A Hidden Land of Stone and Light

West Clear Creek splashes and gurgles its way down the Mogollon Rim, dropping thousands of feet from the green Coconino Plateau of northern Arizona to the sere desert lands below through rugged inaccessible wilderness recommended for experienced hikers only. Within its 40-mile length are deep shaded canyons, a hidden land of stone and water and light. Where the creek waters flow through narrows sometimes barely 10-feet across, vertical walls of pale Coconino sandstone shoot up 300 feet above the streambed. At midday, these same dark chasms come to life with shimmering ribbons and circles of bright sunlight reflecting off the emerald water below.

A HIDDEN LAND OF STONE, WATER, AND LIGHT

Strewn helter-skelter across the floor of the canyons are dark basalt boulders in shades of Russian blue and charcoal. After countless thousands of years, water and sand have polished them satiny smooth. Like dark bald heads, they rise up out of the sandy stream floor.

(Below) Sculptured and stained walls of Coconino sandstone form the narrow hidden canyons of West Clear Creek. (Right) Travertine-tinted water flows smooth and clear in summer, but logs jammed high up the canyon walls give the experienced hiker clues as to what the creek can be like during spring flood, or a sudden summer thunderstorm.

A HIDDEN LAND

Everywhere in this natural gallery, water has done its gentle, persistent work, carving and polishing the sharp, rough surfaces into pieces of art, with sensual curves silky to the touch.

Richard Fisher is one of the very few who has photographed the canyons of West Clear Creek. He has led groups of handicapped and disadvantaged youths on hikes through their rock-strewn lengths, swum their emerald pools, and poked cautiously into all their dark and secret places.

This special photographic feature provides but a small selection from his best works. We think you'll be quite properly impressed.

Photographer Richard Fisher, left, and companions hiked and swam much of West Clear Creek. There they discovered a wonderland of bizarre rock formations, including a mushroom-shaped mound of calcium carbonate (opposite page, bottom) built up by a spring and undercut by the creek.

BOOKSHELF by Mary Lu Moore

ARIZONA OFF THE BEATEN PATH! By Thelma Heatwole. Golden West Publishers, 4113 N. Longview Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014. 1982. 142 р. $4.50, softcover, plus $1.00 handling.

Newspaper reporter Thelma Heatwole and her traveling companions have explored a number of Arizona's out-of-theway nooks and crannies, encountering many an adventure along the way. Compiled from her Arizona Republic columns, the stories in this book, written in a folksy manner, elaborate on those trips and give readers some timely data for planning their own excursions. The author divides the state into eight geographical sections, with a general area map, the stories, and black-and-white photos pertaining to that area. The bits of history and other information given will prompt those with itchy feet to grab maps and supplies and head off to lesser-known locales in Arizona's backcountry.

THE WILDLIFE OBSERVER'S GUIDEBOOK. By Charles E. Roth. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632. 1982. 239 p. $15.95, hardcover; $7.95, softcover.

Enjoyment of the out-of-doors can be enhanced by observing wildlife that abounds in the vicinity. Powers of observation can be refined and magnified, and Charles Roth-naturalist, zoologist, and educator-shows us how. Through his own personal experiences he teaches us increased awareness and how to record what we see. We learn techniques and tips about recognizing and following animal tracks and other clues and observing without being observed. We can lure animals to us, recognize and mark individuals, and take note of behavior patterns. The author thoughtfully includes a chapter on how to deal with the outdoors and its hazards as well as illustrations, additional reading, a bibliography, sources of equipment and supplies, and an index. Wildlife enthusiasts will find this a well-written, meticulous sourcebook.

THE HIGH-COUNTRY BACKPACKER. By Dona Agosti. Winchester Press, available from: New Century Publishers, Inc., 275 Old New Brunswick Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854. 1982. 252 p. $11.95, softcover.

Backpackers will be amply prepared for rugged high-country climbs after reading this guide. Written by an Alaskan mother of seven in her mid-50s, it contains a wealth of practical information on every aspect of mountaineering. A real veteran of alpine hiking, Agosti advocates thorough knowledge of mountain terrain, techniques, and rules of the road as well as appropriate gear, clothing, and health care. Through prudent planning, a safe, comfortable, and rewarding backpacking experience can be achieved with a minimum of mishaps, despite the unexpected. There are are lots of photos and diagrams, a bibliography, and an index. Even non-backpackers will enjoy this hardy lady's personal trial and error experiences.

ARIZONA TRAILS: 100 HIKES IN CANYON AND SIERRA. By David Mazel. Wilderness Press, 2440 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704. 1981. 312 р. $9.95, softcover.

Ideal for hikers and backpackers, this methodical, well-illustrated, well-indexed guide provides up-to-date information on five major Arizona mountain areas: the Superstition Wilderness, the southeastern ranges, eastern (east central) highlands, Grand Canyon, and the Mazatzal Wilderness northeast of Phoenix. Each trip entry contains distance from trailhead, total rise in elevation, degree of difficulty, best season to go, availability of water, important features, and a concise description including quality of campgrounds. The trails are carefully plotted on detailed maps. From short day hikes close to metropolitan areas to challenging backpacking forays in remote areas, there is a trip for everyone seeking to get away from it all.

THE COMMON SENSE MEDICAL GUIDE AND OUTDOOR REFERENCES. By Newell D. Breyfogle. McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, N.Y., NY 10020. 1981. 413 p. $6.95, softcover.

A new, comprehensive, handy reference work will help those who work or enjoy recreation out of doors to be prepared to meet virtually all types of medical emergencies. Carefully organized and well researched, it is profusely illustrated with line drawings, photographs, and charts.

A LETTER FROM A READER:

Dear Editor, As a Papago, and the reigning Miss Indian America XXVIII, my heart was filled with pride when I opened the April 1983 issue of the Arizona Highways and found my tribe and land researched.

Throughout my travels I have shared my culture with many across the U.S. With the aid of the Arizona Highways, I can now show my reservation, most important the beauty of the land I come from.

Prior to my crowning on July 31, 1982, I was a senior political science major at Arizona State University.

Although I have had the opportunity to return to the reservation within these last eight months, still the precious memories help me to be strong. The photographs in the Arizona Highways refresh my thoughts of my people and our land. Many across the U.S. are amazed the Arizona desert is more than sand and cactus. It is filled with much beauty and splendor.

While at A.S.U. I presented a research paper to my Comparative Politics class, the topic was the Gadsden Purchase. A majority of the students, including the professor, were unaware of the drastic changes it brought to my people. The feature on the Gadsden Purchase was of much interest to me. I grew up one-quarter mile from the U.S./Mexican border line, on the reservation, in a small village called New Fields. Today we still make visits to the "gate" to purchase goods from the Mexican peddlers. Our way of life depicted in your magazine projected how we are today. A humble people very proud of our survival on our desert in southern Arizona. Thank you for sharing with others across the U.S. and world, the beauty of my people and land.

The Miss Indian America XXIX pageant will be held July 27-30, 1983, in Sheridan, Wyoming. Until then, I continue to walk a road that has taken me many miles across the U.S. But the memories of growing up in the desert remain in my heart.

Sincerely, Vivian Juan Miss Indian America XXVIII Papago Tribe of Arizona (Inside back cover) Stalking a trophy buck with a high-powered camera is a summer travel adventure anyone can experience on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Dave Davis photo (Back cover) A natural spring on West Clear Creek. Adventurer/photographer Richard D. Fisher shares more of his spectacular scenic views of this littleknown region, beginning on page 44. Richard D. Fisher photo