Tonto National Forest
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click photo to enlarge |
The Tonto National Forest covers just over 2.8 million acres and is the
largest in Arizona and the fifth largest in the US. We were only in the area
near Lake Roosevelt. It is stated that this national Forest is the most
visited urban forest in the US but it would have been hard to tell that the
day we were there because it was pretty empty. Tonto is the Spanish word for
"fool". |
click photo to enlarge |
We stopped at the visitors center and were talking to the ranger on duty
there. She was telling us how they have up 300 volunteers in the winter or
busy season. The volunteers only need work 2 days per week and they are
given a place to park their RV with full hookups. They can spend the rest of
the week fishing and hiking or whatever the want to do. It sounds like a
pretty good deal to me. We have been volunteering for the National Forest
Service at least one day a month for the last 10 years now. |
click photo to enlarge |
Lake Roosevelt is formed by of all things the Roosevelt Dam. It was the
tallest masonry dam in the world when it was built. The forest was created
in 1905 to protect the water sheds of the Salt and Verde rivers. One of
these days we will drive the Apache Trail the goes from the eastern
suburbs of Phoenix to Lake Roosevelt. |
click photo to enlarge |
click photo to enlarge |
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