Tonto National Monument and Lake Roosevelt

Gila Monsters (venomous), Rattlesnakes (definitely venomous) and Africanized Bees. And these were just some of the highlights! How about $6 camping with hot showers and friendly neighbors, and lake swimming in April! To us, Lake Roosevelt felt warm. The days were in the mid-80s and sunny. The nights cool enough for a campfire. When I was a teenager we used to go waterskiing at Lake Roosevelt, but NEVER in April. As southern Arizona residents at the time we would have thought it was way too cold. Compared to Washington, it was warmer than our lakes at the end of summer.

While playing next to the lake, Andi saw “a really big lizard”! We figured out that she had seen a Gila Monster which indeed looks like a really big lizard. Just make sure you don’t get bitten. We took a guided hike to the Tonto national Monument upper ruins. As we ambled up the trail on the side of the mountain, our ranger guide was almost bitten by a somewhat large rattlesnake. It really rattled her, pun intended. When one of our fellow tourists asked how many rattle snakes she has encountered in her 17 years of doing these guided hikes, she said, “counting the 2 today, 4”. So she really was rattled. At the top of the trail we had the pleasure of seeing the ruins of these cliff dwelling Ancient Puebloan people. Luckily the 2 hives of Africanized Bees were out sipping nectar and pollinating flowers so that we were undisturbed. The ranger did warn us that in case of a bee attack, we were on our own as she would likely be the first one down the mountain.

We had planned to stay a few more days in this peacefuul place but received and invitation that to head south we could not refuse.

PS - In case you are wondering about the Cholla Cactus and the jumping mouse, we came across this poor little guy on the side of the trail. When we reported it to the ranger, I really didn't expect them to do anything about it. However I was wrong and 2 rangers came up the trail to rescue the poor little guy. Another name for Cholla is "Jumping Cactus" as it seems to jump out and get you!