Hiking in the Catalinas

Not long ago we hiked a new trail (to us) in the Catalinas. We had a great day but none of us agree with the guidebooks that told us this trail was classified as 'easy'. We all classify it as moderate because of the switchbacks and the change in elevation.

It was gorgeous, though, and the views were amazing! Part of the hike was through and area where the 'Aspen Fire' did a lot of damage in the Catalinas.







We saw several Horned Lizards and a couple of deer along the trail.

We ended the day with Happy Hour at Zona 78 with wine and appetizers.

On a mission from God (mv)

Our Casita at Sunglow Ranch

Michael & I went to Sunglow Ranch, a dude ranch in the Chiricahua Mountains in Southeastern Arizona for one night.


Part of the offer was a wine tasting at the Keeling Schaefer winery in Wilcox which gave us the idea that we should try to find Dick Erath's vineyard which was supposed to be in the general area.

We had tried a couple of years ago when Michael & Sue were visiting and had been totally unsuccessful.

With a lot of assistance from Michael V. in Tacoma, we found the 'town' - Kansas Settlement - where his vineyard was supposed to be and after inquiring of a man who was working on his engine we obtained directions to the only vineyard in town.




Now, Kansas Settlement is not a town as we all imagine. There was one business still in operation - see the sign - where the man was working on his car. The gas station/store was long gone. There were only farms and pistachio orchards around.


We followed the young man's directions down a dirt road, behind the pistachio farm - way behind - in the distance it looked like there might be vineyards so we continued on the washboard road amid large dust clouds and sure enough we found the vineyards.


There are many acres in the vineyard, a manufactured home, an airstream trailer and a larger outbuilding. Trucks with Oregon plates sitting in the yard but no one other than a couple of dogs were to be found.


Of course, it was Good Friday.









We found a large wooden crate on a platform that actually said "ERATH" and since it is the only vineyard in Kansas Settlement we believe we had the right place.

There were several sections to the vineyards - it looks like they were planted over several years with some sections looking brand new and others established.

A week later we went out to dinner with friends and lo and behold Dick Erath's wine was on the wine list so we tasted it. 2008 Cimarron Monsoon Red - I enjoyed it - some tannins, a bit dry, earthy and pleasant - not full bodied. The wine is a blend of several grape varieties including Barbera, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Primitivo.


I would order it again or buy it if I found it for sale.

 We still find it amazing that one can grow grapes and produce good wine in Arizona!


We would really like to meet Dick Erath in person one day but so far our quest has been unsuccessful.

As an aside we had to wash our car after this adventure. We anticipate that our employer and mentor, The Wine Economist, will find it in his heart to reimburse us for the cleaning of our car. If not, we will have to bring this up at the time of our yearly contract renewal talks.