Chiricahua National Monument

One of the things I like to do is collect stamps from the National Parks for my National Park Passport book. I noticed Chiricahua National Monument on the map, so we spent last night in Wilcox AZ and planned to visit the park today, November 8.

Suzanne at Chiricahua
 National Monument

We left I-10 to drive AZ 186 which goes to the park. The park is called a sky island because it is an isolated mountain range surrounded by grasslands. This area is where the Sonoran Desert meets the Chihuahuan Desert and the Rocky Mountains meet the Sierra Madre Mountains. Consequently there is a huge diversity of plant and animal life. The geology is fascinating. The area was formed by the Turkey Creek Volcano to the south over 25 million years ago. The rocks are formed of light and heavy material which has weathered separately and formed giant pillars, balanced rocks, caves, and many other formations. It reminded me a lot of Bryce Canyon on a much smaller scale and without the orange color.

We returned to I-10 via Apache Pass, a dirt road which cuts across the desert between two mountain ranges. We passed Ft Bowie National Historic Site, but I did not collect a stamp because you had to walk 1 ½ miles to the visitor center! This was the site of a fort built in the mid 1800's. It was meant to control the Apache Indians (you know Geronimo) and guard the pass and water supply for the many pioneers and gold seekers who came through on their way west. We spent the night in Deming AZ.