Hidden Places and Familiar Faces
I love how Arizona has so manay secrets. It seems that the general assumption is that AZ. is hot and all desert-like, but while most of it seems to be unbearably hot and deserted (especially in the summer solstice season), Arizona has it's sweet, cool, beautiful nooks and crannies hidden in the climate of Northern AZ. When you get to one of these places you realize why you love Arizona in the first place. It's not just about the desert and hot air, it too has it's claim on the beauty of cool damp mountain forests year round. One of these places, I visited yesterday with Kristyn and Crin. We were at the base of what I believe were the San Fransisco Peaks walking along a forest trail. It was just approaching mid-evening and the sun was beginning to set. It was so lush and green out there, the forest full of aspens, oak, pine, ferns and wild flowers! The air was crisp and clear because it had been clensed by a summer mountain monsoon. Everything was damp and drunk with hydration from the mountain rain. The earth smelled dewy and clean and was intoxicating because it was new born air. I was mesmerized around every bend in the trail. The dead and/or decaying trees were absoulutely amazing (I needed a camera). Along the trail I was shown a cabin and a spring that flows naturally in a shallow cave wall, we sat on a nice boulder and soaked in the cleanliness of the haven for a couple of hours. I can't wait to go back.