I can't believe after years of residing in southern Arizona, we've only recently ventured into Chiricahua National Monument, a sky island (". . . mountain island in a desert sea") near Willcox filled with hundreds of towering hoodoos.

The Chiricahuas are a 2 ½ hour drive for us but totally worth the drive --and anyway, after driving all over Arizona the last few years, 2 hours is nothing.

View from Massai Point to get a panoramic view of all the hoodoos.

After a quick snapshot, we headed to the Echo Canyon Loop trail head. We totally did not expect the snow (the weather report said it was going to be low 60's).... but then again, this is not the first time we er, did not dress appropriately. Also, when we hiked Mt. Rainier we ended up removing our jackets so... this is ARIZONA! It can't be too bad...

Except we've been in Arizona for a few years now and consequently, our blood has thinned out. "I'm cold. Let's run."

And so we ran ....It got warm quickly. Problem solved. It wasn't cold anymore.

I had this brilliant idea of composing a picture to look like I was lifting up a hoodoo.... didn't quite work out. So... TOUCHDOOOOOWN!

Walking amongst the giants.

To the grottos! This was our favorite area.

Echo Park, where we stopped to listen to our echoes... of bird calls. What kind of bird calls? Chicken....

The Echo Canyon trail crisscrosses a creek several times and often runs along side it.

On the way out we got to see a trio of deer!

Hey guys!

On the way home, we randomly stopped at Big Tex BBQ Dining Car in Willcox for lunch, which turned out to be a good call.