Apache National Forest, AZ

Today on our day off, we traveled north from City of Rocks and drove into Arizona via Silver City, NM. We stopped for a terrific brunch at a quaint old rancher's cafe near the AZ line in Alppine and then drove along snowy AZ Rt. 191 through the Apache National Forest. At a rest stop, we had a friendly snowball fight, and Gloria built a miniature snow woman. As we eased down the mountain, we stopped at some old abandoned ranches. Eventually we stumbled upon the old Morenci Mine. It has been operating for over 100 years and goes on for miles. It is the largest mine of its kind in the world. It's primary ore is copper, and the people of Morenci are delighted that copper prices have been escalating for the past few years.