48.12 Arizona: Tonto National Forest: Pairs in color and a pair in a heavenly environment.

Tonto Basin and the immediate region surrounding it is not for people who enjoy the wilderness. Tough hikes amongst pristine beauty is of course, overrated. Definitely not for those who don't welcome people greeting and waving from their cars or while walking along the road. Stopping to ask how one is and striking up a conversation and whether they can assist one might impinge on privacy. The blue waters, the shapes, coves, and glass-like stillness of Roosevelt Lake can be awfully boring. 

Apache Lake and the flowing Salt River might be fascinating but then again, it's just water and there's a lot of that about, surprisingly in the desert, too. The saguaros dot the landscape but when you've seen one tall one with multiple arms, you've seen them all. Yep! This is not a place to visit for in a way, it's stepping back into the Wild West without lawlessness. It allows a person to escape from the prison of the proverbial jungle which of course, makes this land far too tranquil and frankly, boring. 

Why we extended our stay, puzzles us. Then again, we like to keep our feet on the ground and our eyes on the peaks. 

Walking along the Apache Trail, a delightful find. (From lake level)

Viewing the Salt River/Apache Lake from above on the incredible Vineyard Hike. (From mountaintop)

Roosevelt Lake at level.

The lake from height.

Roosevelt Lake from Arizona Trail at height.

The lake on our 4th day, more attractive each time, at level.

That Roosevelt dam wall from Vineyard climb.

Below Vineyard trail at the dam.

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey