Mileposts/Events

Visit a Ghost Town Called Ruby, See Eagles, Greet Galileo, Go to an Indian Rodeo WELCOME MAT REPLACES GHOST TOWN'S KEEP-OUT SIGNS

“No Trespassing-Survivors Will Be Prosecuted.” That warning at the entrance to the ghost town of Ruby was one of the most notorious signs in southern Arizona for years. The sign was intended as a joke, but the ruins of the once raucous gold mining town were in fact closed to the public with the old mining shacks and beautiful ponds hidden behind a locked gate.

Recently, however, the owners opened the ghost town to the public for a fee. Visitors must call ahead, (520) 744-4471, to let owners know they're coming and find out the cost. They also must sign a responsibility waiver.

Ruby started life around 1873 as the Montana Mine and was called Montana Camp. When a post office opened in the general store there July 1, 1912, the name was changed to Ruby, for Lily Ruby, wife of store owner Julius S. Andrews. Sam Negri

TINY FLIES CATCH BIG FISH

customer at Lees Ferry Anglers once challenged Ted Wellings about whether a really big trout could be caught on a tiny hand-tied No. 16 fly. Wellings boasted, “Let me put one of these in your lip, and I'll bet I can tow you around this shop.” A No. 16 freshwater shrimp wet fly, he added, is among the most productive flies on the Colorado River, and fisherfolk can watch while it - or any fly is tied at the shop.Dam downstream to Lees Ferry. December through April, when the trout spawn, produces the largest fish, they report. Call toll-free (800) 962-9755. Tom Kuhn Lees Ferry Anglers, owned by Terry and Wendy Gunn and Russell Sullivan, is located at Marble Canyon, 40 miles west of Page. Besides selling flies and fishing equipment, they also guide anglers in search of big trout in the stretch of the Colorado from Glen Canyon

THE DBG CELEBRATES

With its pathways wandering through a vast display of desert flora, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is a delight to visit anytime. But there's added magic when the holidays roll around, and thousands of candle-lit luminaries create a fantasyland called Noche de las Luminarias. During this annual family holiday tradition, visitors stroll the walkways listening to festive music and enjoying complimentary homemade cookies and hot apple cider. There'll also be a food tent offering a menu of Southwestern cuisine. The event is a fund-raiser for the garden, and it is open to the public Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6. Advance tickets are required, and the event is always a sellout. For tickets, call (602) 941-1225.

COMFY CAMPING

If “gentle downhill hikes,” “small day packs,” and sleeping on “soft mattresses” when camping out appeal to your sense of civilized adventure, contact a Sedona-based company called Canyon Calling for a free brochure with info on next year's for-women-only trip schedule. Tour operator Cheryl Fleet says her philosophy is that adventure travel does not have to equate with misery, and she escorts trips that prove her point. The week-long excursions with travel by foot, jeep, boat, and helicopter - take participants to the Painted Desert, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, the Hopi mesas, Canyon de Chelly, and Havasu Falls at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. To obtain the brochure, call toll-free (800) 664-8922 or (520) 282-0916.

ALL ABOARD THE EAGLE EXPRESS

Artist Doug Allen's paintings of eagles on Verde Canyon Railroad engines show what passengers might see on the line's 20-mile excursion between Clarkdale and Perkinsville. Bald eagles and golden eagles winter in the canyon beginning in November, and fortunate passengers can watch them in their natural habitat, soaring above the treetops or gliding into their nests. To ask about train rides, contact the railroad at 300 N. Broadway, Clarkdale, AZ 86324; (520) 639-0010 or toll-free (800) 293-7245.

IF YOU'RE NUTS FOR PECANS . . .

Mid-November is prime time for picking pecans around Willcox. Most of the area's farm products are harvested from U-pick-it and We-pick-it locations or roadside stands by October, but pecan lovers can plan a fall excursion to load up on the delectable rewards of the pecan groves. Harvest conditions vary, so call ahead to the Willcox Chamber of Commerce, (520) 384-2272.

JUNIOR PARK RANGER

When you and your kids visit Saguaro National Park outside Tucson, ask for an Activity Pack at the ranger station. Each child will receive a bright-colored knapsack containing binoculars, a ruler, colored pencils, and a coloring book with pictures and facts about the plants and animals they can see in the desert. Following instructions in the book and accompanying literature, the kids explore short nature trails around the visitor center, listing the flora and fauna they see and identifying animal tracks. With its pictures to color, connect-the-dot projects, and crossword puzzle, the book offers an entertaining way to learn more about the Sonoran Desert.

