If you were on the fence about participating in our Run to Alpine event let's just say you missed out on a great time. Great people. Fun roads. Good food. Fantastic scenery. We went from the desert floor chasing up Highway 191 past one of the world's largest open pit copper mines in Morenci and then practiced our driving skills on the super-twisty part of 191 up to the Mogollon Rim and into the alpine meadows of the White Mountains of eastern Arizona.
Our trip began where most of us met at
The Vail Steakhouse Cafe & Diner in Vail for breakfast. George, the proprietor, made sure we were well fed. Heading east on I-10 we transitioned to Highway 191 in Willcox and headed to Safford where we met up with the Phoenix group. From Safford we continued on 191 up to Clifton where we checked out an old jail in a hillside, fueled up, and then headed up through Morenci to the pullout that overlooks the Asarco open pit copper mine and had a bite of lunch.
After lunch we readied ourselves for the fantastic twisty road to Alpine that lie ahead - 90 miles with steep elevation gain, hairpin turns, and short straights through meadows and sights of the scars left by 2011's
Wallow Fire. The Fiat Spider had a bit of a "mystery issue" that left it on the side of the road until it cooled down a bit but then it started up and successfully continued on.
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| Photo: Chuck Huber |
After checking in at the
Mountain Hi Lodge a few of the group either took a walk or run to take in the cool and clean mountain air while others prepped hors devours and relaxed a bit before starting to prepare dinner or building a nice bon fire in the fire pit.
Dinner consisted of steak, roasted veggies, salad, baked potatoes, and "beverages of choice." To top it off one of the group brought a home made New York cheese cake. We ate like kings and queens around the bon fire. As the moon rose over the adjacent meadow we talked shop, burned up a back of marshmallows, and just relaxed.
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| Photo: Chuck Huber |
Saturday started off chilly and dry with slightly overcast skies. We gathered at the
Bear Wallow Cafe for breakfast. At breakfast we discussed several options for our return route and chose to head toward Show Low. We headed back to the motel to finish packing and check out. One of the Panteras was reluctant to go but a $4 fix proved to get it on its way.
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| Photo: Chuck Huber |
Leaving Alpine we continued up 191 to Eagar where we took AZ-260 west to Show Low. The wind was strong due to a weather front passing through the area but the views were fantastic. We took an opportunity to play in what was left from the recent winter snows.
After some fun in the snow we continued into Show Low and fueled up. A couple of cars headed home to Phoenix by continuing on AZ-260 to Payson and down AZ-87. The rest of the group headed south on US-60/AZ-77 to the Salt River Gorge.
Upon leaving the scenic views of the Salt River Gorge the group continued down into Globe where they headed south on AZ-77 towards Winkleman for a bite of lunch at
Maria's Mexican Food restaurant.
After lunch the group continued south towards Oracle, Oro Valley, and Tucson. In Oro Valley the group received a honk of a horn an thumbs up from a vintage Jaguar sedan heading in the opposite direction after which one of the group peeled off towards home and the rest headed home into Tucson.
The trip was a lot of fun and everyone made it home under their own power (yes!). Let's do this again!
More Pictures
- Click > here < to view the rest of the F.I.A.T. photo album.
- For additional photos of the event from the Southern Arizona Pantera Club click > here.<
