More on Saguaro National Park -- West & East Districts

In my last blog post I mentioned that I made a quick visit to Saguaro National Park (SAGU).  But on Monday-Thursday of last week, I was able to spend more time exploring the park. 

Also, Tucson Mountain (Pima County) Park, adjacent to the southern border of the West District of SAGU, deserves a big honorable mention here.  I loved driving the roads of the county park -- Kinney, McCain Loop, and Gates Pass -- fun rides with outstanding vistas.  Since SAGU only has backpacking camps, I found Gilbert Ray Campground within Tucson Mountain Park as well.  Although it's geared more toward the RVer with hookups, it was a pleasant stay and my tent site was private enough.

Visitors are greeted with a framed view of a saguaro forest upon
walking up to the Red Hills Visitor Center of SAGU's
West-Tucson Mountain District.   2/5/14

The panorama looking beyond the saguaro forest to the mountains at the
Red Hills Visitor Center SAGU West.  2/5/14

While in the West District I explored the Scenic Bajada Loop Drive.  A "bajada" is the deposits of several alluvial fans that combine at the base of a mountain.  Most appropriately it means "foot" in Spanish.



Notice the holes in one of the cactus.
 These are mostly made by birds (like cactus wren) for their nests,
and often used by other birds (like elf owls) for shelter. 
Bajada Loop Drive, 2/4/14

Saguaro cacti come in all shapes and sizes.  This one lost its top! 
Bajada Loop Drive, 2/4/14



While on the Bajada Loop, I took a side trip on the Golden Gate Road to the
Ex-Kim-In-Zin picnic area.  Here I found some handiwork of the CCC
(Civilian Conservation Corps).  See the picnic table shelter on the ridge.  2/4/14

On Wednesday afternoon I headed toward Saguaro East-Rincon Mountain District, on the opposite side of Tucson.  Since it was getting late, I passed the entrance to find a place to camp at another Pima Country facility, Colossal Cave Mountain Park.  This park was more rustic and the roads are in serious need of repair.  After a bit of exploration (at the cave entrance, a cattle/horse ranch, and the picnic/camping areas) I found a private campsite and enjoyed taking a few pictures both at sunset and sunrise. 

Looking up at a saguaro forest from my campsite.  The sky is dark with clouds and I
heard some thunder that night.  Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 2/5/14

Prickly pear, a dead tree and a saguaro forest.  Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 2/5/14

A campsite, all to myself.  Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 2/5/14

Close up of a dead saguaro trunk laying on the ground.  Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 2/5/14

Another close up of the same dead saguaro trunk laying on the ground. 
But, this time, showing a place where its "ribs" are showing. 
Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 2/5/14

Looking up at a 20+ foot saguaro cactus.  Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 2/5/14.

This morning shot seems to capture the feel of the place best for me.
It felt kind of sad there ... don't know why exactly.  But, I was glad to leave.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park, 2/6/14.

I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon exploring some of the East District of SAGU.  Here I took another scenic drive on the Cactus Forest Loop.




See the budding arms? 
Arms or branches begin to appear when a saguaro cactus is between
 50-75 years old.  Average life span for saguaros is between
 150-175 years old.  (SAGU flyer)  Cactus Forest Drive, 2/6/14

The top formation on this saguaro is called a cristate.  It's rare and about 25
are within SAGU.   (SAGU flyer)  Cactus Forest Drive, 2/6/14

As you may be able to tell from these last few pictures, it was jacket-wearing weather.  I was, however, craving some sunshine.  So, I checked out the weather for other places in AZ and headed toward the warmth.  More on that little venture on my next blog.

Southern Arizona: first south, then east

Early on Monday morning, my friend Julie and I left our camp outside Ehrenberg to head south towards Yuma. 

The last sunset shared with friends at our camp outside of Ehrenberg. 1/26/14

Our intent was to go into Los Algodones, MX the next day -- Julie for dental and some gifts, and me for some prescriptions and a few trinkets ... and just to enjoy the goings-on.



We overnight'ed at the Quechan Casino Resort
prior to going into Los Algodones.  Taken sunrise 1/28/14.

My Prius, Julie's Van, a Class B and Truck Camper at sunrise
in the casino parking lot.  1/28/14

We shared the casino parking lot with many, many larger RVs. 1/28/14

Julie was pleased with the dental care and the good deals she got on her gifts.  The prescriptions I purchased were about 75% less expensive, on average, than purchasing them in the US (with insurance).  Only one of the medications proved more expensive in Mexico. 

After Los Algodones, Julie headed back north and I went east toward Tucson.

