Wednesday, February 20. A relaxed day of ruins and videos.

We woke up this morning to gray skies and heavy rain.  After a very good breakfast of scrambled eggs and pancakes, Mike explained our alternative plans for day.  With wet trails and the prediction for snow, hiking wasn’t a good option.  Se we headed northeast on the Apache Trail, driving 16 miles on the very rough washboard surface until the pavement returned near the Theodore Roosevelt Dam.  Completed in 1911 and modified in 1989-1996, the 357 foot high dam impounds the Salt River and results in the very large Roosevelt Lake.  

Morning storm clouds over Apache Lake.

On the way to the Roosevelt Dam on the Apache Trail.

The Roosevelt Dam. 

After a brief stop to admire the dam, we continued on to the Tonto National Monument with its well-preserved ancient cliff dwellings.  We watched a video about the dwellings and then followed the ranger on the short, steep paved trail to the lower ruins.  While he told us about the ruins, the snow began in earnest.  The ranger told us that this was the first time he had seen the trail covered in snow during his five years at the monument.  We hiked back down to the visitor center in the heavy snow, admiring the unusual sight of snow-covered cacti.  The rangers allowed us to eat on the carpeted floor of the visitor center, and then we drove to the Roosevelt Lake Visitor Center where we explored the displays and watched videos about the area.  

As we drove back to Apache Lake, we admired all the snow-covered mountains surrounding us.  The views from our balconies were very lovely.  

After another excellent dinner, this time of broiled trout filets, we had some time to comment on the excellent program and to thank Mike and Michael for their outstanding leadership.  We then had the evening to relax and pack our suitcases.