big man tips

LAND OF THE PIONEERS This box canyon is a highlight along the north leg of the trail. The bucolic pastures and quiet backwoods of Vernon, Arizona--population 122--is the last place you�d expect to be the scene of a vile triple homicide. It happened, though and the sad story is standard fare in local lore. Ruins of a pioneer homestead. Pioneers began settling the rural community in the eastern White Mountains in the 1890s, making a living on the surrounding lumber-rich forests.   The ruins of an infamous pioneer cabin. Legend has it that among the early pioneers were three women who lived in a log cabin just south of town. Section 31 Tank attracts swarms of dragonflies. Back-fence chatter about the women hiding a large amount of money on their property eventually reached the ears of criminals.   The women were murdered and their homestead ransacked. No riches were found.   Today, all that remains of the tragic scene are crumbling stone foundations and piles of rusty-nail p...

SPRINGS TRAIL Pinetop-Lakeside Thompson Creek Have you ever wondered about how forest trails came to be? Their origins range from repurposed game trails and Depression Era Civilian Conservation Corps projects to collaborative efforts between grassroots teams and land management organizations. The White Mountains Trail System represents the work of TRACKS, a group of volunteers dedicated to the development and preservation of non-motorized trails within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and surrounding communities. Their ongoing work harnesses partnerships between government, business, private organizations and dedicated volunteers to raise the funds and provide labor to build and maintain a 200+ mile system of linking trails with its epicenter around Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside. Wildflowers and meadows on Springs Trail A good introduction to this system is the Springs Trail. The easy to find, 3.6-mile loop located just off State Route 260 in Pinetop-Lakeside showcases the pro...