Sept 3, 2018: Sarah, Antonio, and Jacob sit at the brink of the Mogollon Rim.
As I said in my last post, my birthday celebration lasted the entire Labor Day weekend, with three full days to enjoy family, good food, and great times. It didn't end until Monday night, when Jacob and his friend Antonio, plus Karla and her family, sped away back to Mesa after dark.
Sarah finds a seat a little further down the cliff face.
While Karla was having fun showing her husband, Steve, the wonders of the White Mountains, Jacob was doing the same for Antonio, who had also never been in this part of the world before. They drove up on the highway through Globe-Miami so Antonio could see the stark beauty of Salt River Canyon, and Salt River at the bottom. Jacob told me he also wanted to show him Woods Canyon Lake, which is located off of a different highway in a different direction, on the way back to Mesa via the town of Payson.
Mark, Antonio, and Jacob enjoy the view while we wait for Karla's family.
Woods Canyon Lake is only about an hour and fifteen minutes away from my house, so I suggested that Sarah and I (everyone else had to work) take my car and drive with them to the lake on Monday. We could show Antonio the breathtaking view from the edge of the Mogollon Rim and have a picnic lunch at the lake before they continued on their way to Mesa, with only two hours remaining of their homeward trip. Then we would turn around and go back home after saying our goodbyes. The guys thought that sounded like a good plan.
Sarah near the edge of the Mogollon Rim.
We told Karla about our plan when they came for dinner on Sunday. On Monday morning, she texted me, asking when we planned to leave for Woods Canyon Lake. Maybe we could all meet up there? However, our plans were mismatched, with Jacob planning to leave around 10:00, and Steve and Karla planning to wait until 5:00 or later, when the heavy traffic leaving our resort area was finally thinning out. And, believe me, the traffic heading out of town all day Monday was horrendous, with up to two miles of stop-and-go congestion at times.
I think these formations are among the most beautiful in the world.
Jacob decided to adjust his plans so we could all go to Woods Canyon together for a final family gathering. That gave him and Antonio time to walk around nearby Woodland Lake and see a little more of our area. It also meant Mark could go with us, because he had gotten off work by the time we left. Sadly, both Dylan and Chris were working until 9:00 p.m. on Monday, so they still couldn't join us.
You can't see from this height how extremely steep the highway is below.
Meanwhile, Steve and Karla went to visit our dad and Kathy around 1:00, while Gabby and Addison went four-wheeling with their hosts in Snowflake. Karla planned to drive back to Snowflake to pick up the girls (a thirty-minute drive) and head to Woods Canyon Lake from there, hopefully by around 4:30. They had even packed their car, all ready to go, but you know how it is when you say those long goodbyes to people you care about.
As it turned out, Steve and Karla didn't leave Dad's house until after 4:00, and by the time they left Snowflake it was about 5:15. Meanwhile, we'd left my house at 4:30 and reached the Rim overlook around 5:40. We didn't mind waiting there for them, because it's a beautiful and peaceful place, one of those environments where you could sit quietly for hours and just soak in the calming spirit. Mostly, though, I worried about the approaching dusk and how much time we'd have to enjoy the view and eat our picnic dinner before full darkness fell.
It was 6:25 when Karla's group finally pulled into the parking area at Military Sinkhole Vista point. We spent only about fifteen minutes together at the Rim's edge, which was breathtaking but caused both Steve and Karla a great deal of anxiety, watching Gabby and Addison venture to the very brink of drops as much as six hundred feet down. I admit I was mildly nervous about Jacob and Sarah, as well, but I know them to be fairly cautious adults now, so it wasn't quite as bad for me. (Although it was a very different story when we used to come here when my children were small. I never let go of their hands in those days!)
Not that the danger isn't real. It doesn't happen often, but occasionally a hiker gets too close, loses footing, and falls. In 2015, a man and his blind dog both fell to their deaths. Another hiker fell and died in 2013, while his fiance watched helplessly. During our short visit, I found two "In Memory Of" plaques on trees near the ledge. All it takes is a moment of careless bravado.
At 6:40, we got back in our cars and drove an additional couple of miles (about five minutes) to the edge of Woods Canyon Lake. Dusk was definitely upon us by now. Along the way, we got the treat of seeing a small herd of young elk grazing at the side of the road. That's not an unusual sight around Woods Canyon Lake, and all three of our cars pulled over to enjoy the moment.
