MILEPOSTS/EVENTS

Camp Out at an Airport, Be a Cowboy, See the Stars, Celebrate Summer THERE IT IS! RIGHT THERE!

Travelers on Interstate 10 between Tucson and the Arizona-New Mexico border should glance to the south in the vicinity of Milepost No. 381. Hereabouts, even those who never see the bunny cloud chasing the roadrunner cloud and swear that Phoenix's Camelback Mountain bears no resemblance to its namesake can spot Cochise Head - if they see it from the right angle. The horizontal profile - forehead, nose, lips, and chin - of the great Chiricahua Apache leader appears to be sculpted along the top of a ridgeline reaching an elevation of 8,300 feet.

AIRPLANE CAMPING - IT'S A FIRST

Arizona has always been airplane country. Clear air and few storms make for an optimum number of good flying days, and long distances can easily be flown in an hour. And now there is a place to camp along the way.

In pine country almost exactly in the middle of the state, the town of Payson has opened the Southwest's first airplane campground. Its campsites are adjacent to the runway and sprinkled among thickets of juniper and manzanita with the Mogollon Rim snaking across the northern horizon. This is the same view Zane Grey fell in love with when he immortalized the area in numerous books.

Campers at the mile-high strip won't be roughing it. The facilities include heated showers and flush toilets, and there's a restaurant nearby.

"We've begun with 12 sites," said LaRon Garrett, the Payson town engineer who helped plan

BACK ROADS AND GHOST TOWNS

Adventure and history await Arizona travelers who explore the state's backcountry. You can tour Sycamore Canyon as you travel from Williams in the Kaibab National Forest to Jerome in the Verde Valley. Or you can visit ghost towns - Harshaw, Mowry, Duquesne, and Salero among them - near legendary Tombstone. To guide you on such treks, we recommend two popular books published by Arizona Highways:

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 - AHM68-SPAD - and we'll include a special premium with your order.

the campground. "And we have the option of developing more sites on another 10 acres if the program is successful."

Each campsite resembles what you'd find at a Forest Service campground, with picnic tables and fire rings. A paved walkway to each site makes transporting your gear easier. Overnight camping fees are comparable to those charged by the Forest Service. For more information, call (520) 474-2005.

WHAT A COOL IDEA

Leaning back, you watch the 40-foot waterfall tumble down, hoping to catch some of the mist. Then you close your eyes to listen to the symphony of water sounds before taking a dip in an inviting pool.

You could be lounging beneath the Grand Canyon's famed Havasu Falls, but you didn't hike several rugged miles or work up a sweat to get to The Pointe Hilton Resort at Tapatio Cliffs, the site of the award-winning lookalike Grand Canyon falls.

The main attraction of The Falls, an $8 million oasis at the Phoenix resort, cascades down a cliff, connecting with a dozen travertine pools, 15 mini falls, and wandering streams. Completed last year, The Falls was awarded a first-place win in Lodging Hospitality magazine's fifth-annual Renovation Competition.

Other water amenities at the resort include two free-form swimming pools, a 138-footlong water slide, and private poolside cabanas with phones, TVs, and stocked refrigerators.

A spokesperson says The Pointe offers special summer rates that allow more people to sample the resort's pampering lifestyle and enjoy a tropical islandlike experience right in the big city. For a brochure (including information on tennis courts, golfing, spa and salon services, trail rides, and restaurants), contact the resort tollfree at (800) 747-7111.

WOMEN DOWN IN THE MINES

From the California gold rush through the mid-20th century, a special breed of women played an integral and heretofore unrecognized part in some of the most stirring adventures of the pioneer experience, including the saintly Nellie Cashman; copper queen Ferminia Sarras, known for her grand sprees; a former rodeo champion turned prospector; an ex-actress who snowshoed her way to Nome; and many more.

You'll meet them all in A Mine of Her Own: Women Prospectors of the American West, 1850-1950 by Sally Zanjani.

A few of these women made important discoveries, some enjoyed modest success, and others scratched a lean living. But financial rewards were far from the full measure of the women prospectors. They reveled in the excitement of the mining booms and took pride in surviving in the world beyond the pale. Zanjani tells their stories with warmth and skill and, in bringing them to life, forever changes our mental pictures of the women who helped shape the modern West.

A Mine of Her Own is available at your favorite bookstore for $32.50 (cloth) or directly from the University of Nebraska Press, 312 N. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0484; (402) 4723581.

