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>> Chiricahua National Monument was first established by President Coolidge in 1924,
>> Chiricahua National Monument was first established by President Coolidge in 1924,

primarily for the protection of our pinnacle rock formations.
primarily for the protection of our pinnacle rock formations.

The pinnacle rock formations are the result of volcanic explosions that occurred
The pinnacle rock formations are the result of volcanic explosions that occurred

over 27 million years ago, some of the largest volcanic activity in the American Southwest,
over 27 million years ago, some of the largest volcanic activity in the American Southwest,

and of course over millennia it has eroded to form just a beautiful array of pinnacles,
and of course over millennia it has eroded to form just a beautiful array of pinnacles,

spires, and unique balance rocks.
spires, and unique balance rocks.

>> The Apache called the Chiricahua Mountains the land of standing rocks
>> The Apache called the Chiricahua Mountains the land of standing rocks

because you literally see the rocks that are out there that are standing;
because you literally see the rocks that are out there that are standing;

just beautiful; a variety of shapes and sizes.
just beautiful; a variety of shapes and sizes.

>> You can use your imagination and come up with dogs' heads and people's heads
>> You can use your imagination and come up with dogs' heads and people's heads

and balanced rocks and anything you want to imagine you can probably see up there.
and balanced rocks and anything you want to imagine you can probably see up there.

They-- they truly are, and geologically they're very interesting too.
They-- they truly are, and geologically they're very interesting too.

>> The Echo Canyon Trail is the perfect introduction
>> The Echo Canyon Trail is the perfect introduction

for a hike at Chiricahua National Monument.
for a hike at Chiricahua National Monument.

Half a mile down the trail you'll be at a incredible feature called the grottos,
Half a mile down the trail you'll be at a incredible feature called the grottos,

which is a fun place to climb and explore.
which is a fun place to climb and explore.

The problem is you could call it a cave type feature, but it's once again caused
The problem is you could call it a cave type feature, but it's once again caused

by water erosion, and if you look up above you there's a big boulder suspended right
by water erosion, and if you look up above you there's a big boulder suspended right

above your head.
above your head.

>> I've been here many times and I brought the boy scouts up many times as being a scout master
>> I've been here many times and I brought the boy scouts up many times as being a scout master

and we walked all the trails and camped in the campground
and we walked all the trails and camped in the campground

and it's a beautiful area for people to visit.
and it's a beautiful area for people to visit.

>> We're on our 50th anniversary trip and this is one of our stops to visit our relatives.
>> We're on our 50th anniversary trip and this is one of our stops to visit our relatives.

So we've enjoyed it very much.
So we've enjoyed it very much.

>> Had you heard about this place before you came here today?
>> Had you heard about this place before you came here today?

>> No. No not, you know, the cousin, so you've got to go see it so,
>> No. No not, you know, the cousin, so you've got to go see it so,

and he hasn't steered us wrong yet [laughter].
and he hasn't steered us wrong yet [laughter].

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>> So one of the dramatic landmarks you can see
>> So one of the dramatic landmarks you can see

from Chiricahua National Monument is Cochise's Head,
from Chiricahua National Monument is Cochise's Head,

which is actually in the Coronado National Forest.
which is actually in the Coronado National Forest.

Look for the profile of a person lying on their back with their nose pointed up in the air
Look for the profile of a person lying on their back with their nose pointed up in the air

and that's how you know you're actually looking at this mountain.
and that's how you know you're actually looking at this mountain.

That was named in honor of the famous Chiricahua Apache chief Cochise.
That was named in honor of the famous Chiricahua Apache chief Cochise.

>> His name is synonymous with Southeastern Arizona.
>> His name is synonymous with Southeastern Arizona.

After all Cochise County is named after him in Southeastern Arizona.
After all Cochise County is named after him in Southeastern Arizona.

And Cochise's time of leading the Apache was back in the 1860s and early 1870s.
And Cochise's time of leading the Apache was back in the 1860s and early 1870s.

>> After he died of natural causes in 1874 his son Naiche took over as leader and Naiche
>> After he died of natural causes in 1874 his son Naiche took over as leader and Naiche

and Geronimo were the folks in charge of the Chiricahua Apaches
and Geronimo were the folks in charge of the Chiricahua Apaches

until their final surrender in 1886.
until their final surrender in 1886.

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Besides the very unique geology we are at a crossroads for four very different ecosystems.
Besides the very unique geology we are at a crossroads for four very different ecosystems.

From the Rocky Mountains to the north to the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico from the south,
From the Rocky Mountains to the north to the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico from the south,

and also touches of both the Sonoran Desert by Tucson
and also touches of both the Sonoran Desert by Tucson

and the Chihuahuan Desert to the southeast.
and the Chihuahuan Desert to the southeast.

