Hello Everyone,

      I hope your summer is off to an exciting start. As the summer temperatures rise here in the desert, we seek higher elevations in search of cooler temperatures. A good rule of thumb is a 4 degree drop in temperature per 1000 foot elevation gain.

     This makes Northern Arizona a perfect summer vacation destination. There are so many things to do in Northern Arizona that when your doing nothing, it's because that's what you want to do.

     First of all we'll talk about the National Parks, and Monuments. The Grand Canyon is an hours drive from Flagstaff, and well worth the drive. Then there is Walnut Creek, Wapatki, and Sunset Crater National Monuments all within a half hour from Flagstaff. These locations are easy enough to google for additional information, so I won't talk about them anymore in this blog. Instead I want to talk about a few of the lesser known natural attractions.

     If your interested in volcanos, this area is a hands on text book. Our first stop is Ashfork, Az.. Ashfork is about 60 miles west of Flagstaff, just off the I-40. This area has some very unique volcanic bombs, don't worry they can't explode. Volcanic bombs are balls of molten rock bigger than 2 1/2" diameter, formed on eruption, and thrown for many miles. They are in the air so long, while still molten that by the time they hit the earth again they have turned more of a football shape than the circle they started out as. To get to this area exit I-40 at the Ashfork exit ( county road 142 ), go north 3.7 miles to a fork in the road. Take the right fork for another mile where you will come to a cattleguard, and a sign that reads Kaibab National Forest, go over the cattleguard, and turn right about 50 feet later, follow this road another 1 1/2 miles to an area on the right with primitive campsites, park here the quarry is on the left. You may have to dig a little in the quarry to unearth a few, if the monsoon rain storms haven't started yet.

     Our next stops include exploring a real lava tube, and a collecting site with awesome obsidian. Now when my family, and I visit this area the lava tube is the first stop, our kids love it there. Take the Bellemont exit off the I-40, head west, on the frontage road that runs on the north side of I-40 about a mile, or so to Forest Road 171, turn right, or north, and follow for 7 1/2 miles to FR 171A, turn right on 171A, and the parking area is about 2/10 of a mile up.  If you are going to visit the lava tube, bring what you will need to explore it, and you will want to explore it. Basic gear needed are flashlights, warm clothes, gloves, and a helmet helps. The temperatures in the lava tube range from 33-36 degrees at the entrance to 40-44 degrees in the back of the tube year round, no matter what the weather is like outside. You can't get lost in the tube, the only branch leads back into the main tube, just be careful it can be slippery in spots, but this is one awesome hike, when your done exploring this geologic wonder head back out to FR 171, turn right, and continue towards Kendrick Peak at over 10,400 ft. high.It's a great landmark, as well as a challenging hike. If you are going to attempt the hike make sure you have all day, and are in the type of shape needed to tackle a hike like this. Continue past the Kendrick Peak parking area bear left onto FR 100, and follow to Government Mountain, stop from time to time to check out the sides of the road for obsidian. You will know when you are in the right spots, the obsidian will be everywhere.

     While in the Flagstaff area don't get so busy that you forget to drop a fishing line in one of the local lakes. These lakes are stocked regularly, and are great spots to find out what's going on in your kids lives.

Ashurst Lake is always full of stockers, and has many campsites ready for your tent. Upper, and Lower Lake Marys are always well stocked with trout, but is a day use area with no lakeside camping. Connecting Upper, and Lower Lake Mary is an area known as the narrows, this area has walleye, northern pike, and catfish. Last, but not least is Lake Kinnikinick this lake has great fishing, and very private camping, this is the most remote lake in the area as not many people drive the almost 20 mile bumpy, dirt road. Keep an eye to the ground in this area, arrowheads are somewhat common in this area.

     As always I hope to see you on the trail,   Thanks Craig Wiita

     The Travel Channel now has the Cash, and Treasures fire agate show I helped out on, available on podcast check it out. http://cash-treasures-podcast.travelchannel.com/?podcast=1856&display=player&episode=27029&view=2&page=1

     I'm just the guy in the background in the blue tee shirt.   

