Gila Wilderness Adventures

Eve became a little trail-weary along the way. Thank goodness for Dad!

The boys had their fall break from school October 12-16. That Tuesday evening we headed down to St. David and stayed the night at the Kartchner Hotel. The owners weren't home (more on that later) but the kids enjoyed milking the goats with Uncle Duane the next morning. Wednesday morning we headed for New Mexico -- more specifically, the Gila Hot Springs area about 40 miles north of Silver City. It was a long trip and we were very happy to finally arrive at our destination that afternoon. The Marla, Audra, Preston & Bryce Welker were there to greet us on our arrival at the Upper Scorpion Campground where we were camping. Grant & Kurtis along with Grandpa Paul, Grandma Sue, Karina, Uncle Rex & Aunt Kay Kartchner, Ryan Kartchner, Jolynn & ? Smith and their daughter, Kaylee were all out on a 3-day horseback trip through the Gila Wilderness. They traveled about 40 miles & said it was a great trip. On Thursday morning our family hiked up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings next to our campground. Legend has it that my (Julie's) family hiked this same trail in my youth. Being the one with the "spotty" memory, I will just say that I have little to no recollection of it. The kids really enjoyed it -- a pretty trail and only about 1 mile long. The cliff dwellings are neat to see since you get to actually walk through them. Unfortunately, we were having camera issues and couldn't get it to work until the end of the hike.  

Carter, Alex, Eve, Bradley & Lydia show off the cliffs where we'd been. Carter is holding his Jr. Ranger book. The three older kids all earned their Jr. Ranger badge.

After lunch we were ready to get wet and did some playing in the Gila River. Lydia, Julie & Eve.

Audra shows off her finds

Cousins -- Carter, Preston & Audra.

Bradley.

Alex & Carter tried out the little rapids down the way.

Audra, Preston, Lydia & Carter worked hard on their rock collection. Eve added her own exhibit.

Lydia -- Before & After.

After the river, the Welkers headed back to camp and our family took a dip in the hot spring pools at Wildwood Resort. Ahhh . . . nothing like a hot bath when camping (just overlook the moss). Carter, Alex, Eve & Brad.

Eve and Lydia show off our campsite.

Grandpa Paul, Grandma Sue & company got back on Thursday afternoon. Eve was a little leery of Grandpa's whiskers. A three day shadow can be prickly.

We camped Thursday night as well and thanks to the Welker's tent heater were cozy in our tent. Friday we took a little hike to the river to check out a beaver dam and also saw a few more Indian ruins at the Lower Scorpion campground. Then we headed back to St. David. Aunt Karina graced us with her presence. It was a relatively quiet trip as we listened to the CD recording of the book "Urchin of the Riding Stars" of the Mistmantle Chronicles. It kept everyone's attention except for Lydia and Eve who gratefully slept most of the way. Friday night was St. David's big football game against Valley Union. Alex and the boys went and said it was a very exciting win.

Saturday we had a great time in St. David. Julie learned how to roast chile peppers & switch gears on Karina's mountain bike. Carter learned about skinning foxes (from Uncle Alan) and harvesting veggies from the garden (from Grandma Sue). Bradley got some good sling shot practice in. The boys both got to ride horses a little and Lydia throughly enjoyed playing. Alex did a little of all of the above. Poor Eve woke up with a fever -- the start of what turned out to be the flu for all my kids. Saturday afternoon we met up with Grandpa Matheson, Lincoln, Michelle & Sadie for lunch and then Alex, Brad, Carter & G-pa Matheson went to the UofA football game while Julie & the girls headed home to Queen Creek.

This past week has been a little crazy -- a mix of the aforementioned flu and the fact that Julie was in charge of the food portion of the boy's school's Fall Carnival on Saturday. The Carnival and flu have both, for the most part, gratefully come and gone. Now to just get rid of the food extras from the Carnival and to get Eve well. She's had a come-and-go fever the past few days so it's likely we'll head for the doctor tomorrow.