The weather was on our side.

I want to share the depth of this experience with everyone interested, but I could ramble incessantly about this wonderful destination nestled in ponderosa pine country, deep in the heart of the Superstition Mountains. There. I started already! I could laugh about our foibles; I could try to share the emotion behind the tears that fell on what was left of the foundation of the old Reavis Ranch house. I could fail miserably as I tried to describe the enormity of the grandmother of all juniper pine trees, so deeply rooted in the saddle, which survived the burn of 1966. I could attempt to convey the beauty of the 200 apple trees adorned in white blooms, and the smell of the air as we walked through orchard. But instead, I give you some of the treasured memories and lessons learned that were offered by those who shared this experience:

br> Only the foundation remains.

“A weekend with a few surprises – like the large size of pine forest up there; the apple orchard, which is still producing; and the great shape of the cliff dwellings in Rogers Canyon. It got a little humid at times, but that was a small price to pay to see the lush green forest with such clear running streams. The company was great and that was no surprise.”

“The most memorable moment of the Reavis hike for me was standing on the old rubble-filled foundation of the Reavis ranch house, listening to Mike Clayton describing how the old place used to look – like where the individual rooms were located and where the windows used to be – even where the peach-colored bathtub used to sit. Then I try to visualize the setting when the ranch house and the surrounding apple orchard were at their full splendor so many years ago in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. I try to imagine a family living out their lives here, sharing all the usual joys and sorrows of life in the magnificent setting of this magical valley. If only what remains of these great stone walls or these individual blossom filled apple trees could share with us some of their secrets of the people who once dwelled here or the many events that took place here so long ago.”

Big stretch for the tree-huggers.

“Vijay and I had a great time on the hike. The awesome drive, the desert flowers and cactuses in full bloom, the blue skies ... the puffy white clouds, the sprinkles of rain ... spun a wonderful magic around us that made for a wonderful time. We loved it!”

“On the hike out, I noticed the horses that had passed by our camp earlier in the morning had left their odorous calling card in the creek upstream. I took a long cool drink of water from my stores, thankful that I had drawn and filtered the water from the creek that morning BEFORE the horses had gone by.”

“My poor [Jiffy Pop] popcorn that wouldn’t pop on those HOT coals.”

“I thought it was good planning on Jagma’s (Terry Connacher’s dog) part, to bring her own clothing. Jagma joined us Saturday night at the campfire wearing a faded flannel shirt rolled up to her elbows.”

Be careful of where you choose your campsite.

“The Rogers Canyon Cliff dwellings were special. I expect there will be little remaining by the time my grand children will be able to see them. I worry about every one tromping through them. Even when we are very careful we cause wear and tear on an irreplaceable piece of southwest history. The next trip in I would camp closer to the pass. There were a number of prime sites in the heavily pine forested area. Soft stuff to lay on with plenty of firewood.”

“My only caution is we should make sure every one is adequately prepared for the trip. Nature is not very forgiving and just because it is going to be hot and dry here in the valley that doesn’t mean that it will be that way in the mountains. Hypothermia kills as many, if not more people, than hyperthermia.”

“I’m going to get some clear zip lock bags for every thing in my pack. The non-see-through bags are a time waster when searching for stuff. This way I don’t have to get any more organized, which is the real solution.”

Barb standing in the old apple orchard.

“I believe the primary lesson here for me is one of humility. Who am I, after all, to stand here on the very foundation of this historical place and intrude on its privacy – in a sense to almost desecrate the memory of the people who lived out their lives here on this very spot where I am standing among the physical rubble of their existence?”

1. When you feel hot spots on your feet – STOP. Your feet are trying to tell you something. It pays to stop for 10 minutes to check your feet and make any adjustments than to keep hiking and reach the end with sore feet and blisters.
   
   
2. It is a good thing to keep the rain gear handy—even in Arizona!
   
   
3. Our new Hydration system was a lot easier to use than the ole’ water bottles. I am a new recruit.

“...Only regret: should have brought my rain gear along!”