June 5 - Phoenix to Eagar AZ

Heading out on a 5 day vacation away from the grind of this crazy world, work, and life in general. I'm so excited. Heading to the White Mountains of AZ. Visited there back in 2009 on an organized butterfly trip in July. It was my 1st trip and it was fabulous!! Going back earlier in the season in hopes of finding Rhesus and Morrison Skippers, and Alberta Arctic. Fingers crossed for a couple of them.

Today I fly to Phoenix. Smooth and quick flight. I even got my rental quickly for a change. But trying to get out of the airport, I was doing laps as GoogleMaps took me east past terminal 3 & 4 and then it had me turn around as my actual exit was somewhere in between. Hopefully on my return, it won't be as complicated.

I think it was already 90 degrees when I arrived at 9:00'sh. Whew!

Driving out of Phoenix, lots of barren desert landscape but with tons of Saguaro cactus. In 2 areas with those cacti were what I assume to be wild horses. Hardy critters.

Quite a few Vultures too.

The landscape changes as I head up the windy highway toward Payson (5000ft). Lots more pine trees. 

I stop at a Wendys for lunch (but darn, there's a Del Taco a few miles farther - shoot). I ask the lady taking my order if a side trip to Tonto Natural Bridge was worth. She said yes so off I went.

The bridge is part of a Tonto Bridge State Park ($7 per person) in the Tonto Forest. The bridge is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world standing 183 feet high and over 400 feet long and 150 feet at its widest point.

There are a few short trails that head down into the canyon to see the bridge and a water fall up close. But from what I've read on the internet, the trails are short but steep and rocky. And I got more proof of that when I was given a lecture on the hazards of these trails by a ranger as I entered the park.

Well, it's almost 90 degrees and just after noon, I'm not taking any steep trail at this point. But there is an option of 4 viewpoints from a flat 1/2 mile trail on top. That's what I'm taking!

Viewpoint #1

Viewpoint #2


Gotta love the cliffside formation -- they love like hard mud slides.

There are many yellow birds flying around but never in position to get a good luck at them.

Viewpoint #3

Viewpoint #4.

Tree roots dripping water

Around Viewpoint #3, I see my 1st butterfly of the trip, a Gray Buckeye( Junonia grisea).

There was also a smaller flyer but I couldn't catch up.

Oh, and a bright scarlet dragonfly (possibly a Neon Skipper).

And lots of Ravens flying around. And this cool looking flower.


I was there 45-60 minutes and it's now time to finish my journey to Eagar!

Drive past a cow on the way out of the State Park.

Landscape changes again as I approach Show Low and then again towards Springville.

I see the old AZ cinder volcanoes. No longer active - I think they were active for only a very short period time.

I arrive at the hotel just after 4pm -- good day!

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