|
Pleasant Valley, Arizona is located under the Mogollon Rim, so
named after Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon, Governor of New Mexico in 1712-1715 when Arizona was joined to New Mexico Territory
under Spanish Rule.
The Mogollon Rim (pronounced "Muggy Own") extends diagonally across
Arizona from northwest to southeast into New Mexico. Towering to over 7000 feet, the Rim is thickly forested, predominantly
with Ponderosa Pine. In winter it is covered in snow. In summer it is often topped by giant thunderheads. Newcomers always
find it awesome and imposing.
A news release once noted that this area is one of only three
"pure air" zones in the world, known as the Ozone Belt. The other two are at Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana and the Hartz
Mountains of Germany.
Pleasant Valley sits in eastern Arizona, south east of Payson at an altitude
of 5,200. It is comprised of about 5000 acres of deeded land totally surrounded by the 2.7 million-acre Tonto National Forest.
It is accessed from the north via Forest Road 512 off Highway 260, or from the south on Highway 288 from Miami. Neither road
is paved, and both are mountainous, with steep curves and grades. The name of the town was changed when Miss Ola Young, postmisstress
for over 50 years, retired.
|
|
|
The climate is temperate most of the year round, with a little
snow falling in the winter and usually melting within a few days. Temperatures rarely fall below 10 deg F.
In spring the wind blows most of the time, and it becomes more
tolerable as the temperatures warm up.
Summer is wonderful - many people seeking escape from the heat
of Phoenix own summer cabins here. The daytime temperatures are usually around 12 degrees cooler than those down in the Phoenix
area. At night it almost always cools off significantly and by early morning it is rarely hotter than 60 degrees F. The summer
monsoon rains bring daily afternoon showers and relief from the heat. The entire valley greens up and the meadows proliferate
with wild flowers.
Fall brings beautiful gold and red foliage to the sycamore, black
walnut and oak trees along Cherry Creek and Haigler Creek.
The average annual precipitation is 25 - 30 inches.
The aquifer under the town provides a good, clean and abundant
supply of water. The soil is fertile and perfect for summer vegetables.
There are no developments - this means no sewer sytems nor water
companies. It is necessary for residents to have septic systems and private wells. There is also no industry and no pollution.
The sky is a deep blue color and at night the stars are so close you want to reach out and touch them.
The only natural disaster that residents have to contend with are forest
fires, although many of the properties in Young are on open meadowland and are therefore not as threatened as properties
higher up on the Rim. The recent drought has not been seen to compromise the underground water supply, although many trees
in the forest have died.
|