So as you hike the trails look for trees like the Apache pine mixed with the agaves
So as you hike the trails look for trees like the Apache pine mixed with the agaves

and the yuccas and cactus like the prickly pear cactus or toya cactus too.
and the yuccas and cactus like the prickly pear cactus or toya cactus too.

>> We have a wide variety of flora and fauna; over 1200 species.
>> We have a wide variety of flora and fauna; over 1200 species.

>> We saw a black bear, I don't know if you heard about that.
>> We saw a black bear, I don't know if you heard about that.

Everything is great; hikes, birds, animals.
Everything is great; hikes, birds, animals.

>> Not only are the Arizona white-tailed deer common but you might be lucky to see one
>> Not only are the Arizona white-tailed deer common but you might be lucky to see one

of the wild turkeys that have been reintroduced into this mountain range in about 2006.
of the wild turkeys that have been reintroduced into this mountain range in about 2006.

Really fun thing about the wild turkeys is that when you look at the origin
Really fun thing about the wild turkeys is that when you look at the origin

of the name Chiricahua it goes back to the opata or opata people
of the name Chiricahua it goes back to the opata or opata people

who were here before the Chiricahua Apaches and their word to describe this mountain range,
who were here before the Chiricahua Apaches and their word to describe this mountain range,

according to one translation, means place of the wild turkey.
according to one translation, means place of the wild turkey.

>> I was a teacher for many years in this area and I'd bring my classes up,
>> I was a teacher for many years in this area and I'd bring my classes up,

and we usually took the mile trail down to the Faraway Ranch and went through the Faraway Ranch
and we usually took the mile trail down to the Faraway Ranch and went through the Faraway Ranch

and the kids just loved it and learned a lot.
and the kids just loved it and learned a lot.

>> Faraway Ranch was the original homestead for Neil and Emma Erickson, immigrants from Sweden.
>> Faraway Ranch was the original homestead for Neil and Emma Erickson, immigrants from Sweden.

So this is a classic pioneer tail.
So this is a classic pioneer tail.

Neil and Emma settled here in the late 1800s after the Chiricahua Apaches had surrendered
Neil and Emma settled here in the late 1800s after the Chiricahua Apaches had surrendered

for the final time and transformed a one room log cabin
for the final time and transformed a one room log cabin

into the two story house that we see today.
into the two story house that we see today.

We do give guided tours of the home because it's still completely furnished
We do give guided tours of the home because it's still completely furnished

with the family items ranging from the 1870s to the 1970s.
with the family items ranging from the 1870s to the 1970s.

You'll have a chance to go back in time.
You'll have a chance to go back in time.

You might look for things such as the milk separate, which after they milk the cows you use
You might look for things such as the milk separate, which after they milk the cows you use

that machine to separate the milk from the cream, and then turn it into butter
that machine to separate the milk from the cream, and then turn it into butter

or even use the homemade ice cream maker.
or even use the homemade ice cream maker.

The original kitchen table still has the storage bins for [inaudible] 25 pound bags of flour
The original kitchen table still has the storage bins for [inaudible] 25 pound bags of flour

and sugar, however we no longer have the original wood burning stove
and sugar, however we no longer have the original wood burning stove

because by the 1940s the family was ready to upgrade to the gas stove
because by the 1940s the family was ready to upgrade to the gas stove

with its six burners and two ovens.
with its six burners and two ovens.

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The Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC,
The Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC,

was one of President Roosevelt's first government work programs during the days
was one of President Roosevelt's first government work programs during the days

of the Great Depression, and after the monument was designated
of the Great Depression, and after the monument was designated

in 1924 the first thing the National Park Service did was bring in the CCC
in 1924 the first thing the National Park Service did was bring in the CCC

to make those needed staff and visitor facilities.
to make those needed staff and visitor facilities.

They were the folks who built the hiking trails, for example.
They were the folks who built the hiking trails, for example.

They even built most of the structures that we use today; the campground,
They even built most of the structures that we use today; the campground,

and here the original visitor center and headquarters area.
and here the original visitor center and headquarters area.

Chiricahua National Monument would not be what it is today
Chiricahua National Monument would not be what it is today

with all the many projects they were able to accomplish in that six year span of time.
with all the many projects they were able to accomplish in that six year span of time.

>> People know more about the Grand Canyon and some of the other parks and monuments in Arizona
>> People know more about the Grand Canyon and some of the other parks and monuments in Arizona

but Chiricahua National Monument is one of the top rated places to must see in Arizona.
but Chiricahua National Monument is one of the top rated places to must see in Arizona.

>> In our busy world today it's hard to find somewhere you can go
>> In our busy world today it's hard to find somewhere you can go

and experience complete solitude, peacefulness, silence.
and experience complete solitude, peacefulness, silence.

Here at Chiricahua it's often you have the entire hiking trail to yourself.
Here at Chiricahua it's often you have the entire hiking trail to yourself.

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