DEVIL'S ARCHIPELAGO
Denny Harger submitted this Article with Map 781 days ago
Around 1974 two young boys living at Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery hiked up the rim to look out from Canyon Point. They gazed upon the rich forest that was their playground.
One began to scratch in the dirt a picture of what he saw in the valley. He added the outline of the canyons with five wicked fingers stretching north with the look of arthritic vengeance. They saw great rolling meadows as the palm of a tired hand. The lifeline flowing from the middle finger out across the palm and down onto the Apache Reservation. With a stick they drew.
They stepped back and looked at the picture in the dirt. Their eyes widened as they shifted from the picture to the view and back.
"It's a hand!" one boy exclaimed.
"It's a crippled old woman's hand !" the other retorted.
Then in unison the screamed "It's the devil's claw"
And so it was, the canyon archipelago south of Forest Lakes, was known to us as Devil's Claw.
We had a thousand adventures together Jim and I. We built forts in every canyon, stashed food all over the forest and battled wild Indians with our BB guns. We hunted, fished, and ran a trap line. We plowed snow, fought forest fires, and grew gardens. However, families moved and people changed. I've not seen my friend in thirty years. Devil's Claw still holds a special place in my memories and now I have found a way to share this awesome treasure with you and your children.
Bring your kids to Devil's Claw. Take them on a few hikes that are designed just for kids. Children always have fun learning at Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery. To really make their spirit soar, take them to the Colcord Lookout Tower where visitors are welcome and you can see for 50 miles. They will leave with a sense of wilderness responsibility. They will thank you.
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