A Trip to Tucson (Part I)

The Trip Begins
Saturday, February 13, 2009

About two weeks ago Thomas and I decided to take a little trip. Thomas would be finished with the legislative session and it would be nice to get away. We decided on Tucson. Not only would we leave behind the daily responsibilities we would also have a chance for some warmer weather. So early this morning we loaded up the car and headed out.

We drove for a few hours and then decided to stop for breakfast and stretch our legs. We had a nice meal in Socorro and got a break from the highway. After eating we headed out again and didn't stop until we reached Las Cruces. Once in town we found the City of Las Cruces Railroad Depot (which also houses the Las Cruces Railroad Museum). We were looking for a letterbox. The box wasn't in the museum, it wasn't even outside the museum. It is actually located a short walk away near the train tracks. So we walked along the tracks following the clues and easily found the box. After stamping in and getting the box back in its hiding spot we walked along the tracks and found flattened pennies. We knew they were there because it was written in the clues. So I took two home with me and left five regular pennies on the track to be flattened for the next finder. Fun stuff! But it was time to move along.

We made our way to I10 and headed west. There were no more boxes in New Mexico along this route for us to find so we continued driving until we reached Willcox, AZ. There were two boxes we wanted to find. We found Pink Lady Apples quickly, stamped in, rehid the box and then headed for the next box. We found the location and followed the clues but we were unable to find the box. Almost 100% sure we were in the right spot but no box - only two plastic pieces that looked like latches to close a box - that was it! We were disappointed that someone found the box, broke the latches and then made off with the rest (only speculating here). So it was back to I10 and off to see The Thing? Anyone who had driven I10 in Arizona has seen the billboards - "The Thing? Mystery of the Desert" Exti 322. Azroadie has a couple of boxes here. We found one of those boxes on a past trip so today we were looking for the other one. We followed the clues as they lead us around the building and down a dirt road. It took a little searching but we found the box. We sat near the hiding spot and stamped in and then rehid the box. On the way back to the car Thomas and I talked about whether or not we were going to go in and see 'The Thing'. We decided not to - we both agreed that the mystery of not knowing was probably way better than what the thing actually was. So off we drove. Our next stop was in Benson. We headed to the 7th Street Cemetery (also known as the Benson Pioneer Cemetery). We found the box (store bought stamp) - not much to say about that. Stamped in, rehid it and spent about 30 minutes walking around the cemetery. We found quite a few interesting gravestones. One in particular caught our eye. It was for Eddie Fox. His headstone states he was a comedian and clog dancer. Time to move along. Back on I10 we took the next exit to try and find a mystery box. We looked for it but we were unable to find it - we couldn't find a landmark so it threw us off or I solved the mystery wrong and we were not even in the right spot - oh, well we tried. Next stop - Vail. Time was getting away from us and we still had a little ways to go before reaching Tucson but I still wanted to try for a few more boxes so we chose carefully. In Vail we opted for Old Highway 80 - another great Azroadie stamp. Then we found Friendship Hex near the high school. For our last stops of the day we drove south on Houghton in Tucson to find '67 Chevelle and Kristal's Cathouse Hitchhiker Hostel. Both were nice boxes. I had a hitchhiker to leave in the hostel and I took another one with me. I was surprised to see two hitchhikers in this hostel that I had found before in some other boxes. It was a great day but we were getting tired and hungry. So we checked in to the hotel, freshened up and had dinner at a restaurant just next to the hotel. Time to get a little sleep so we can have more adventures tomorrow.

A Day Along the Sky Island Scenic Byway
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day

We were up around 7:00am, showered, dressed, had some breakfast and then loaded our gear into the car. Our destination was the Sky Island Scenic Byway that takes you up to the top of Mt. Lemmon. We began our ascent up the mountain and around every turn was a fantastic view. The landscape of the lower elevations is desert with loads of Saguaro Cactus all around. We made a stop at the Babad Do'ag Viewpoint. I took some pictures and enjoyed the view. There are so many pullouts and viewpoints that if you stopped at each one it would take you an entire day just to reach the top. So we enjoyed the views only while driving until we reached the ski area. Unfortunately, we were not able to park at the top and walk around. I guess they were having quite a few skiers and the only way you could park is if you were skiing. So we headed back down the mountain. Now it was time to letterbox.

