Arizona Highways, January 1981 (Sky Islands; Bisbee; Tombstone; Fort Huachuca)

In early 1979, and again several times later in the same year, photographer David Muench explored southeastern Arizona's sky islands, islands of green atop such desert mountains as the Santa Catalinas, Santa Ritas, Huachucas, Chiricahuas and Penalenos. He searched for that elusive image which became the true and visual face of these very special high places. He found more than he expected, a visual bombardment that he captured on hundreds of sheets of color film. As he explains in the narrative that accompanies this portfolio, 'A journey to the tops of any one of these sky islands may bring you closer to a personal reality . . . a temporary and maybe suspended coming home.' Other articles in this issue include Life on the Playa, by Peter Kresan, a biological study in survival; Mr. C. S. Fly of Tombstone, a portfolio of his documentary photography; Fort Huachuca, the old post that still guards the nation; and Bisbee -- Close what does a company town do when the company leaves town?