“It’s burning my favorite camping spot! Pretty sure; judging from the plume. Dag-gum-mit!” Cowboy Talltale stated with disappointed conviction.  

“I been camping by Apache Trail for years and years on Highway 88. No phone service -- no mass crowds of people -- just the pristine majesty of nature and beauty. Now being consumed by the Woodbury Fire.”

Sadly, the Woodbury Fire started on June 8, 2019 -- cause undetermined at this time -- consuming prestige rugged terrain in the Superstition Wilderness in the heart of Arizona. Thankfully, first responders, fire fighters and Tonto National Forest Service employees worked round the clock to evacuate residences in the line of danger; to save structures at Roosevelt Lake and Roosevelt Marina, while fighting the persistent and unrelenting wildland fire fueled by the wind and the dry arid desert grasses, shrubbery and bushes. Not only were these hard workers tasked with these difficult responsibilities, they also had the challenge of protecting the Tonto National Monument, an irreplaceable treasure of Salado Indian pueblo ruins left in a steep crevice, rising high on a rugged hillside, overlooking Theodore Roosevelt Lake. With a debt of gratitude, our heartfelt thanks will never express the appreciation we have for these dedicated and hardworking first responders, fire fighters and officials. 

The Woodbury Fire has scarred the pristine wilderness land bordering Route 88, the Apache Trail, with black ash and blackened remnants of beautiful Saguaro cacti which once stood regal in the desert silhouette. The unpaved, unimproved, dusty Route 88 winds curvedly along the stunning flow of the Salt River, from Junction 188, near the bridge of Roosevelt Dam, to Apache Junction on the northeast side of Phoenix. For forty miles, before the Woodbury Fire, enthusiastic campers, hikers and travelers could bask in the peacefulness of the serene beauty of desert tranquility, seemingly untouched by modern technology and sophistication -- a small taste of yesteryear.

“Think of the devastation,” Cowboy Talltale continued. “Many, many times, we would travel down the Apache Trail, veer off one of the side roads by the river and pitch our tents. The majesty of the Saguaro cacti would fascinate me with their beauty. And the quietness of it all! Did you know many birds would surround us while we were camping as if they too knew what a gem of a camping spot we had found?”

Realizing the concept of Cowboy Talltale’s words, I reflected on the loss of the giant Saguaro cacti. Native to the Sonoran Desert, Saguaros can tower forty feet tall. These giant cacti serve as home to the Cactus Wren, adopted as the Arizona state bird in 1931. Not only do the Cactus Wren nest in the holes of the regal Saguaro, other birds such as the Curvebill Thrasher and the Gila Woodpecker enjoy the presence of these cacti state treasures. The Saguaro cactus blossom is also recognized as the state wildflower of Arizona. So many, many treasures lost in the Woodbury Fire.

“Saw one of the worst fights I’ve ever, ever seen when I was camping on Apache Trail one morning,” Cowboy Talltale remarked. “Thought I’d witnessed the worst fights a cowboy could ever, ever see till that fight. I’ve been truly amazed that all the parties survived! Bad, bad skirmish!”

My imagination ran wild with me. “Was it two campers fighting over the same camping spot? Or did a swimmer swim and spook the fish from a fisherman’s line? Or was it a group of campers upset with another group of campers?” I fired the questions as quickly as they came to mind.

“Had to do with a nice size fish. You see, one of those lake pelicans dipped his head down in the water and came up with a nice, nice size minnow fish. Then, here came trouble. Two of those black crows, some call them Common Ravens, spotted the pelican’s treat hanging from his mouth. As the pelican tried to swallow his fine catch, the one black crow tried to hop to distract the pelican, while the other tried to bombard him on the other side by making fits of noise. Loud noise and ruckus! The pelican, not being faint of heart, tried to wing slap at the ravens with his wings while clinging to the catch in his mouth. It got mean and nasty. After all that hollering, screeching and shrieking from the crows, the pelican swallowed his big fish in one big gulp and the fight was over,” smirked Cowboy Talltale.

Cowboy Talltale recounted this intriguing event with such conviction, I found it difficult to question the validity of his narration.  

In the great Southwest, we are very fortunate and blessed to have hard workers like those on the Woodbury Fire who work together to preserve life, structures and lands in our great national forests. Our heartfelt thanks forever!

Although Apache Trail will perhaps always bear the scars of the Woodbury Fire -- in time, hopefully, the landscape will recover its wondrous beauty. As for the Saguaro cacti, hopefully there will be a surge of regrowth -- if not to be witnessed in our lifetime -- perhaps in the lifetime of our future generations.

From our family to yours, may you have a safe and blessed summer! Please be cautious of fire danger, especially in this very dry time before the monsoon storms. And may you always be able to enjoy your prize catch before attracting the nuisance of black crows!

As Cowboy Talltale turned Willow, his sweet mare, with his reins, his back facing the Woodbury Fire plume, he remarked, “ Did I ever tell you about the bad skirmish I witnessed between two ground squirrels and a raccoon over an acorn from the oak bush?”

Wishing you great travels!