FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Possible Observing Site

["William R Wood" <wrwood2@xxxxxxx>]

Janet and I went on a trip to New Mexico a couple of weeks back and we used
the rather rural route 277/377 between Heber and Holbrook to get to
Interstate 40 heading east.

I may be nuts but the area about halfway between Heber and Holbrook on 377
looks like a great observing site - high ground, 360 deg unobstructed views,
remote, easy to get to, safe, legal, no one will bother us.  The landscape
is high desert and basically flat as far as you can see with slightly
rolling hills.  The area I like best is the highest point along the route,
somewhere over 6,000' and significantly above the surrounding area.  I have
not seen it at night but I think it will be real dark (about 75 miles from
Flagstaff and Payson with Holbrook about 15 miles to the northeast) and the
seeing should be outstanding since there appears to be no issue with terrain
causing annoying air currents.

I ran into a young guy who camps and hunts fossils in the area and he said
he has been coming there for 20 years and never saw a soul out in the desert
except a few deer, elk etc.  There are plenty of gates which provide very
easy access to the desert and you can get well off the blacktop road with no
problem.  The desert is open with plenty of space for a huge group and no
tall trees.

This area is a major hike from Phoenix but if anybody wants to try it out I
will definitely go along.  Even though it is a long way, the drive is very
easy with blacktop roads all the way to the site and only about 10-15 miles
farther from my house than Happy Jack.

I posted some photos of the area on pBase.  If anyone wants to venture forth
let me know:

http://www.pbase.com/wrwood/rt377


Regards,

Bill Wood
Fountain Hills, AZ



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