Company? No, thank you.

Aug. 6, 2012
Last week, just a couple of days before we headed back to Eagar for recharge and restocking, a couple of other campers (trailers) moved into our area. The area is probably five acres of scattered trees with lots of open grass. Fifteen or twenty good parking spots are available. These people were very friendly. They were from Eagar and Springerville. They told us that by the weekend there would be between 50-100 people joining them. And we were welcome to stay. They didn't want to run us off. But, they have been holding a family reunion at this spot for the last 38 years! And really, we were welcome to stay.
Thank you, but NO!!!
We agreed that it is the perfect spot for a large group like that, with lots of kids. There is plenty of open area for games, and lots of forest to explore, the spring and creek to play in. But, we do not go to the forest to have that kind of noise and activity.
So, on Thursday, when we returned to the forest, properly recharged, restocked, and looking for some peace and quiet, we selected a different place. It is only two miles from the spring, but the nearest neighbors are 1/4 mile away, and it is just two people. Two quiet people.
Today, we went for a long drive. We have been camping in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest since our kids were little. Last year while we were in Skagway, we heard of the Wallow Fire burning through the forest, and how big it was, and where. We were very concerned about our camping area. We took a drive through in October, and we were pleased at how much had NOT burned. Today, we specifically visited two of our former campsites. One, on the San Francisco River (it is barely a creek at this point) within a stone's throw of New Mexico, showed that the fire had raced through, burning along the ground, but leaving the top half of most of the trees green. It would still be a nice spot to camp. It isn't destroyed. The second one, about ten miles south of Alpine, and about two thousand feet lower, is at the confluence of Turkey Creek and The Campbell Blue. There are probably half a dozen Turkey Creek's in Arizona. This one is a perennial stream that can be jumped across at any point, or waded without getting you socks wet. The Campbell Blue is a nice stream with trout. Again, the fire swept through, but left the large trees only scorched at the bottom and green at the top. The damage here was from flash floods created when the more severely burned canyon slopes could not hold the falling rains and the spring snow melt. The narrow portions of Turkey Creek showed evidence of very deep water. The camp area was coated with obviously fresh sand that had washed down the canyon. But, again, as long as it doesn't rain while you are there, it is still a nice place to camp.