MILEPOSTS/EVENTS

Celebrate Mexico, Take Mom to a Monastery, Explore a Navajo Museum, Visit a RR Depot TROUT ON YOUR WALL

Joseph Tomelleri is one of the world's preeminent illustrators of trout and their relations, the salmon and char. His game-fish renderings are photo-realistic in every detail, and his works have appeared on the covers of scores of magazines and books and have graced anglers' walls throughout the world.

Now Tomelleri has teamed with a publisher of game-fish prints to create "Classic Trout," featuring some of the best-known and most vividly colorful trout in the angling world.

Serious trout anglers will find "Classic Trout" a must for office, den, or cabin wall. The 18by 24-inch print ($14.95 plus $4 shipping and handling) includes rainbow, brown, brook, steelhead, coastal cutthroat, yellowstone cutthroat, and lahontan cutthroat. To inquire or order, contact Windsor/Nature Discovery, 1000 S. Bertelsen Road, No. 14, Eugene, OR 97402; toll-free (800) 635-4194. - Richard G. Stahl

RAILROAD'S DEPOT KEEPS PASSENGERS BUSY

Folks waiting to board the Verde Canyon Railroad for its four-hour rides through a wild and scenic ecosystem won't be bored. The railroad's architecturally distinctive new depot boasts hand-carved wooden columns, a tin ceiling, and chandeliers that tell stories in their metal framework. Also vying for attention are scenic photos taken by Sedona photographer Tom Johnson, historic photos, and railroad memorabilia, including a luggage carrier and upholstered bench from the original depot, which was destroyed by fire in the early part of the century. The depot also features the Copper Spike Cafe and a souvenir store called Boxcar Gifts. The railroad and depot are two hours north of Phoenix. To inquire about train rides, call toll-free (800) 293-7245.

FORT APACHE HONORED

Fort Apache. The very name evokes images of the Old West. Last fall, the venerable fort in east-central Arizona was designated one of 100 irreplaceable, endangered cultural heritage sites in the world by World Monuments Watch, an international historic preservation group. The fort is one of six such sites in North America, the only one in Arizona, and the first tribal site to be listed.

Established by the U.S. Army in 1871 in its efforts to subdue the White Mountain Apaches, Fort Apache is now a monument to the tribe's courage, tenacity, and pride. A new tribal culture center and museum, Nowike' Bagowa, "house of our footprints," opened there last summer, and is dedicated to preserving Apache language, history, and culture.

Today visitors can see the fort's Officer's Row, Gen. George Crook's log cabin, the adjutant's quarters, guardhouse, and cavalry stables. On the riverbank below the fort there is a traditional Apache village.

For information about Fort Apache Historic Park, call (520) 338-4625. Fort Apache is five miles southeast of Whiteriver, just off State Route 73. - Jo Baeza

THEY WANT HOW MUCH?

If you're looking for a special gift for someone, consider the Chilchinbeto rug displayed at the Navajo Nation Museum on State Route 264 in Window Rock. They're asking $5.2 million for it, and don't even try to bargain. And there's no guarantee the museum would sell the rug even at the asking price as it's intended to draw visitors to the new $7 million cultural attraction.

Measuring 28 feet by 24 feet, the Chilchinbeto rug is one of the largest Navajo rugs ever made. It took two years to weave and incorporates 25 different Navajo designs.

The museum, which culminates a decade-long effort to return Navajo artifacts to the reservation, was built in the shape of a traditional hogan, enclosing the museum gallery, a library, and a gift shop. It features continuous and changing exhibits.

Admission is free, and the hours are weekdays, 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., Saturdays, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. For more information and to inquire about exhibits, call (520) 871-6673. Tom Kuhn

SERVING UP THE OLD WEST

For a taste of the Old West, head for Goldfield Ghost Town. Located on the Apache Trail Historic Road at the base of the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, Goldfield is a replica of the town

COOL COUNTRY GUIDES AND BONUS PREMIUM

As lowland Arizona basks in the warmth of April and May, thoughts of escaping summer's torrid heat trail by only weeks. As you lay plans for hightailing it to "cool country," we suggest that you consult four of the full-color guidebooks published by Arizona Highways and featuring the expert work of writers and photographers who regularly contribute to the magazine:

To order: Call toll-free (800) 543-5432, or if you live in the Phoenix area or outside the United States, (602) 258-1000. Shipping and handling charges range from $3.50 to $5.50, depending on how many books you order.

Free gift: When calling, mention this code - AHM58-SPAD and we'll include a special premium with your order.

that existed there when the Mammoth Mine boomed from 1893 to 1897.

Nowadays, Goldfield offers visitors a look at what the real thing might have been like, complete with gunfight reenactments, horseback rides, and a rattlesnake exhibit. Other attractions include helicopter and train rides, souvenir shops, and down-home cookin' in the steakhouse. Real Western buffs won't want to miss the ride down the old elevator shaft for a tour of the Goldfield Mine.