One of the aspects of traveling that I really enjoy is being spontaneous ... and such was the case while heading to Tucson.  I saw a brown park sign while zooming along on I-8 that said "Painted Rock Petroglyphs" and, most encouragingly, a tent symbol which means camping was available.  So, in a split-second decision I was off the freeway and heading north.

It is a primitive campground, no water, pit toilets, but the campsites had tables and fire rings ... desert camping with a few amenities.  A short hike took you around a mound of rocks with many hundreds of petroglyphs.

Looking up at the mound of rocks, many with petroglyphs.  1/28/14

So many rocks, so many petroglyphs.  1/28/14

A close up of one of the rocks.  1/28/14

Long shadows cast by the setting sun, a view from my campsite
toward the rock mound.  1/28/14

Yet another desert sunset.
This time from my camp site at Painted Rock Petroglyphs. 1/28/14

While being in the desert, I kept seeing these large greenish patches.
The color reminded me of the lime-colored seed/fertilizer they spray on
newly created freeway embankments to minimize erosion.  1/30/14
But, I soon realized it was little desert plants responding to a recent rain.

 

Little sprouting plants around my campsite.  1/30/14

 

Are these poppies that are ready to bloom?  1/30/14

 

After spending several nights at Painted Rock Petroglyphs, I again headed east.   While in Tucson, I couldn't resist checking out Saguaro National Park first thing.  I took a really wonderful drive through Tucson Mountain Park first.  Besides being amazed at the very tall and stately saguaro cactus all around me, I was so impressed with the density of all of the plant life; so unlike what I've been use to these last weeks of desert camping.

 

View to the west from Saguaro NP Visitor Center (west).  1/31/14

 

A path behind the visitor center rambles by a 30' saguaro cactus.  1/31/14

 

Looking past the same saguaro cactus by the path, past a creosote bush,
an unknown type of tree (mesquite?) to another saguaro cactus.  1/31/14

 

 

View on the south side of the Visitor Center. 
Due to soaking rains and warmer-than-usual weather,
desert plants are starting an early bloom.  1/31/14

 

Early, little yellow flowers on a creosote bush at the Visitor Center. 1/31/14

 

I don't know this plant, but it's flowering early too ...
cute little purple buds and fuzzy pink flowers.  1/31/14

 

I don't know this plant either, but it was starting to bloom.  1/31/14



These cholla? buds look like they are ready to pop (prickly pear below).  Visitor Center 1/31/14

The Sonoran desert is an amazing place.

Near Saguaro NP Visitor Center (west).  1/31/14

I will return to Saguaro NP ... so much more to explore!

I also had a chance to visit with some good family friends, Teresa and John, who have a winter condo in Tucson.  We first visited a bit, then went to the amazing Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, "a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place."  As if that wasn't enough, they treated me to a wonderful dinner and more good conversation.  Very nice!  So good to see you both!

And now, to the Super Bowl (almost half-time) ... the Seahawks are doing it (22-0)!

Go Hawks!

A 20-Mile Move

We moved from the BLM land surrounding Quartzsite, AZ to some BLM land surrounding Ehrenberg, AZ, a 20-mile move west.  This place is much more rocky -- the alluvial plain created from millions of years of erosion from the surrounding mountains.  From my limited geological knowledge, I see lots of  white quartz and other dark grey rocks of a volcanic origin.   It's more stark here than our other site, but beautiful in its own way.

Looking north over a wash, a little ways from my new campsite outside
Ehrenberg, AZ.  This is the only saguaro cactus around. (1/23/14)

This is looking south at my campsite from the saguaro cactus.
Yes, there's a lot of rocky ground here!
I have a couple of neighbors, Silvianne (left) and Linda (right). (1/23/14)

I was fortunate to camp next to a small tree that blocks the afternoon sun. (1/23/14)

And I have a ocotillo for a neighbor too.   This one is mostly green because
there has been some recent rain.  Pretty soon it will have showy red flowers at the tips . (1/23/14)

This ocotillo is just starting to green up.  Most of the time they just look like a bunch
of dead thorny sticks.  The uninitiated often think the plants are dead.

Looking east toward my campsite, here are some of the vehicles of the
folks I'm camped with.  We have coffee together each morning
before going our separate ways.  (1/23/14)

This morning's sunrise.  It was cloudy all day yesterday and
throughout the morning today.  (1/25/14)

The last colors of tonight's sunset. 
Most of the clouds have sailed away.  (1/25/14)

I'm gearing up to head south on Monday to camp lakeside with some friends, visit a Mexican boarder town, then get some car maintenance done before I begin heading east again.  I have to say that I'm loving this desert sun.

Go Seahawks!