Cochise Stronghold

We start today’s post off with a photo of a Mexican Jay, which we are now calling the Chiricahua rooster, after they started crowing at dawn.  They could also be called the Chiricahua camp robbers since as soon as you put your food onto the picnic table they are right in there looking for something to steal.  Ah, Nature, beautiful to behold, often annoying to actually experience.

On our way back to Sierra Vista, we stopped off at Cochise Stronghold, in the Dragoon Mountains.  This is where Cochise, second most famous of the Apaches hid out until signing a treaty in 1874. 

In contrast to the Chiricahuas' ordered columns, the Dragoons feature more of a jumble of Rocks.

We had a great hike, and it was actually warm here after the cold and wind of the Chiricahuas.

There’s a campsite here and also Arizona’s most beautiful nature trail.  Honestly, it looks like a botanical garden, with constructed stairs, and rocks placed artfully among giant desert plants, only they were naturally here (except for the stairs).

And speaking of nature trails, here is today’s nature quiz.  How can you tell an Arizona oak from an Emory Oak?