MILEPOSTS

Celebrate Winter, See Our Photo Exhibits, and Golf the Mystical Apache Stronghold HIKE THE EAGLETAIL WILDERNESS

A 6-mile guided hike through the Eagletail Wilderness, over-looking the Sonoran Desert floor and leading into spectacular granite-spired canyons, reaps a reward of breathtaking scenery. Red mountains frame a canvas of poppies, lupine, Sonoran lilies and desert marigolds. Bill O'Brien purchased his ranch 30 years ago and, wanting to protect its beauty, in 1991 supported the transfer of 106,000 acres of the 600square-mile ranch into an Eagletail Wilderness preserve. Located 90 miles west of Phoenix just south of Interstate 10, the area boasts an abundance of wildlife, including coyotes, desert mules, bighorn sheep and prairie falcons. Two golden eagles also live there. O'Brien shares the grandeur of the Eagletail Wilderness by hosting an annual hike that includes lunch at a vantage point overlooking saguaro and ocotillo cactuses, and ironwood and mesquite trees. This year's February 13 hike is dedicated to Presidents Lincoln and Washington, to Valentine's Day and to Arizona's (February 14th) birthday. Proceeds from the $20 per person donation benefit the new Wendy Center for Emotionally Disturbed Youngsters in Scottsdale.

Reservations and information: 3104 E. Camelback Road, Suite 520, Phoenix, AZ 85016; (480) 951-1152.

TOUR THE RAMPS AT TUCSON'S AIRPORT

Airport read those trips to the airwhen you are either getting out, picking up, or dropping off?

Tucson's International Airport provides a behind-the-scenes, back-ofthe-buildings and along-therunway look at seldom seen parts of an airport. Two hours in length, the tour starts with a slide presentation and continues with a walk through the workroom and computer weather station used by corporate and private pilots. Then you hit the tarmac. Your tour van rides the airport roads and skirts the Arizona Air National Guard station and its gray line of F16s known as the Fighting Falcons. Directly overhead, the big commercial jets thunder as they make their final approaches. At the airport fire department, a firefighter explains the equipment used to avert disaster. The Ramp Tour is scheduled every second and fourth Saturday each month from 9 to 11 Α.Μ. Although the tour is free, Here's an aviation jaunt that may prove more appealing, and it even includes a free ride.

Reservations are required. Information: (520) 573-4868. — Kathleen Walker

GOLF THE APACHE STRONGHOLD

Apache Stronghold, a mystical region where legend maintains that the Apaches could walk invisibly among their enemies, has recently been transformed into a golf course nestled in the wild desert terrain. Located on the San Carlos Apache Reservation 5 miles east of Globe, the Apache Stronghold Golf Club at the Apache Gold Casino Resort coexists with the upper Sonoran Desert and preserves numerous archaeological sites. Architect Tom Dorak's minimalist design enables year-round play with natural hazards, including rugged washes and scrub-filled craters. "We simply laid out golf holes where the contours of the ground were most interesting," says Dorak. Information: toll-free (800) APACHE 8.

In celebration of Arizona Highways' 75th anniversary, an exhibit of works by more than 30 contributing photographers, titled Celebrating Our Land, Our People, opens January 29 at Desert Caballeros Western Museum, 21 N. Frontier St., Wickenburg. Our Land, Our People presents 75 images from the pages of Arizona Highways in the signature style of the magazine: dramatic landscapes, intimate portraits, flora and fauna - all seen through the eyes of some of the best photographers working today.

for Creative Photography on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson. This exhibit features spectacular fine-art photography by Ansel Adams, David Muench and Jack Dykinga. It was organized by the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona, Tucson; Phoenix Art Museum; and Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff; in association with Arizona Highways. Sponsors of the exhibits are (Celebrating Our Land, Our People) Ramada Express Hotel Casino, Laughlin, Nevada; Northern Trust Bank; ImageCraft Photo Imaging Services; and (Celebrating the Tradition) Eller Media. Support funding for all special anniversary activities is provided by Motorola.

The exhibit continues through April 16 in Wickenburg, then moves to Prescott, where it runs April 22-August 20 at the Phippen Museum of Western Art, 4701 N. Highway 89, before moving on to Tubac for an October 7-November 12 showing at Tubac Center for the Arts, 9 Plaza Road, Tubac. Also continuing its statewide tour is Arizona Highways: Celebrating the Tradition, which opens February 19 at the Center Celebrating the Tradition runs through April 29 at the Center for Creative Photography, and moves to Flagstaff's Museum of Northern Arizona, June 24-November 5.

