"Arizona's rugged Chiricahua Mountains have a special place in frontier history. They were the haven of many well-known personalities, from Cochise to Johnny Ringo, as well as the home of prospectors, cattlemen, and hardscrabble farmers eking out a tough living in an unforgiving landscape."--BOOK JACKET. "In this book, Alden Hayes shares his love for the area, gained over fifty years. From his vantage point near the tiny twin communities of Portal and Paradise on the eastern slopes of the Chiricahuas, Hayes brings the famous and the not-so-famous together in a profile of this striking landscape, showing how place can be a powerful formative influence on people's lives."--Jacket. "Today the Chiricahuas are a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts and the site of the American Museum of Natural History's Southwestern Research Station - and still a rugged area that remains off the beaten track. Hayes brings his straightforward and articulate style to this captivating account of earlier days in southeastern Arizona and opens up a portal to paradise for readers everywhere."--Jacket.

List of illustrations -- Preface -- The Indian pioneers -- Spanish exploration -- The first Gringos -- Arizona Territory -- Cochise -- Galeyville -- Cowboys and Indians -- Geronimo's time -- The end of the frontier -- Paradise -- Portal -- The nesters -- More modern times -- Bibliographic essay -- Illustration credits.