Mogollon Rim / Show Low – Heber Arizona

Goal 1: visit one of our favorite areas and hike

Goal 2: Collect minerals (Hematite)

Goal 3: collect clay (if applicable)

Goal 4: Find and collect samples of white clay for slip

Goal 5: Place pots (many)

This part on the Mogollon Rim I am gonna break into sections because we are leaving many pots in such a large area. The Mogollon (pronounced, mo-gee-yon) Rim is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of Arizona. It extends approx 200 miles and forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. It consists of mainly limestone and sandstone, namely the Kaibab Limestone and Coconino Sandstone cliffs. You will find both ponderosa pines and juniper trees, depending on where are on the rim. The smaller vegetation consists of sage brush and desert brushes to manzanita bushes, along with yucca and native grasses. Most of the land is 4,000-5,000 ft in elevations and some reaching up to over 8,000 ft above sea level.

There is many animals that call the Rim their home. These animals range from wild horses, mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, javelina, rattle snakes, turkeys, quail, bobcats, mountain lion and black bears to name a few.

There is also many places to explore around the rim this area just happens to be one of our favorite. When my family (with me at 5) moved from Australia, Show Low and Holbrook is where we came to live. Both my grandparents are buried in Show Low as well. Trevor also has ties to Snowflake as his great-great and maybe even another great grandfather helped settle Snowflake (😂).

The first day we arrived was Christmas Eve. We quickly set up camp (including Christmas lights) and went for a razor ride. During that ride we found a few bobcat traps (not on purpose). We noticed lots of foot tracks at one of the trap locations. it even looked like a youngster had been checking traps with an adult from size of shoe tracks. (hint for one pot).

The next day we set out for a long hike with our maps set on where to go. During that hike we decided the next day to hide a couple pots on the way to the next hike.

The next day was an easy hike after we hid Trevor’s pot, and nothing too exciting transpired. On the return back to camp we stopped and hid (not really hidden) my pot. I decided I wanted to place my pot near the bobcat traps (sorry if we disturbed whom ever traps) because I saw a youngsters footprints and knew they would be returning. I would love for a kiddo to find my pot sitting there at the base of a dead tree.

Most of these pots on this day hide can be accessed by just a regular pickup or small to large SUV.

Clue to Trevor pot: Red Knoll 34.52752, -110.58714 is within 1/2 mile

Clue to my pot: 34.47588, -110.51777 within 1/4 mile