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For those not familiar with the geography of the Southwest, the idea of snow in Arizona is about as ordinary as August rainfall in the Sonoran Desert. However, just a few hours northeast of the desert dwellers of Phoenix, snowfall is a regular winter occurrence in the higher elevations. The White Mountains are home to Sunrise Park Resort, one of the most familiar places for winter recreation in the state. With 65 downhill ski runs on three mountains, a separate snowboard park, more than 13 miles of cross-country skiing trails, a tubing hill, and a lake for ice fishing, this destination is a winter wonderland of recreational fun. But, Sunrise offers just a small portion of the available winter activities in the White Mountains. Here are a few more choices and they don't require a costly lift ticket. Much of the land in the White Mountains is encompassed by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. The more than 2 million acres of wilderness in the forests are home to nearly 1,000 miles of marked trails to allow easy access to the backcountry. But, when snow is involved, getting into the wilderness by foot isn't as easy as slipping on a pair shoes and following a clear-cut path. You are basically limited to two options - skis or snowshoes. If cross-country skiing is your preferred method of transportation, a prime forest location with trail access is the Pole Knoll Recreation Area. The main trailhead is located just off AZ 260, about three miles west of Greer Junction. This collection of trails, with loops ranging from 1-6 miles, navigates the countryside around the 9,793-foot summit of Pole Knoll. Other popular spots include Hannagan Meadow and Williams Valley near Alpine, Forest Lakes west of Heber, and the before-mentioned Sunrise Park Resort. Numerous routes can also be created by connecting with any of the loops in the White Mountain Trail System. This 11-loop, 108-mile system in the Lakeside Ranger District uses Woodland Lake Park in the community of Pinetop/Lakeside as its foundation. Check out http://www.ci.pinetop-lakeside.az.us/trailsystem.shtml for maps and detailed trail information. Want an easier way to navigate the terrain? Unlike cross-country skiing, practice isn't as essential when it comes to using snowshoes - just strap on a pair and start walking. A person's weight, the terrain and snow conditions will help determine the most effective snowshoe. A greater surface area, either in length or width, will result in better floatation on the snow, which is an advantage in open areas with deep powder. Shorter snowshoes can be beneficial in forest areas with deep brush because of their maneuverability. They also work well in conditions where the surface is hard-packed and floatation isn't as important. Now that you know how and where to access the White Mountains backcountry, why not stay a while? For those looking for the solitude that only the remote wilderness can bring, winter camping is an alternative to local lodging for the experienced outdoor enthusiast. Because of the cold conditions and unpredictable weather, camping in the winter brings additional concerns that are not as important during the spring and summer months - the most obvious is staying warm. "If you stay warm, you'll have fun; if you stay dry, you'll stay warm," says Erik Filsinger, president of the Arizona Mountaineering Club. "Your head is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can take when snow camping," So, before you decide to tackle the winter wilderness with an overnight outing, here are a few of his tips:
Check out the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/ for a list of popular dispersed campsites in the forest. For some, the lure of a prized catch doesn't diminish with the cooler weather. Rain and snow runoff in the higher elevations create a fishing paradise in the White Mountains for winter anglers. With more than 400 species of fish roaming the 450 miles of fishable streams and 2,000 surface acres of cold-water lake habit in the area, combined with a steady supply of stocked fish complements of the Arizona Game & Fish Department, ice fishing continues to grow as a popular recreation activity in the area. "Big Lake and Sunrise are probably the two best fishing lakes up here in the winter time," says Richard Dreyer of the Arizona Game & Fish Department office in Pinetop. Sunrise is an easy to get to because of the ski resort, but Big Lake (19 miles southwest of Eager) can present a challenge. During the winter months, the lake is only accessible by snowmobile. Other lakes Dreyer recommends are Woods Canyon (27 miles southwest of Heber), Crescent Lake (41 miles southeast of Pinetop) and Willow Springs (22 miles southwest of Heber). Ice thickness will depend on the weather and elevation, so count on waiting until at least mid-December. A current fishing report is available from the Arizona Fish & Game Department at http://www.gf.state.az.us/frames/whatsnew/idx_frep.htm or call 602/789-3701 for a recorded report. If your idea of the winter wilderness involves groomed fairways and
paths made for carts to carry people, check out some of the area courses
offering year-round golf. Some available locations include: Show Low
Country Club and Silver Creek Golf Club in Show Low, Concho Valley Country
Club in Concho Valley, and Snowflake Municipal Golf Course in Snowflake. By Tom Trush Visit Tom on the web at http://www.writewaysolutions.com
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