At the end of the visit, return the materials to the park ranger, who reviews them with the youngsters. Then each child raises his or her right hand and is sworn in as a Junior Park Ranger. A certificate and badge make everything legitimate. Contact the national park at (520) 733-5158. -Sam Negri

STRANGE DOINGS ON MARS HILL

Mulder and Scully won't be investigating this story for the X-Files because de-spite the fact that Galileo and Copernicus may be spotted walking the halls of the famed Lowell Observatory this month, there's a perfectly logical ex-planation: The long-dead as-tronomers are part of "Voices of the Past," programs that fea-ture costumed Lowell staff sharing tales of famous astron-omers' lives and discoveries, in-cluding those of Galileo and Copernicus.

The performances are staged, appropriately, in the observ-atory's dark, whispery rotunda room. Afterward, weather per-mitting, audience members can view a celestial perfor-mance through the century-old Clark Telescope, and enjoy the permanent, interactive "Tools of the Astronomer" exhibit.

"Voices from the Past" will be offered Friday and Saturday evenings through November. Admission is $1 to $3. Warm clothing is recommended. For times and other information, call (520) 774-2096. - Priscilla Whitaker

INN THE HOLIDAY MOOD

Here's an opportunity to check out some Flagstaff B&Bs without having to check in for the night. December 14 local bed and breakfasts including the Inn at 410, the Birch Tree Inn, Comfi Cottages, and Jeanette's Bed & Breakfast - will open their doors to the public. Visitors are invited to enjoy festive refreshments at each destination "while wrap-ped in the happy nostalgia of special decor and themes, from whistling toy trains to Victorian top hats."

Tickets for the tour are $5, and proceeds benefit local charities. For more information, call the Flagstaff Visitor Center toll-free at (800) 842-7293 or (520) 774-9541. Priscilla Whitaker

EVENTS Fountain Festival of Arts and Crafts

November 7-9; Fountain Hills Artists and craftspeople from throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe display their creations at this annual event, touted as one of the top five such fairs in the Southwest. All the fun takes place on Avenue of the Fountains, notable for "the tallest fountain in the world" at 560 feet. Fair admission is free. Information: (602) 837-1654.

O'odham Tash

November 8-9; Casa Grande A rodeo highlights this annual event, but there also will be a big parade (9 A.M., Saturday) followed by a barbecue, plus arts and crafts booths to browse. Admission is $3 to $5. If you have time, visit the nearby Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, believed to be an astronomical observatory built by the ancient Hohokam. Information: (520) 836-4723.

Emmett Kelly Days

November 8-9; Tombstone A clown school, clown contest, "clown round-up," and parade (Sunday at noon) highlight this birthday salute to the

Photo Worksho PHOTO WORKSHOPS TO MONUMENT VALLEYCANYON DE CHELLY AND LAKE POWELL KICK OFF 1998 SCHEDULE

The first Friends of Arizona Highways Photo Workshops in 1998 focus on three of the most popular destinations in the state: Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, and Lake Powell.

In winter billowing fog often lingers on the remarkable terrain of Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly, and snow creates a sparkling white blanket. How these stunning locations "wear" winter will be the subject of a Photo Workshop February 10-14. Beginning at famous Goulding's Lodge and Trading Post, the workshop will include four-wheel-drive treks to such sites as Eye of the Sun, Ear of the Wind, Honeymoon Arch, and Mystery Valley.

The intense colors of Lake Powell seem to deepen in winter, so the corals and blues of July become the astonishing ruby and sapphire of February. These winter colors of the lake will be the instructional focus of a Photo Workshop there February 16-20. Participants will tour the lake by motorboat and houseboat and learn photo techniques at many locations, including Padre Bay, Escalante Canyon, and magnificent Rainbow Bridge.

For details about these and other trips, contact the Friends of Arizona Highways, 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009; (602) 271-5904.

For details about these and other trips, contact the Friends of Arizona Highways, 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009; (602) 271-5904. There will be a birthday party and dinner Sat-urday night with an admission charge, but everything else is free. Information: (520) 457-3057 or toll-free (800) 457-3423.

Sandpoint Fiddlers Jamborina

Held at the Sandpoint Ma-rina and RV Park, this tuneful event also offers a barbecue, a Friday night bonfire, and a competition for the best joke or favorite story. Admission is free Friday night, and $10 Saturday, including a barbecue. Be sure to check out the lake recreation and the famous transplanted London Bridge, which shelters an Eng-lish Village filled with shops and boutiques. Information: (520) 855-0549.

Mountain Village Holiday

November 27-January 1; Williams The town dubbed the "Gate-way to the Grand Canyon" celebrates the holidays with hayrides, caroling, thousands of twinkling Christmas lights, a parade (December 5), and train rides to the Grand Canyon ac-companied by Santa himself. Some activities are free. For more information, call (520) 635-4061.

Information, including dates, fees, and activities, is subject to change; telephone to confirm before planning to attend events. For a free Arizona travel kit and a calendar of events, telephone the Arizona Office of Tourism toll-free at (888) 520-3444.