SE Arizona camp/hike trip...I are back!

[stig]

Is that the World's fattest Cottonwood.

Thanks.
I really enjoyed those pictures.

The broken branch flowering Ocotillo was spectacular.

Keep them coming.

 

[Burnham]

This batch is from one of our favorite places...Chiricahua National Monument. I may break the forum with this many pics . The CCC did absolutely amazing work here in the 1930's. Trail design and construction is without par anywhere, in my experience.

That skinniest column in the third pic, center right, is 137 feet tall and less than 3 feet wide at it's narrowest point, about 1/3 of the way up.

We had some weather up there; elev. at the campground was above 5000 ft., trailheads up top at about 7000.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Cool tent!!!

 

[Mick!]

Excellent, big country.

 

[stig]

MAN!!!! I Just loved the picture of Melanie kissing a frigging Walrus.

The rest of them were fine, too.

That bluebird sure looks grumpy.

Chichicarua is somewhere I've never been.
Spectacular!

 

[Burnham]

Walrus...

That's a Mexican jay, Stig. No wonder he looks grumpy .

More, with some special emphasis on the CCC stone work.

The cranes were photographed down on the playa below the mountains.

 

[Burnham]

More of that jay...

I can see why the missed call there, without any sense of scale available.

 

[Burnham]

We camped for 9 days at Karchner Caverns State Park. Nice well developed campground, in a good place for visiting a bunch of other interesting areas for day trips. Some from Ramsey Canyon, Coronado National Memorial, and Karchner itself. The caves are spectacular. We took one tour, would do another when there again. Pristine live limestone cave system.

 

[Burnham]

Back up to some mountains now...Cochise Stronghold. US Forest Service campground, old school basic with vault toilet and no water. 6 natural bottom creek fords on the USFS road to get there, deepest was about 12 inches, no big rocks, no problem for the Subaru. Pretty quiet place.

 

[Burnham]

Last batch, and it's a big one. Down southwest AZ again, to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Super place to finish off...weather perfect, cactus on the cusp of the best bloom year in the last 15, said some old timers. We just caught the beginnings. If you look closely in the 8th pic, you can find our camp.

Then back towards the NW, an overnight stay at Mojave National Preserve. More stars in that sky than can be believed. The Milky Way was like a sterling band across the heavens.

After that, a straight through drive of 4 days to home. Thankfully, no pics of consequence . Nice to be here.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Dang B - that tent is cool but you need a nice 'lil RV! You won't have to be setting it up/breaking it down all the time.

 

[Burnham]

You have to set up and break down an RV, too. Quicker than the tent, usually, but still an RV has it's demands as well. And we far more often than not plan on camps of several days to more than a week in one site, so we minimize the unpack/pack hassles.

The best thing for us is that there are basically no restrictions on where I can drive and park our outfit, whereas the RV, in all it's many variations, is full of limitations. Most could not handle those live stream water fords to Cochise Stronghold, for example. Even getting into and out of gas stations can be a real trial, I have seen time and again.

Tents have their drawbacks, for sure, but on balance it's the better choice for us.

Not saying we won't ever get there, but not yet, not while we're still young and strong .

 

[MasterBlaster]

RV limitations would suck, for sure.

 

[Burnham]

It's all about the tradeoffs, as with most choices in life.

If and when we get there, I expect our choice of RV would be some variation of a pickup camper. Seems to fit our wants and needs best, perhaps.

 

[Jonny]

Just gorgeous.
Glad all went well, beautiful pics!
Any cool snakes or spiders?

 

[MasterBlaster]

No desert bears???

 

[Tree09]

Stig

Awesome pics B, some very beautiful country and it shows you guys had a great time!!! Keep em coming, I'm living vicariously through you right now

 

[gf beranek]

Boy that is some beautiful desert scenery. You caught it at the right time.

 

[squisher]

Good stuff. Thanks for posting up all the pics and descriptions.

 

[Mick!]

Yes, enjoyed that, great photos of the flora.

 

[SeanKroll]

Good stuff. Makes me miss the desert. I used to live down that way a lot.

 

[stig]

"That's a Mexican jay, Stig."


Shot myself in the foot with that one for sure.

Was thinking Pinyon or something like that because of the area.
Too lazy to go check the field guide.

Used " Blue Jay" as a generic term, knowing thet seeing an actual Blue Jay that far west would be a miracle.

Screwed my well travelled bird watcher image up for good.

Bummer!

I have seen the Mexican Jay.
Of all places, in Madera canyon AZ. ( 4-25-1889 at 2.30 PM)

The very place I recommended to you

Just to try to restore my birder street cred, I have seen all of the jays, magpies and crows and ravens you guys have.

 

[Burnham]

Blue jay? See what you actually posted...

MAN!!!! I Just loved the picture of Melanie kissing a frigging Walrus.

The rest of them were fine, too.

That bluebird sure looks grumpy.

Chichicarua is somewhere I've never been.
Spectacular!

Now you understand, you really did blow your birder creds all to hell, my friend .

 

[stig]

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bluebird.
What a total brain meltdown.

Well, you sure got back at me for that walrus comment.

Good to have you back, Burnham.
I've missed you.

 

[Bermy]

Ohh, that picture of the dessicated branch union!!! My favourite, simply love it.
I can see why you like the stonework, those buildings look like they sort of grew up out of the ground.
Fabulous pictures and I like the two main characters