Thankfully, my camera kept getting decent photos despite the lessening light. You might think that it was still bright out, based on these pictures, but dusk really was falling fast. We spent only forty-five minutes by the lake, but by the time we drove away, it was fully dark out.
Once we had parked in the lot just above the lake, at 6:50, several of our group rushed to use the nasty, smelly outhouses near the little market. While they did that, I walked along the edge of the lot, taking pictures and scouting for a suitable picnic site. The portion of the day-use area with picnic tables had already closed, so instead I found a big, flat boulder right at the water's edge that we could all fit on. Not as comfortable as a table, but much closer to the lovely water view.
There were two paths down to the boulder, both no more than ten inches wide, quite steep, and overgrown with plants that like to grab your clothes as you pass. Karla saw something big and black race across the right-hand path, so she opted to use the path on the left. I'd have gone that route, too, when I was younger, but it was rockier and required deeper steps than my knees could manage while moving downward. Climbing back out later, though, Karla's path worked well for me. Walking downhill puts much greater pressure on the knees than most people realize.
So I took the right-hand path, which was smoother but slicker with small pebbles and twigs. I made Mark go ahead of me. That way I'd have something soft to fall on if I slipped and knocked him down! We made it safely, though, and encountered no scary wildlife along the way.
Other than the difficulty in getting these old knees to bend so I could sit on the hard rock-top (and even worse, getting up again when we were done), the boulder was a good choice. The water and the air were peaceful and still. Every sound seemed hushed and yet echo-ish at the same time. Fish were leaping out of the water not far away. Only one other family was at the lake's edge by now, calling to their dogs as they prepared to leave.
Sarah and Jacob had made a big bowl of chicken salad for the picnic lunch we'd anticipated earlier in the day. Shredded chicken meat blended with green onion, celery, tomato, olives, spices, and mayonnaise, wrapped in tortillas and served with two types of chips. Everyone proclaimed it was delicious, and I was thrilled that we had an empty bowl by the end of the meal. It was way too much for just the four of us at lunch, so I was glad we'd waited until we were all together. Besides, I already had a refrigerator crowded with leftovers from the long weekend, with just Mark and me around to eat. I didn't need more!
It was almost 7:30 by the time we'd finished eating, cleared away our trash, and prepared to hike back up to our cars. The thick greenery on the hill between us and the parking lot was so dark that it was intimidating (I used my flash to get the final image below). We managed to hike out safely, thanks to the magic of our glowing cell phones!
Then we parted ways, with Jacob's and Karla's cars turning right at the highway to continue west toward Payson and then south to Mesa, while my car turned east (left) to return home. We got back at 8:45, just in time for Sarah to pick up Chris from work. Karla texted me at 9:51 that they'd reached home safely. Jacob and Antonio followed them the whole way home, so they'd reached Mesa safely, too.
What more could I have asked for in a long birthday weekend? Well, maybe the blessing of having our entire extended family all together, which rarely happens anymore as our family keeps expanding. Meanwhile, until that day comes, this was a wonderful, feel-good weekend, and I'm so grateful for every moment we spent together!
Antonio captured this shot of storm clouds in the distance.
As it turned out, Steve and Karla didn't leave Dad's house until after 4:00, and by the time they left Snowflake it was about 5:15. Meanwhile, we'd left my house at 4:30 and reached the Rim overlook around 5:40. We didn't mind waiting there for them, because it's a beautiful and peaceful place, one of those environments where you could sit quietly for hours and just soak in the calming spirit. Mostly, though, I worried about the approaching dusk and how much time we'd have to enjoy the view and eat our picnic dinner before full darkness fell.
Steve nervously watches as Gabby and Addison approach the edge.
Notice the clouds floating in the distance, in the air below us.
It was 6:25 when Karla's group finally pulled into the parking area at Military Sinkhole Vista point. We spent only about fifteen minutes together at the Rim's edge, which was breathtaking but caused both Steve and Karla a great deal of anxiety, watching Gabby and Addison venture to the very brink of drops as much as six hundred feet down. I admit I was mildly nervous about Jacob and Sarah, as well, but I know them to be fairly cautious adults now, so it wasn't quite as bad for me. (Although it was a very different story when we used to come here when my children were small. I never let go of their hands in those days!)
Gabby sits while Addison takes pictures, but soon they were both on the edge.
