Author Archives: Jill and Bud

There were 3 possible routes from Clifton to Alpine, where we are now. The first was 94 miles straight north up US 191. But the average speed on that route was 36 mph, so it was anything but straight. In fact, trucks over 40 feet were prohibited! That was not going to be our route. The second was 117 miles, going a little south, then east on Arizona and then New Mexico 78, then back northwest on US 180. The average speed on that route was just over 50 mph. One review said trucks were not advised to take the state routes. That left a route that went south almost to I-10, then back north. It would be about 200 miles, but with an average speed of over 60 mph there would be no worries.

We decided to go to a highly recommended hike outside of Glenwood, NM called the Catwalk. The route there went across those state roads, so we could drive them in the truck and decide if we wanted to drive them towing the trailer.

The Catwalk was beautiful. It’s a route that was constructed by the CCC along Whitewater Creek and then reconstructed repeatedly when it gets washed out. The creek seems to run year round, at least it was flowing when we were there. The creek flows through a very narrow canyon and the trail is a metal walk anchored to the sides of the canyon.

We would have liked it more except that we went on the Saturday of Easter weekend and it was crowded! We aren’t used to crowds. Also, Matey hated the metal mesh decking and I ended up carrying him over the prettiest parts.

We might have been more disappointed if we hadn’t fulfilled our other purpose. We got a look at Arizona-New Mexico 78.

The route crosses over the southern end of the White Mountains and it is not a route for the faint of heart.

These pictures were taken from the only pull out on about a four or five mile ascent with switchbacks. As usual, the photos don’t really convey the drama of the several hundred foot drop off immediately to the side of the road. The speed limit was 35 through most of this. Happily, the descent on the New Mexico side was not as long and Bud thought it would be fine to tow.

Since we wouldn’t have such a long drive I took Matey for a last look at Clifton on Easter Sunday morning before we left.

The Catholic Church, built in the late 1800’s is still in use.

They seem to hang onto a lot of old things around Clifton.

Between its geography and its history…

Clifton has more character than most small towns. I’m glad we stopped.

We visited two old mining towns in New Mexico, but the mining there had stopped in the late 1800’s. Clifton is as old as those towns and the mine is still going.

The old downtown is along Chase Creek Street. It looks like there’s work being done to revive it.

Clifton had the first mine railroad in Arizona.

This is the old jail that was blasted from the rock. The small stone buildings are just the entry.

Notice the blue in the stones. At first I thought it was painted, but then realized that’s copper.

Down some steps there are two cells.

Only one of the cells has a window. I guess that was for the good prisoners.

The old passenger depot is now a tourist center.

The San Francisco River must flood, because there’s a levee. Here we are coming off the bridge over a low area in the levee. But there’s a wall and huge stone gates for the road, the railroad and the sidewalk!

Matey and I crossed this old wood decked bridge on our walk this morning.

We walked by some interesting houses…

and walked on some unusual sidewalks.

Clifton is a quaint little town overshadowed by the huge Morenci Mine. This photo was taken on a hill southeast of town. Clifton is tucked down in the folds of the hills, but you can see the altered mountaintops of the mine beyond it.

I plan our trip using Campendium, an app on my iPad. It gives me maps and reviews of campgrounds and a link to their website or a phone number. We have some places we want to see, if they are popular I get a reservation there for when I can and then fill in with campgrounds to get us there. So more than half of the places we go I choose because they sound like a decent campground in the right area.

One of my favorite things now is coming to a place I chose on the map and seeing what the campground and the area are really like. I chose the North Clifton RV Park because it was between Kartchner Caverns State Park and Albuquerque. (We took the tour through the part of Kartchner Cavern we hadn’t seen. No picture taking allowed. We liked it, but both thought the other side of the cavern was more beautiful. We are heading to Albuquerque to see the petroglyphs.) North Clifton is a city park and had good reviews so I reserved a site.

Turns out it’s up in the mountains. It’s the first time we’ve seen a warning sign for long horn sheep in the road, and in town, too! So far no sheep, though.

Here is our turn,

then back past some little houses tucked in the canyon.

It’s along the San Francisco River, and there’s water in this river!

The campground looks pretty nice,

and the view from our site is just fine.

But that’s not the half of it! I heard it was close to the Morenci Mine. We decided to drive over to see the mine, there was supposed to be an overlook.

As it turns out, US route 191 goes right through the mining operation. There are huge conveyors running right along the road.

This one went right over the road.

We went through three tunnels. That ore truck crossing overhead would have just about fit though the tunnel.

There were buildings and trucks and trains.

And then we came to the overlook and the pit. Well one of the pits, anyway. The dots you can see on the road going down into the pit are giant ore trucks.

Didn’t know any of this from the map.