FALL/WINTER 2013 BY ALEXIS BECHMAN ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER
With several inches of fresh snow on the Mogollon Rim beckoning, I ďŹ nally agreed to go snow camping. For years, my partner had talked how the snow absorbs sound — creating a stillness unlike any other. With most critters decamped or dug in, the only sound is the occasional crack from a twig giving way from the weight of a million snowakes. Sounded terrifying; nothing to distract me from the clatter of my thoughts. And not to mention how cold it would be sleeping on the icy ground. Still, we loaded up the car and headed out. We were quickly defeated though when we realized the Arizona Department of Transportation snowplows generally leave nowhere to park. After a frustrating search, we gave up — ďŹ nding no where to park near the Rim. This year, the solution plopped me on the head like a pile of wet snow: my editor can just drop us off near the turnoff for Forest Road 300 (Rim Road). Our favorite camping area in the summer, in winter the Rim lies buried under several feet of snow. But that’s nothing a pair of snowshoes won’t ďŹ x. So as soon as the snow piles up, we are piling out. Fortunately, Rim Country also offers lots of lower-elevation camping spots — suddenly peaceful with the waning of the summer crowds.
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Cold Weather Camping
Houston Mesa Located just north of Payson, the campground will stay open all fall and winter. At an elevation of 5,200 feet, the campground lies on the north side of Forest Road 199. The Houston Mesa Horse Camp is south of the road. Both sides are developed and equipped with coin-operated shower facilities, grills, rest rooms and a dump station for recreational vehicles. The campground has a half-mile self-guided nature trail. Fees total $20 a night. The horse camp features a water trough, pens and hitching rail. Verde Glen Less than a mile off Forest Road 199, on the Control Road, is the Verde Glen
campsite. All the Verde River sites are open into the winter and sometimes year-round, depending on snowfall.
Campgrounds on the Rim Most campgrounds atop the Rim close in the winter, starting when snowfall closes Forest Road 300. The most popular campgrounds during the fall months are Crook and Sinkhole, just off Forest Road 300. Tonto Basin campgrounds Heading south, several campgrounds near Roosevelt Lake, central Arizona’s largest lake, are open all year and stay relativity warm since they are in the lower elevations. The Cholla recreation site near the lake is the largest all-solar-powered
|
campground in the United States, according to the Forest Service. It is the place you can truly set up camp and stay all winter. The views include the Four Peaks Sierra Anchas and the lake. Fishing for largemouth pass, sunďŹ sh and athead catďŹ sh continues year-round. Heading east from Cholla is the Windy Hill recreation site. Nearly 350 campsites along paved loops, most with shade ramadas, ďŹ re rings, picnic tables and potable water hydrants. Toilets and showers are also located throughout the loops. The site includes an amphitheater, playgrounds and a picnic area. Also near Roosevelt is the Schoolhouse recreation site, which sits east of the other campgrounds. There are 211 campsites, some tent-only, and most have a ďŹ re ring and picnic tables. The site is also a popular river access point to the Upper Salt River.
Options and information Information about campsites in the Tonto National Forest is available online at http://www.fs.usda.gov and by calling the Payson Ranger Station at (928) 474-7900; Apache-Sitgreaves Forest Heber Ranger Station at (928) 5355200; and Tonto Basin Ranger District at (928) 467-3200. Visit www.paysonrimcountry.com for a complete list of campgrounds in the area.
Did you know?
Through the Arizo na Ta x Credit Program to help the Wo rking Poor, you ca n give up to $400 and receive a dollar-for-d ollar tax credit on your state ta xes.
514 W. Main St.
Your gift supports RIM COUNTRY SENIORS and DISABLED Payson Senior Center utilizes tax credit donations to support our Meals-On-Wheels and Dial-A-Ride Programs for our seniors and disabled. Also, you can claim the Working Poor Tax Credit in addition to tax credits to public school programs and private school tuition. For more information you can visit: State of Arizona Department of Revenue Charitable Tax Credit or contact the Payson Senior Center at 928-474-4876
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
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD :66666666666666 +& + 0*&% % &) %+ ) &) ?=>?4 7 4 @> # % 8 &) 2013 && % +) %*'&)+ + &% ')& ) $*4 ) '+ &) 0&,) + / ) &) * . ## $ # " +& 0&,4 "* 0 # +& 0*&% % &) %+ )2 $ # &) )&' & + B>A % 0*&% CBBA> . % ) 0&,) 666 * 666 *+ ) )
) ,$ )
$ % )
23
/' ) + &% +
;
% +,)
# * ## &,+ + &##&. % % &)$ + &% &) 0&,) + / ) '+3
$ 36666666666666666666666666666666666666666666' &% ;666666666666666666666666666 ) **366666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 7&'+ &% #836666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666