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I had to get out of the house but really didn't have any place to go - so I decided to explore the region between Phoenix and Tucson,  I started out with only one clear goal and that was to find the trailhead for Avaraipa Canyon.

Driving between Mesa and Superior you immediately begin to see the drought's effect on the desert.  Then a few miles South of Superior you are confronted by the stark brutality of an open-pit Copper mine.  Of course such mines were the backbone of the state's economy in bygone years.  But I forgotten that the mining activity was spread South of the Superior/Globe condor too.  The turn off to the Avaraipa Canyon trailhead is approximately 11 miles south of Winkleman.  I turned East up the road towards the canyon and immediately came to the BLM information board on which the Closure notices and Closure map was posted.  (I have included the picture of the map in the album.)  

At the trailhead I met an assistant ranger who reminded me that use of the Aravaipa Wilderness area is by permit only, including day hikes.  Only 50 people per day are allowed in the canyon and permitees are only allowed to be in the canyon for 3 days and 2 nites.  You can access the canyon from two ends, 30 people per day are allowed in the West entrance and 20 per day are allowed in  through the remote Eastern entrance. Normally, the premium weekends are booked six months in advance and finally, day hikers are included in the total of 50 headcount.  It was time to move on so I started back down out of the canyon - as I approached the bridge, I spotted a Big Horned Sheep ewe - and she spotted me.  I managed to stop the car, retrieve my camera and to take 4 shots of her at max tele-photo range.  These pictures will help make my summer.

After turning South once again on the highway towards Oracle, I was struck by the barren, parched conditions of the land.  It is not a pretty sight.  As I drove between Oracle and Oracle Junction, I was startled to see a sign for Bio-sphere 2, I had forgotten that it was down here, in fact I had incorrectly thought that it was closer to Tucson.  Fortunately I had enough time to make a quick tour to the facility but I didn't have enough time to wait for the next guided tour through the interior.  You are allowed to tour the exterior of the bio-sphere, some of the living and administration areas and some of the support facilities on a self guided tour, but you must take one of the guided tours if you really want to see the interior.

After leaving Bio-sphere 2 I turned North at Oracle junction and headed for home.  Along the road I came to a small rest area which is a memorial to Tom Mix.  It claims to sit on the very spot where that cowboy and pioneer of western movies drew his last breath at the end of the summer of '40.  From there the road takes you home through some of the central desert agricultural region surrounding Coolidge.  

Coolidge is the home of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.  A large, mysterious Hohokam ruin described as "one of the largest and most mysterious prehistoric structures ever built in north America" according to the website of the National Park Service. The fee structure is only $3.00 for adults with kids and seniors (Golden Age Passport) getting in free.  However I didn't have time on this trip for a visit - although I understand that it alone is worth the trip.

All in all, it was a trip of about 250 miles that clearly reveals much of  the diversity of our state.

Enjoy,

Trekker