EVENTS Winterfest

January 29-30, February 1-29; Flagstaff Grab your old copy of Jack London's Call of the Wild, pack your warmest parka and mittens, reserve a room in Flagstaff the last weekend of January and prepare yourself for two adrenalinefilled days of sled-dog sprinting. If the excitement generated by 60 sled teams competing for trophies and prize money isn't enough, come back February 5 and 6 for two days of snowmobile races at Mormon Lake. Also scheduled are a cross-country ski clinic, figure-skating show and winter stargazing at Northern Arizona University's observatory. Family events include Kids Winter Fun at Heritage Square, winter crafts and storytelling.

Admission is free. Calendar of events and information: tollfree (800) 842-7293.

Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering

February 5-7; Sierra Vista To celebrate Western Heritage Week, students from local schools will share the spotlight with professional cowboy poets reciting original work at the 8th Annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering. Arizona's official state balladeer, Dolan Ellis, who founded the Arizona Folklore Preserve in Ramsey Canyon, a few miles south of Sierra Vista, also will perform during this family-oriented celebration of Western culture, history and folklore. Tall tales, jokes and the predicament of American cowboy life are shared in song and verse during three days of performances. Performances are at 7:30 P.M. Friday and Saturday and 2 P.M. Sunday. Admission per show is $10, adults and $5, students, grades 1-12. Information: tollfree (800) 288-3861; www.cowboypoets.com.

Renaissance Festival

February 5 - March 26; Apache Junction Experience all of the romance and revelry of Renaissance Europe at the 12th Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival. Cheer on knights in full armor as they joust in the King's Tournament Arena, visit with King Henry and his court as they roam the village, or sample the decadent array of food such as roasted turkey drumsticks, stew served in bread bowls and vegetable pies. While wandering the bustling marketplace, you can visit with skilled artisans creating period crafts or take a seat near one of 12 stages featuring music, comedy and theater. Festival games, marketplace exhibitions and rides, such as the da Vinci Flying Machine, complete the experience. Weekends and President's Day, 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Admission: $15, adults; $6, ages 5-12; free, under 5. Information: (520) 4632700.

Territorial Days

February 12-13; Benson Benson, in the heart of Wild West country southeast of Tucson, hosts a celebration of 87 years of Arizona state-hood with frontier-era reenactments, wagon rides and a best beard contest. A carnival, toesack races, pony rides and petting zoo keep children entertained. Adults will enjoy browsing antiques and arts and crafts booths, an auto show, or participating in an old-fashioned pie and cake walk. The annual event also features live music and plenty of food booths, including one that offers the "best

Worksho Photo CHASING WILDFLOWERS ACROSS THE HIGH PLATEAUS

Join the nation's foremost wildflower photographer, Larry Ulrich, May 10-14, 2000, as he leads a group among the stunning blooms that splash across the high plateaus of northern Arizona. Larry is well-acquainted with this vast landscape and the perfect guide through the colorful tapestry of wildflowers. Come along and discover the dainty blue columbine and pink silvery lupine scattered across remote meadows. Capture bright-orange scarlet paintbrush and tiny white-petaled alpine fleabane blooming alongside old stone walls guarding long abandoned homesteads.

For more information about this Photo Workshop and a complete schedule, contact the Friends of Arizona Highways at (602) 712-2004 or toll-free at (888) 790-7042.

Feb. 14-18 Lake Powell in the Winter with Gary Ladd.

Feb. 25-29 Death Valley National Park with John Drew.

Mar. 11-15 Monument Valley/Canyon de Chelly with Richard Embery.

Apr. 09-13 Red Rock/Four Corners with photographer Bernadette Heath and writer Janet Farnsworth.

Apr. 17-21 Best of the West with J. Peter Mortimer. Apr. 26-29 Horseback Along the Verde with Jerry Sieve.

Apr. 27-May 02 A Black & White Large Format Study of Canyon de Chelly with Jay Dusard.

May 03-13 River Odyssey for the New Millennium, Large Format with Jack Dykinga.

May 11-15 Slot Canyons with Randy Prentice. May 10-14 Follow the Blooms with Larry Ulrich. May 18-22 Slot Canyons with Richard Embery.

"Mesquite-grilled hamburgers and hot dogs in the state," according to coordinator Margie Adams.

The festival runs from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Admission is free. Information: (520) 586-9706.

An Evening Under Western Skies

February 25; Yuma The Yuma Vigilantes, founded in 1866, hosts its 4th Annual event, "An Evening Under Western Skies," at the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park. The prison, known as the "Hellhole of Arizona," housed some of the toughest outlaws in the Old West until it closed in 1909. The Yuma Vigilantes will shoot it out in gunfight reenactments, while Ligurta Underpass provides bluegrass and folk music and a fashion show brings urban cowpokes up to speed on the latest Western styles. For dinner, attendees can choose from tri-tip beef or boneless chicken breast at the chuckwagon barbecue. The meal includes a hefty portion of cowboy beans, a biscuit, salad and beverage.

Gates open at 6 P.M. Call for admission prices. Information: (520) 782-3127.