Not that the danger isn't real. It doesn't happen often, but occasionally a hiker gets too close, loses footing, and falls. In 2015, a man and his blind dog both fell to their deaths. Another hiker fell and died in 2013, while his fiance watched helplessly. During our short visit, I found two "In Memory Of" plaques on trees near the ledge. All it takes is a moment of careless bravado.
I love these two photos together. A natural married couple moment...
...and then the posed shot, all smiles! (No, they weren't arguing in the other pic.)
At 6:40, we got back in our cars and drove an additional couple of miles (about five minutes) to the edge of Woods Canyon Lake. Dusk was definitely upon us by now. Along the way, we got the treat of seeing a small herd of young elk grazing at the side of the road. That's not an unusual sight around Woods Canyon Lake, and all three of our cars pulled over to enjoy the moment.
I jumped out of my car to get a picture of this young bull elk.
Thankfully, my camera kept getting decent photos despite the lessening light. You might think that it was still bright out, based on these pictures, but dusk really was falling fast. We spent only forty-five minutes by the lake, but by the time we drove away, it was fully dark out.
As dusk fell, the boats were coming in and the lakeside was clearing.
Once we had parked in the lot just above the lake, at 6:50, several of our group rushed to use the nasty, smelly outhouses near the little market. While they did that, I walked along the edge of the lot, taking pictures and scouting for a suitable picnic site. The portion of the day-use area with picnic tables had already closed, so instead I found a big, flat boulder right at the water's edge that we could all fit on. Not as comfortable as a table, but much closer to the lovely water view.
We found this empty, flat boulder to picnic on at the water's edge.
There were two paths down to the boulder, both no more than ten inches wide, quite steep, and overgrown with plants that like to grab your clothes as you pass. Karla saw something big and black race across the right-hand path, so she opted to use the path on the left. I'd have gone that route, too, when I was younger, but it was rockier and required deeper steps than my knees could manage while moving downward. Climbing back out later, though, Karla's path worked well for me. Walking downhill puts much greater pressure on the knees than most people realize.
Getting settled with our supplies on our chosen "picnic boulder."
So I took the right-hand path, which was smoother but slicker with small pebbles and twigs. I made Mark go ahead of me. That way I'd have something soft to fall on if I slipped and knocked him down! We made it safely, though, and encountered no scary wildlife along the way.
This is a blurry shot, but it's a good view of our picnic boulder.
Other than the difficulty in getting these old knees to bend so I could sit on the hard rock-top (and even worse, getting up again when we were done), the boulder was a good choice. The water and the air were peaceful and still. Every sound seemed hushed and yet echo-ish at the same time. Fish were leaping out of the water not far away. Only one other family was at the lake's edge by now, calling to their dogs as they prepared to leave.
Jacob, Mark, Sarah, Mary, Karla, Gabby, Steve, and Addison atop
our picnic boulder at the edge of the lake. Photo by Antonio.
Sarah and Jacob had made a big bowl of chicken salad for the picnic lunch we'd anticipated earlier in the day. Shredded chicken meat blended with green onion, celery, tomato, olives, spices, and mayonnaise, wrapped in tortillas and served with two types of chips. Everyone proclaimed it was delicious, and I was thrilled that we had an empty bowl by the end of the meal. It was way too much for just the four of us at lunch, so I was glad we'd waited until we were all together. Besides, I already had a refrigerator crowded with leftovers from the long weekend, with just Mark and me around to eat. I didn't need more!
We shared a picnic lunch of chicken-salad wraps and potato chips.
Sarah, Karla, Gabrielle, and Steve.
It was almost 7:30 by the time we'd finished eating, cleared away our trash, and prepared to hike back up to our cars. The thick greenery on the hill between us and the parking lot was so dark that it was intimidating (I used my flash to get the final image below). We managed to hike out safely, thanks to the magic of our glowing cell phones!
Looking out over Woods Canyon Lake as the sky darkens.
Then we parted ways, with Jacob's and Karla's cars turning right at the highway to continue west toward Payson and then south to Mesa, while my car turned east (left) to return home. We got back at 8:45, just in time for Sarah to pick up Chris from work. Karla texted me at 9:51 that they'd reached home safely. Jacob and Antonio followed them the whole way home, so they'd reached Mesa safely, too.
What more could I have asked for in a long birthday weekend? Well, maybe the blessing of having our entire extended family all together, which rarely happens anymore as our family keeps expanding. Meanwhile, until that day comes, this was a wonderful, feel-good weekend, and I'm so grateful for every moment we spent together!
Our narrow path back to the parking area was up this darkening hill.
