Escudilla Wilderness July 4th weekend

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

I loaded the motorhome and Thursday a.m. Dew, Strider and I left for the Escudilla Wilderness in north eastern Arizona.
Set up camp at Terry Flat after a very rough and rocky drive of about nine miles from the highway, altitude of 9,700 feet, with a nice prairie in front of us and an awesome view from the back of our camp with New Mexico in the distance.

CatValet, Valet2 and Nancy arrived later that afternoon with Mike and Mrs. Mike arriving early evening. GTG Goat

and Messami arrived early Friday evening and we all headed in to Alpine for an excellent dinner.

We all slept in Saturday morning Sleeping

, but by 7:30 everyone was up and we had a leisurely breakfast of hot cakes and sausage before heading for the Escudilla peak Trailhead. Escudilla Peak is the third highest in Arizona at 10,877 feet. Very scenic hike Hiking

of about three miles to the top through aspen and conifer forest. Awesome views from the fire lookout tower at the top. Fire Spotter was on duty.

That evening we dined in style after a time enjoying a before dinner drink Beer

or two: I grilled a Santa Maria Tri-tip and cooked up a pot of baked beans (canned of course). Mrs. Mike put together an excellent cold green bean dish with garlic, olive oil and other secret ingredients. For dessert, Valet2 whomped up a totally decadent Woo Hoo!

thing with angelfood cake, cherries and coolwhip. Then we sat around while Mike and CatValet entertained us with their guitars and we had a few after dinner drinks and Hooli was given birthday kisses by three lovely ladies. Multi

Sunday morning was a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and hash browns and then on the road back home.
All in all a fantastic fourth of July and Birthday rolled into one! Very Happy

Photos here: http://photos.yahoo.com/bodew
_________________
John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

CatValet · Posted: 7/9/2003, 9:14 am Post subject:

Aw shucks, you didn't even mention the kiss from your boyfriend Shocked

mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

Nealz · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 131 Location: Alpine, Arizona

Very nice folks! Sure looks nice and cool too. Alpine and the surrounding area has got to be one of my favorite spots in AZ. Thanks for sharing the post and pix.

-Nealz