Springerville and the White Mountains

SEPTEMBER, 1929 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Page Eleven Springerville and the White Mountains

WITH the approach of the hunting and fishing season the lover of these sports naturally turns his thoughts to northern Arizona. The abundant rains of the past summer have carpeted the beautiful White Mountains with myriads of wild flowers, while the lush grass cov-ers the hills, and the firs, spruce, quak-ing aspen and pine trees are more beau-tiful than ever.

The trout fishing is on during the entire month of September, and there is no more beautiful month to visit the White Mountains. The summer rains are over and it is not cold in September. The streams abound with trout, due to the fact that for several years the Arizona State Fish Hatcheries have been putting millions of these fish into the streams and more than ninety per cent of the trout fishing of Arizona is to be found in the White Mountains. There are 350 miles of trout streams in these moun-tains.

The months of October and November are beautiful. The leaves of the quaking aspen turn red and gold, and this riot of color against a background of fir, spruce and pine affords a scene of indescribable tire month of September, and there is no more beautiful month to visit the White Mountains. The summer rains are over and it is not cold in September. The streams abound with trout, due to the fact that for several years the Arizona State Fish Hatcheries have been putting millions of these fish into the streams and more than ninety per cent of the trout fishing of Arizona is to be found in the White Mountains. There are 350 miles of trout streams in these mountains.

Black River in the White Mountains Near Springerville

The deer, wild turkey and bear season opens on the morning of October 16, and closes on the night of November 15. Never before in the history of this section have so many wild turkey and deer been seen, due to the extermination of a large number of the wild cats, lynx and coyotes infesting the mountain district. Hunters of large game say there are more bear in the district south of Springerville and just across the line in New Mexico than can be found anywhere in the southwest. These are mostly cinna-mon, black and brown bear, and once in a while a grizzly is found, but grizzlies are scare.

beauty. Sometimes there is a flurry of snow, but the weather is never cold and the snow is an advantage in the tracking of game. The snow flurries are of short duration at this season and Indian Sum-mer usually continues until late in De-cember.

The question of accommodations for visitors to the White Mountain region is always of importance. Many persons make it a point to stay at the Apache Tavern or other hotels in Springerville, from which headquarters they plan their fishing trips, sometimes on the White River and its tributaries, at another time on the Little Colorado and its tributaries. Many enjoy swimming or fishing in Becker's Lake, located two miles from Springerville. Beautiful drives may be taken into the mountain section, over the Rice-Springerville highway or between Springerville and McNary. Then there is the famous Coro-nado trail, via Nutrioso and Alpine, through the large game preserves to Hannagan Meadow, and on to Clifton.

The trip over the Coronado Trail is one that cannot be too highly recommended, Travelers who have visited the Swiss Alps have declared that no more beautiful mountain scenery is to be found than the various views on the Coronado Trail. At one point, after leaving Hannagan Meadow, the motorist passes through a heavily timbered wild-erness to K P Point, from whence one

In the White Mountains Page Twelve ARIZONA HIGHWAYS SEPTEMBER, 1929

has a panorama of hundreds of miles into Old Mexico.

In addition the trout fishing, hunting and beautiful scenery, there are many points of interest to be visited from Springerville over excellent roads. There is the Bottomless Crater Salt Lake, just over the line into New Mexico. This lit-tle lake is located in the bowels of an extinct volcano. It is so salty that it is impossible for a person to sink and the depth has never been ascertained, although heavy weights have been lowered several thausond feet.

Diamond Rock Lodge, now owned by the Frontier Club of America, a Kansas City organization, is located south of Springerville on the Buffalo Creek Then there is the Zuni Indian Village, only a few hours' drive through St. Johns. This village is said to be the famous City of Cibola, one of the fabulous "Seven Cities of Gold," sought by Coronado in 1540.

There are also fifty extinct volcanoes and lava beds which are only a short drive from Springerville.

It is but a short drive to the Rainbow Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert and in one day's drive one may visit the Grand Canyon. Also from Springerville one may visit Inscription Rock and it is a few hours' drive into the heart of the Apache Indian Reservation through the lumber town of McNary.

To those wishing to make their headquarters in the heart of the hunting and fishing regions there are many excellent lodges and camps. Butler's Lodge, located at Greer, a beautiful mountain valley seventeen miles southwest of Springerville, is noted for the excellence of its table and accommodations. Mr. and Mrs. Butler are noted for their hosBranch of Black River. It is also well equipped to take care of the vacationist. The lodge is in a beautiful canyon in the heart of some of the best game and trout fishing country. It is a restful and beautiful spot and there is many a quiet pool where trout abound.

Coronado Lodge, about thirty miles Southeast of Springerville and three miles from Alpine, is directly on the Coronado Trail. Mr. and Mrs. James. the proprietors, spare no effort to render their guests comfortable. The lodge is near several trout streams and in the heart of the big game country. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Patterson, whose post office is Espero, about thirty-five miles south of Springerville in the White Mountains, are known by many persons, not only in Arizona but from other states, for their hospitality. They have cabins to rent and also furnish board and lodging. The Patterson place is located directly on Beaver Creek and is but a short distance from Black River and other trout streams.

There are many other excellent lodges, including Lone Wolf Lodge, between Springerville and Greer, within easy walking distance of several large lakes and Brentwood in the Pines, south of Springerville near the Black River. Besides the lodges, excellent camping places may be found everywhere in the White Mountains, and many persons are now purchasing private land or leasing sites from the United States Forest Service on which to build summer homes.

Springerville possesses an excellent Airport, one of the best located airports in Northern Arizona. The longest runway is more than three-quarters of a mile, while there are three shorter runways. Many persons contemplating a visit to the White Mountains during the fall hunting and fishing season have advised the Springerville Chamber of Commerce of their intention to fly from far(Continued on page 23)