Geronimo, Ft. Bowie, Gila Monster

In the southeast corner of Arizona, the Chiricahuas are one of the mountain ranges and valleys inhabited by First Nations for centuries before the Europeans. Fort Bowie was established close to Apache Spring to attack Apaches led by Cochise and then Geronimo. (The “official” history portrays Fort Bowie as protecting settlers and travelers but we can read between the lines.) In any case, here are pics of a two-foot+ Gila Monster at Apache Spring, the grave of Geronimo’s son, and the fort’s ruins, its decay accelerated because locals looted it for wood and other materials when it was disbanded a century ago.

The Fort Bowie ranger said she’d only seen two small Gila Monsters in her 18 years on the job, so seeing this big monster was unusual and very lucky.

Gila Monster

Fort Bowie in a beautiful valley. Click for larger version.