CONGRATULATIONS, RANCHO DE LOS CABALLEROS

Rancho de los Caballeros, located at the old gold-mining town of Wickenburg, about 50 miles northwest of Phoenix on 20,000 acres of scenic Sonoran Desert, is celebrating its golden anniversary. Established in 1948, the Old Arizona-style ranch resort - or dude ranch, as they used to be called - is still run by its original owners, the Gant family. The ranch offers hayrides, trail rides, nature walks, cook-outs on the range, and modern-day diversions such as tennis courts (lessons available), a swimming pool, and an 18-hole championship golf course rated one of the top five in Arizona by Golf Digest.

To inquire, contact Rancho de los Caballeros, 1551 S. Vulture Mine Road, Wickenburg, AZ 85390; (520) 684-5484; fax, (520) 684-2267.

EVENTS Old West Celebration

June 6; Holbrook Celebrate the 100th birthday of the historic Navajo County Courthouse at this year's festival which features a quilt sale and raffle and a Route 66 car and truck show. Or come for old favorites like the Dry Gulch Players, a pancake breakfast, a barbecue, a 10K footrace, and

CORRECTION

The “Mileposts” section in January '98 incorrectly identified Dolan Ellis, Arizona's official state balladeer, as a founder of the New Christy Minstrels in the 1960s. Ellis was an original member, but not a founder. Randy Sparks, who resides in California, was the founder of the musical group.

21-mile bike races. There'll also be Native American song and dance presentations. Admission is free. Information: (520) 524-6558 or toll-free (800) 524-2459.

Summerfest

June 13-14; St. Johns Gather with the locals at St. Johns city park to welcome summer in a big way. All-day fun includes a classic car show, Mexican Marketplace, Indian art and dancing, arts and crafts, a rock show, volleyball tournaments, live music, and other entertainment. To reach the park from U.S. Route 180, turn south onto 2nd West Street. Admission is free. Information: (520) 337-2000.

Apache Independence Day

June 18; San Carlos Celebrate Apache Independence Day and commemorate the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act, which paved the way for the Apaches' current form of government. Festivities include a softball tournament, an 8K run, the all-association rodeo featuring local working cowboys, fireworks, a youth parade and talent show, and a traditional song competition. The rodeo takes place at Peridot Rodeo Arena, U.S. Route 70, Milepost No. 272. All other events are downtown. Events are free; call for entry fees. Information: (520) 475-2361 or (520) 475-2894.

Astronomy Festival

June 19-20; Sedona “Make Your Own Telescope” is the theme of the 13th Annual Greater Verde Valley Astronomy Festival, and there will be workshops both days to teach you how.

FRIENDS ANNOUNCE OLD FAVORITE AND BRAND-NEW PHOTO WORKSHOPS

October brings two of the Friends' journeys through the geologic wonderland of northern Arizona. October 11 to 15, join Jeff Kida on a trek to photograph the signature landscapes of Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly, stunning sites made famous through many Hollywood movies.

Then get ready for the Friends' newest workshop, “Preposterous Landscapes of Glen and Marble Canyons,” October 25 to 28. On this outing, Gary Ladd will guide you through the Page area's astounding scenic variety: slot canyons, limestone corridors, the magnificent Glen Canyon gorge, a tropic shale “moonscape,” and Lake Powell's Padre Bay area. This trip is challenging, but if you're prepared to hike, wade, and travel by boat, these “preposterous landscapes” will be your reward.

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.

Photo Workshop dates for July through October.

Or just relax and view celestial bodies through one of the telescopes provided for night viewing, or through solar telescopes in daytime. An astronomer will offer lectures, and there will be opportunities to photograph stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies using a large camera platform. Bring your own film, camera, and locking cable release for time exposures. The festival will be held at scenic Red Rock State Park, which offers hiking trails and environmental exhibits.

Bluegrass Festival

June 20; Prescott Come party at Courthouse Plaza and enjoy an afternoon of acoustical entertainment by national bands including Blue Highway (whose latest CD currently ranks in the Top 10), Flint Hill Special, The Shankman Twins (their latest CD has been in the Top 10 on the Bluegrass chart for nine months, currently No. 4), and a special surprise guest. Stretch out in the grass to enjoy the bands, then amble over to the many restaurants, pubs, and retail stores surrounding the plaza. The bands play from 11 A.M. to 6 P.M. Admission is free. Information: (520) 445-2000.