If there were no calendars to mark the arrival of spring, it might be recognized by the arrival of American Robins such as this one who spent a fine spring morning in Holbrook searching for a breakfast of worms among the already green blades of grass. Unusually high temperatures are expected to continue throughout the week, along with the windy conditions that are typical for this time of year.
The short season between the start of warm weather and the arrival of large numbers of tourists is the perfect time for local residents to explore Petrified Forest National Park. New areas of the park are now open to explore, including some by limited special permit such as the Devil’s Playground. Chris Starns and Bob Durant recently spent some time checking out the rugged terrain surrounding the park on horseback. While these unusual rock formations are located on private land, there are countless badlands and rock formations to be found within the park. For more information on hiking or horseback riding in Petrified Forest, visit www.nps.gov/pefo or call 524-6228.
