Arizona 2008 Official State Visitor's Guide - (Page 25) Monumental Attraction tour led by former miners burrows through the depths of the mine along some of the more than 2,500 miles of tunnels beneath the town’s surface. At the height of the great gold and copper mining rush of the late 19th century, Bisbee’s mines produced more than eight billion pounds of copper and nearly three million ounces of gold. As late as 1895, Bisbee was Arizona’s major city, and the largest between San Francisco and St. Louis. The mines closed in 1975 after 100 years of service. After two days in Bisbee, we hit the road again, heading to the White Stallion Dude Ranch back in Tucson, which provides weeklong packages that include lodging, all meals, a variety of horseback rides and team cattle-penning in the rodeo ring. A friendly summer camp atmosphere permeates the place as guests share in much of the scheduled activities. Buffet meals are enjoyed family style, sitting elbow to elbow with fellow dude ranchers at long tables designed for large groups. At dinner, proprietor Russell True walks from table to table greeting guests and signing them up for the next day’s horseback rides, asking what time guests would like to ride and at what level of difficulty. We make our plans, and a cowboy balladeer serenades us in the lobby living room and bar after dinner. In the morning we embark on a slow, desert mountain ride, and all around us a pleasant whiff of creosote fills the air. I am amazed how the horses can traverse the narrow rocky mountain pass. Later, we take riding lessons in the rodeo ring and sign up for the team penning competition that takes place every afternoon. Running at a pretty good gallop, our group of four riders chases a handful of calves the distance of the ring with the object of herding three of them into a pen while being timed. We run through the process about half-a-dozen times, and by the time we’re done, I’m feeling pretty confident about my riding. T aid muscles unused to such activity, we take o advantage of the indoor redwood hot tub. There’s also a big heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, horseshoes and shuffleboard, ping-pong and pool tables in an atmosphere very conducive to making new friends. The next morning we take a breakfast ride. At the end of the trail, we’re rewarded with cowboy scrambled eggs and potatoes. Coffee is brewed in a tin pot and served in a tin cup. Riding back to the ranch, I know our Wild West adventure is coming to a close, and I’m already feeling a nostalgic longing to return to this place. l You’ll find lots more stories on authentic Arizona experiences, including outdoors, history and Wild West adventures, on arizonaguide.com, the state’s official travel-planning website. Click on the What to Do tab to find out more. Whereas the Chiricahua Mountain range impresses with its tightly clustered configuration of narrow rock towers without much elbow room between them, Monument Valley’s massive monoliths and mesas command undivided attention as they rise from vast, wideopen spaces. Situated in the Northeast corner of Arizona, spreading into the Southeast corner of Utah all of which is within the Navajo Indian Reservation, Monument Valley’s out of this world nature feels as if you’ve landed on another planet or that you’ve traveled back to the dawn of Earth. Approaching Monument Valley from either direction on U.S. 191, the only major thoroughfare through the Valley, immediately causes one to ponder life’s larger issues, things like geologic time and man’s place in the universe. Much of Monument Valley can be seen and enjoyed simply by driving along this main road, but for a deeper look, more of the spectacular landscape is hidden behind the larger mesas and can only be accessed by entering the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (for a fee of $5 per person over the age of 9). The visitor’s center also offers majestic views of some of the most recognizable buttes. To really appreciate Monument Valley, however, traverse the 17-mile Valley Drive dirt road. Go either in your own vehicle (preferably one with 4-wheel drive), or with a Navajo Guide on specially equipped passenger trucks. Jeep rental outfitters are also available at the visitor’s center. Monument Valley ©HPMG w w w.ari zonaguide.com • 25 http://www.arizonaguide.com http://www.arizonaguide.com
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