I grew up in northern Arizona before very many people lived here. We had a lot more freedom as kids than children seem to have these days. Freedom to wander in the woods, desert and canyons. For several years (1952 to 1959) my folks had the park concession at Canyon DeChelly (pronounced deshay)national monument. To get there one drove 40 miles on dirt roads. I went to a one room school with all the grades together and a single teacher. There was less than 500 population I would think.

My older sister and I rode horses in the canyon and played in the Indian ruins. For a couple of summers I lived in my tree house which I had built in a huge cottonwood tree. The ranger's daughter and I spruced up an overhang shelter about a quarter mile from home and spent several summer nights there.

I was married and had three children before I started backpacking but I have always been comfortable fooling around outside--my favorite place Mary