[chulavista]

Stumbling my way around, learning how to use this site. Already lost my first post, posted in an old forum, now trying here!!

Kathy

[azbackpackr]

We see you! Sent you a WELCOME in that other post!

See up at the top right corner of the page, where it says "HAZ forum? To the right of it, it will say something like "23 Posts." You want to click on that when looking for the MOST RECENT POSTS. That is the easiest way to find out what people are talking about today, as opposed to last year. If you click on there you will see both of your posts.

[azbackpackr]

PS are you from Chula Vista? I grew up in Point Loma.

[chulavista]

Hey back at ya!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm laughing, no I'm not from a town or anything named Chula Vista, I'm actually right at the confluence of the Aravaipa and the San Pedro. Chula Vista is the name my husband and I gave our property when we moved onto it 14 years ago, and also the name I gave my art studio. I look at Brandenburg, Tabletop and Holy Joe peaks every morning when I step outside my front door, it is an incredibly beautiful view. I consider myself truly blessed to live where I do.

Now that I'm figuring this out, I'll tell y'all a little about me. Hubby and I have a UTV, we ramble all over the desert. For the sake of this forum, we are usually in the AZ Trail passage 14 I believe it is, between Tiger and the Freeman Road. If anyone on the Trail happens to see us, we're in a funky looking buggy thing that's all cammo'd, has a roof on it, looks a little like it has bug eyes on the front. Believe me, if you've seen it, it's different than the normal UTVs out there, and you will remember it.

We ran into a couple last Sunday (4/15/12) in Grants Wash, that hit the AZ trail from Mexico, and planned to walk through to Flagstaff. We gave them water, chatted with them for a bit and they went on their way. He told us of a website, he's blogging on it, and asked us to visit it and comment. I can't for the life of me remember the website, or their names. The only thing I do remember is he said he's "Free n Easy," and she's "Cancer Free."

My hubby and I drive our UTV to remote locations, then take day hikes from there. We've never done anything overnight yet, but I'm wanting to pack into Aravaipa for a weekend. I can't believe I've basically grown up around here and never been into the canyon. The West trail head is about 13 miles from my house.

Kate

[azbackpackr]

I hear that Brandenburg is a pretty straightforward hike. I have only been to Aravaipa one time, in Dec. 2010. I definitely want to go back. I love that area, and more power to ya if you can figure out a way to live around there, since it is far from jobs, etc.

[chulavista]

We're all copper miners around here....

[azbackpackr]

A way to make a good living and live in a gorgeous area.

You may see some debating on here from time to time (very occasionally) regarding the two new mines in the state, the Oak Flats one and the Rosemont one. Most of us would hope they don't develop those areas as mines. There are a lot of reasons for our feelings about these two particular areas. I have even talked to miners from Morenci who feel as I do. They say, develop more in Morenci, which has less scenic, recreational, historic and other issues, and leave Rosemont and Oak Flats alone. Continue to develop existing mines, don't open brand-new areas.

This is not meaning anything against people who work in the mines, I don't think. Anyway, just so you know. We tend to hug a lot of bunnies and trees, and eat a lot of granola around here. But there's room for everyone!!

[chulavista]

Well, there's lots of folks, miners included that like to hug bunnies and trees. I walk a fine line, I grew up with hunters, fishermen and cowboys. I love to fish, I just don't hunt, but my husband does. We don't believe in shooting anything you have no intentions of eating, and he doesn't believe in taking a shot if he cannot ensure a quick, clean, fast kill to ensure there's no suffering on the animal's part. I do eat game meat, but if it was up to me to bring the animal down he'd still be walking. And I supported the reintroduction of the wolf into northeastern AZ, but a lot of my ranching friends did not.

Anyway, I'm kinda on the fence about developing the mines, strictly because I'm a 3rd generation miner. It has provided a decent living for my entire family, including my children. however I do know if I hadn't already seen this side of the fence, I would be flat dead-set against it for the damage it does. I've been watching a lot of it, and however it shakes out we will all lose something.

By the same token, I also figured folks would be a little put off by our buggy. But we respect the land, you don't see us tearing the bleep out of the place, and we stay on existing roadways. Most people who ride ATVs do respect the land, but there are always some out there who give the rest of us a bad name. I can tell you that Putnam Springs and the San Pedro where the wash runs into it were PACKED with people over Easter weekend. I expected the place to be really trashed, but it wasn't. They did ride hard, dust everywhere, but for the most part they picked up their trash. I was thankful for that.

Thanks to you for giving me a heads up, I'm not too worried. It is what it is. This canyon where this mine is located was probably stunning before the shovels and haul trucks came in. I know most reasonable people will not blame me for the mines or the way I choose to make a living. I kinda fell into that old scenario anyway of doing what your father did. I never moved away. As a matter of fact, right now I'm sitting maybe 2 miles from where I was born.

Nice to meet ya by the way!

[azbackpackr]

I had two uncles who were mining engineers in Nevada, and a third was a miner and prospector. One of them also worked on Hoover Dam, back in the 30's. My uncle Harry, the prospector, had a little gold mine where he used to take me in on the little train ore cars that ran on a track. That was in N. Nevada, way back 50 years ago. I still remember the interesting smell of wet rock way under the ground.

I also have hunted some, have no issues with legal hunting. I have ranching friends around Eagar-Springerville who don't like the wolves. I like the wolves, though. I don't blame my friend who raises horses out back of nowhere in W. New Mexico, (near Eagar-Springerville) for not liking them. She has horses worth a ton of money.

Your mention of "NE" Arizona brings up one of my pet peeves on discussing Arizona geography: News media people, and their geographical ignorance. The wolves are not in NE AZ. They are in Eastern AZ, south of the state's midline, and in W. New Mexico, south of that state's midline. But the news people don't read maps very well, and report things as being in Northern AZ or NE AZ, when they are not. They're mostly to the south of Springerville, and it's just a bit south of the midline of the state.

I actually live in Eagar-Springerville area, by the way. I will be returning there in 3 weeks. Sad to leave Costa Rica, but glad to see what is around the bend! I have one more really big trip in 2012, plus hopefully some shorter ones as well. I go sometimes to Tucson, where I used to live, and pass right by your place, I'm sure, driving down 77.

Welcome to the website!

[chulavista]

Now I'm really laughing, and what a small world. My daughter lives in Springerville, my dad has a Summer home in Nutrioso, and we used to work cattle with the Rogers clan in Nutrioso. Holy moly! Usually when I say 'eastern' Arizona, most folks think Safford. The flatlanders down here think Springerville and Alpine are 'northern' Arizona, so I just go with it.

I guess I need to remember who I'm talking to, right?? HA!! The folks on this site can probably tell me about the topography and geography around my home than I can tell them!

And yes, you drive right by my place. You turn off 77 into my driveway, right before you cross Aravaipa creek headed south.

Costa Rica is a beautiful place. I read somewhere you are studying down there, what do you want to be when you grow up?

OK, site question for ya. I've been staying away from the 'like this' link, because I associate it with Facebook. I don't have a Facebook account. Am I all wet???

[chulavista]

OH - I have a niece in Eagar as well...

[azbackpackr]

I'll send you a private message, look for the link and click on it.

The "like" thing is just a friendly thing. It doesn't open any popups or link to anything. It's just about being friendly. Or agreeing with someone, or laughing at their joke. You can ignore it and no one will care.