Admission is $4, adults; $3.50, seniors; $2, kids ages five to 12; free, under five. Hours are daily, 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. For more information, call (602) 9830333. Paula Searcy

AN EAGLE'S VIEW OF THE RED ROCKS

Everyone who travels to Sedona wants to see the red rock sculptures that made the area famous. But not everyone knows that a short, easy hike in Red Rock State Park, just outside town, offers a spectacular panoramic view of the russet-colored sandstone formations.

"Eagle's Nest Trail first takes hikers down to Oak Creek, then up to the highest point in the park, at 4,102 feet, affording a breathtaking 360-degree view of the red rocks as well as Mingus Mountain over toward the Verde Valley," says park Assistant Manager Bonner Davis. "The 1.9-mile round-trip trail is easy walking, and the payoff is well worth it."

Red Rock State Park encompasses five miles of interconnecting trails, all rated "easy." Some hiking is handicapped-accessible, as is the visitors center. To inquire, call (520) 282-6907.

EVENTS Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

May 1-2; Mesa Downtown Mesa offers its fiesta of fun celebrating Cinco de Mayo with mariachi performances, contemporary Latin dance music, ballet folklorico, arts and crafts, children's activities, and Mexican foods. Admission is free. Information: (602) 644-2351.

Herb Festival

May 2; Superior Visitors to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum will want to take time out from enjoying the popular spot's horticultural displays and nature trails to take advantage of this fourth annual event's attractions: tours of the herb garden (and the opportunity to purchase herbs), arts and crafts displays, and live music performances. Admission is $2 to $5; free, under age five. Information: (520) 689-2811.

Cinco de Mayo

May 3; Cottonwood Nearly three dozen Verde Valley and Sedona restaurants will compete in a salsa contest at this event saluting the area's Mexican heritage. Other highlights include mariachi performances, a "salsa" street dance, a children's petting zoo, piñatas, and Mexican arts and crafts booths. Admission is free except for a $1 charge for the salsa-tasting. Information: (520) 634-9468.

Fiesta de la Primavera

May 9-10; St. David Arts and crafts, live entertainment, and food choices from hamburgers to barbecue and Oriental delicacies highlight this annual Mother's Day event at Holy Trinity Monastery, a Benedictine community. Be sure to tour the monastery grounds. Admission is $1. Information: (520) 720-4642.

VISIT THE LAND OF THE NAVAJOS

Explore Navajo country with photographer LeRoy DeJolie, who calls upon his Indian heritage to guide you to lesser-known areas of this spectacular region.

"Spirits of the Navajo," a Friends Photo Workshop scheduled for September 11 to 15, includes VIP access to the annual Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock. This powwow with ceremonial dances, rodeo, handicrafts, and Native Americans in traditional dress is the perfect opportunity to expand a photography portfolio.

"Secrets of Navajo Land," November 1 to 5, visits famed Canyon de Chelly, little-known Coal Canyon, and hidden slot canyons with sweeping sandstone walls, wind-sculpted spires, ancient ruins, and enigmatic petroglyphs.

For a complete schedule of trips, write the Friends of Arizona Highways, P.O. Box 6106, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6106; or call (602) 271-5904.

Here are other Photo Workshop dates for May through August.

May 04-07: Slot Canyons; Jerry Sieve. May 08-14: Indian Ruins of the Southwest; Jerry Sieve. May 12-15: Slot Canyons; Michael Fatali. May 26-29: Slot Canyons; Tom Till. Aug. 21-18: Grand Canyon River Rafting; Christine Keith.

Wyatt Earp Days

May 23-25; Tombstone The frontier lawman would not be surprised that the "Town Too Tough to Die" celebrates in his name with gunfight reenactments and a chili cookoff - even kids' games. But a fashion show? Probably that wouldn't surprise him either, because even in Earp's day, the town sported such unexpected nice-ties as telephones and an icecream parlor. Admission to the daily gunfights in the am-phitheater is $2. Information: (520) 456-2644.

Popular activities at the juried event include the "Quick Draw" and Auction and the People's Choice Award. Admission is free. Information: (520) 7781385.

Patagonia Centennial

May 23-25; Patagonia A parade, tours of historic sites, live entertainment, games, mine-ranch-and-railroad memorabilia, and an art gallery walk are just some of the attractions of this Memorial Day weekend event held in the rolling hill country community just a few miles north of the Arizona-Sonora, Mexico, border. In addition to partaking of Patagonia's old-fashioned hospitality, you'll want to visit the nearby Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, where hundreds of species of birds and other wildlife can be seen. Centennial information: (520) 394-0060. May 23-25; Prescott

Phippen Western Art Show

The mile-high town's picturesque Courthouse Plaza is the site for the 24th Annual Phippen Western Art Show and Sale, with artists from throughout the country participating.