     Next week I'll share my secret picture agate spot in Northern Arizona with you.  Until then be safe.

Hello Everybody, 

     This weeks blog is a great camping vacation idea, if your still wondering what to do for this years summer break. If you, and your family like camping, fossils, and crystals this place is for you. Lets talk about camping first. This is more a tent camping location, than a RV destination. There are plenty of great RV sites for you RVer's in the town of Payson, Arizona. Back to the tent campers, anyone who has ever camped in the Western United States knows that the two greatest dangers we face in the summer months are forest fires, and the monsoon storms that roll in during the latter part of the summer. This usually breaks down into two separate seasons with a small overlap period of both.

     Unless the area that your camping in had an unusually high snow fall the previous winter, May, and June camping may include fire restrictions, which could be as simple as needing a water bucket, and a shovel if the restrictions are not to extreme, if the restrictions are a little more extreme you may only be able to use charcoal for cooking, if the restrictions are very extreme you may only be able to use gas grills. Now it's not alot of fun sitting around the gas grill telling ghost stories, and the gas grill was not designed to roast marshmallows, so you may want to check with the National Forest Rangers Office of the area that you are planning to visit, and see what restrictions are in place at your destination. If there are restrictions in place OBEY THEM, you are financially responsible for the cost of putting out the fire, as well as the property destroyed by the fire.

     The month of July is where that overlap period happens that I mentioned earlier. When monsoon season begins alot of the storms start out as dry storms, meaning lots of thunder, and lightning, but not alot of rain. Dry storms start another round of forest fires through lightning strikes. Always keep an eye to the sky, and get out of these storms when possible. Your car is the safest place to be if your caught in the forest when one of these storms strikes. Towards the end of July the storms produce more, and more rain, and then usually the end of the summers fire restrictions. Monsoon storms bring heavy rain, flash flooding, lightning, high winds, and even hail. Keep this in mind when you pick, and set up your campsite. Pick a high spot to set your tent up on, NEVER pitch a tent in a dry wash, dig a trench around your tent site, hang a tarp over the tent, and store your firewood in a dry place.

     Now that we've covered the major dangers, lets talk about this weeks treasure site. Our adventure begins in Payson, Arizona along the bottom of the Mogollon Rim ( pronounced mug-ee-on rim ) at an elevation of 5200 ft.. Heading east out of Payson on Highway 260 for about 14 miles to Forest Road 64 locally known as the Control Road. Turn left, or north on F.R. 64 for 4 miles to F.R. 65 ( Diamond Point Lookout Road ) turn left, or west, follow this road for about a mile, and a half, and you will see a Forest Service sign telling you about this collecting site. Although they only talk about the quartz crystals this is also an awesome fossil site. Drive past the sign, and start looking for cleared areas on the other side of the road. These are great areas to set up your campsite.

     Quartz crystals are everywhere, but the best fossil hunting is in the wash on the south side of this road, also check the washes that empty into this wash, always stay alert washes can fill quickly even if it's not raining where your at. Make sure your looking down at the ground, sit down move some leaves around, your looking for small shells, pieces of coral, and crinoid stems. These fossils are 300 million years old, and it's pretty cool collecting fossilized sea shells 6000 ft above current sea level.

     This areas most popular collectable is the double terminated ( point at each end ) quartz crystals, and the occasional purple amethyst crystal like the one in the photo gallery that my wife Jennifer found. To find these crystals keep the sun at your back, your eyes to the ground, and look for the sparkle, search areas with signs of erosion. Before the monsoon rains fall it takes a little more searching for these crystals, but for those adventurous at heart the best time to collect is right after a thunder storm. The heavy rain uncovers thousands of new crystals. From March thru October only surface collecting is permitted, no hand tools allowed.

     This area offers days in the 90's, and nights in the 60's, lots of wildlife, good fishing nearby, and lots of fun rocks, and minerals to collect. There are a dozen other collecting sites in this area, I'll talk about some of them soon.

      Well that's all for this week, as always have fun, be safe, and I'll see you on the trail!

   Thanks,

   Craig Wiita