Taking the Scenic Route

Though we had been considering cooling our jets in the Phoenix area for a few days to monitor the weather and road conditions to the Grand Canyon and some of southern Utah's national parks, our prospects didn't look too promising.  So we packed up Saturday morning and, after visiting the Arizona State Capitol, we headed east on the Superstition Freeway, also known as US-60.

SEEING THE LAST SAGUAROS OF THE TRIP

Once we left the urban sprawl of Phoenix behind, we traveled through the Sonoran Desert, our last encounter with the friendly-looking saguaros as we drove through the desert floor.  Soon we were climbing into the jagged Superstition Mountains rising steeply above the desert.
As we moved through the sheer-sided volcanic peaks and ridges, we resisted the urge to stop at hiking trails and scenic lookouts.  Our target for the day was Globe, which we hoped to reach by 4 p.m., when weather forecasters said heavy snow would be moving into the area.
We knew that US-60 through the Superstitions had been declared a scenic route.  What we were not expecting was the sudden appearance of a vast cleft in the landscape known as Salt River Canyon.  After the canyon came into view, the highway snaked its way down into the canyon on a series of hairpin turns, all the way to the Salt River running through the canyon floor.
After pausing at the rest area near the bridge, we crossed the river and began climbing our way back out of the canyon.  It may not have the same scale as the Grand Canyon, but the nine-mile drive from rim to rim following steep grades and switchbacks hugging the canyon walls down and back up afforded close-up views that the better known landmark cannot offer to the casual visitor.

VIEW OF SALT RIVER CANYON AND THE ROAD ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE

Once we had passed through to the other side we reached the town of Globe by 2:00.  After a quick check on the forecast, we felt confident we could beat the snow to Show Low, another 90 miles away.  Still making only essential stops, we arrived in Show Low about an hour ahead of the wintry blast.

You may wonder, as we did, how a town became known as Show Low.  According to legend, two early settlers were partners in the ownership of a 100,000-acre ranch until the day came when they decided they should part ways.  Since neither was able to buy the other out, they decided to play a card game to determine which partner would keep the ranch and which would move on.  As he was about to lose the final hand, one rancher, who was holding a three, exclaimed to the other, "Show low and you win the ranch."  His partner promptly drew the two of clubs, the lowest card in the deck.  That's how the town became known as Show Low and its main street Deuce of Clubs.

SHOW LOW SCULPTURE BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE

With a tip from Roadside America, we searched for Show Low's monument to the historic card game.  Alas, the sculpture was missing when we looked for it in a small park on Deuce of Clubs Drive, a victim of mistaken identity.  Last month a candlelight vigil for a local police officer killed in the line of duty was held in the park.  Thinking the statue was made of bronze, some mourners laid their candles on and around it.  After everyone had gone, the candles melted down enough to ignite the fiberglass-covered styrofoam sculpture.  Extensively damaged, the statue was hauled away for disposal.  Plans are underway to replace it, this time in bronze.
With two nights booked at the local Hampton Inn, we settled in to wait for Santa.  Overnight the temp dipped into the twenties as snow accumulated, transforming the mundane hotel parking lot into a scene worthy of the label "White Christmas."  When we checked the front parking lot, we discovered that a thoughtful hotel employee had raised the wipers on all the cars to prevent them from freezing to the windshield.  Snow continued to fall much of today and, with the food provisions we had picked up in Phoenix, we were content to remain hotel-bound and make tentative plans for the remainder of the trip.

Tomorrow we'll check out the road conditions and—if the fates allow—continue homeward on US-60.   Or we'll spend one more night in Show Low to allow the sun and the snow plows to do their work before we move on.

SATURDAY, 24 & SUNDAY, 25 DECEMBER 2016
    •  Started in:  Tempe, AZ
    •  Ended in:  Show Low, AZ
    •  Miles driven:  190  [trip:  5,954]
    •  Weather:  21° to 51°, overcast to snow to clear
    •  States:  AZ  [trip:  8]
    •  Counties:  4   [trip:  116]
    •  Towns:  13   [trip:  262]
    •  Snowfall:  3"  

SALT RIVER