Our first stop was the Chihuahua Pine Picnic Area to search for one of Azroadie's Geology 101 boxes. This one was Granite. We had to do a scramble since there wasn't a trail. It was a beautiful area and we enjoyed walking around - it did take a little time to find the box but we were loving the area so much it didn't matter. We did have a sad moment. While searching for the box I saw something furry curled up against a very large boulder. As I got closer I realized it was a dog. It had a collar and everything. It must have gotten lost and maybe froze to death - I'm not sure. We took the collar with us because it had a tag for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and a 24PetWatch.com ID number. We are going to contact them tomorrow and let them know where we found the dog so that if they want to retrieve it they can and give it a proper burial. I know I would want to know if someone found my dog - dead or alive. I really feel bad for the owners - I can't imagine losing my two puppies. Back to happier times. We eventually found the box and stamped in, put it back in its hiding spot and moved on to our next location.

That was the Bug Springs Trailhead. But on our way down to that parking area we stopped for a moment at the Seven Cataracts Vista. What a great spot - you can see waterfalls across the canyon - it was wonderful. After a few pictures we made our way to Bug Springs. We hiked about a mile and found two boxes by Hez, Grumpy and Mona - The Rocking V and The Appaloosa Letterbox - both nice boxes. It was a good hike but the views were mostly of the road - I was ready for some great views. So onward we went.

We turned off onto Prison Camp Road and made our way into the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site. This area was the site of an old Federal Prison Camp and you can see remnants of the buildings on the right as you drive in on Prison Camp Road. We made our way to the back of the campground and parked near the trailhead. We decided to hike the Sycamore Reservoir Trail and look for the boxes hidden along the way. The boxes along the way included the Sycamore Reservoir Trail Series (4 boxes) by Azroadie, AZ Trail #6 and Soldier Trail by Kristal and Ron. We started our hike and within about a half a mile we found box 1 and 2 of the Sycamore Series. We then followed the clues to box 3. Before I knew it we had passed the spots for the other two boxes by Kristal and Ron. Oh well, those could be found on the way back. The last two boxes of the Sycamore Series were a little further along the trail. We reached box 3 , stamped and then followed the clues to box 4. Well let me tell you the trail kept going and going down (and that means that to get out it is all uphill - just a thought). We made it to the reservoir and enjoyed the area - a beautiful spot. Time to head back - the clues for box 4 said to enjoy the reservoir and then head back looking for certain landmarks and that is what we did. We found that box and stamped in and prepared ourselves for the uphill climb back to a saddle. Let me tell you it was hard work or else we are really out of shape. Needless to say we made it to the saddle and found AZ Trail #6. This gave us time to rest while we stamped in. The trail back to the car was mostly downhill so that was a good thing. We reached this sign with trails and mileage on it that sits at a trail junction. We were looking for the trail to find the other box - Soldier Trail. The clues to Sycamore Series stated that the hike was about 2 miles one way and the National Forest Service link for the trail states the same. But the sign we saw says that it is 2.9 miles. I am not sure who to believe but from the workout we got I am going with the sign.
Anyway, we made our way to the Soldier Trail to find Soldier Trail. Much to our chagrin the trail was pretty much an uphill climb but doable. So we followed the clues and found the box, after stamping in we made our way back to the car. Pretty exhausted but very happy. The hike was fantastic - even though it was a lot of work we enjoyed it thoroughly - the views were beautiful, the weather gorgeous and the boxes terrific. I realized when we reached the car that there was also a box near the parking area so I quickly found it and stamped in. It was called I Want S'mores! and it made me want S'mores. All in all we had a great Valentine's Day, we hiked between 6 and 9 miles depending on who you believe and we found 10 great letterboxes. And a plus - we looked for 10 and found 10 - not a one was missing. WooHoo!!!!!

So we made our way back down the mountain and our first order of business was dinner. We had a very quick bite to eat because we were tired and sweaty and wanted to get back to the hotel to shower and rest. Because after all tomorrow is another day.

Oh, I almost forgot - I found my 1600th box today when I found the first box in the Sycamore Series.