes fine watersheds and happy farmers in the irrigating districts down below. Protection of watershed values receives heavy consideration in the managing of this Forest.

Black River, one of the principal contributors of water to Roosevelt reservoir and Salt River valley irrigation system, originates from numerous small tributaries on the timbered slopes and bunch grass parks of the White Mountains. The water of the Blue River, contributor to the San Carlos Reservoir on the Gila River, also comes from the melted snows of the White Mountains. The Little Colorado River heads on the slopes of Mount Baldy, a peak on the boundary between the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Its waters irrigate some 7,500 acres of farming land on the north, making possible the production of winter forage for most of the cattle using the summer grazing grounds in the mountains.

The cool summer climate here is good for man and beast. Good roads, grand scenery and unexcelled opportunity for camping, fishing and hunting give this Forest a magnetic personality that attracts around 25,000 recreationists each year.

The wide range in elevations there's nearly 6,000 feet difference between Reserve, where the elevation is 5,500 feet, and the top of Mt. Baldy, 11,490 feet-makes an interesting variety in temperature, animal life and plant life. Mt. Baldy is second highest in Arizona, looking up only to San Francisco Peaks. During growing season, different wild flowers succeed each other in the climb from woodland to mountain height.

The march of the seasons also brings change. In late summer, stream banks, cienegas and the natural clearings or mountain "parks" are alive with the color of wild flowers. Fall brings scarlet to the scrub oak, and a golden glory to the aspens.

The Apache forest lays claim to the best trout fishing in Arizona, and bolsters the claim with three reservoirs (Big Lake, Crescent Lake, Basin Lake) and 350 miles of trout streams. Add these to another 350 miles of streams on the adjoining Ft. Apache Reservation and you have half the fishing streams in Arizona.

One of the best known streams in this Forest is the Black River which forms at the junction of several creeks a few miles from Buffalo Crossing on U. S. 666. Fed by its West Fork, East Fork, Beaver Creek and a network of smaller tributaries, Black River flows southeast across the Forest boundary into the Indian country.

Another stream of note is Blue River, originating near the San Francisco Mountains in the New Mexico division of the Apache forest. It winds down gradually in a southeastern direction, collecting strength as it passes the mouths of Campbell Blue creek, Foote creek, Grant creek and smaller tributaries. A Forest Service road plays tag with the Blue from near Bowman's ranch down to road's end at Grant Creek. There's a forest campground before the road comes to Blue post office, and two more forest campgrounds before the road ends. The river presses on, through the beautiful overhanging narrows where it cuts down through Mogollon Rim, and wanders off into the Crook National Forest. From Blue post office down, the river is bounded on both sides by the Blue Range Wilderness Area.