A Day on the Mountain

Less then two mile from the Preserve we are volunteering at there is Salaro Canyon Road, another unpaved mountain road heading north into the Santa Rita Mountains.  About 4 or 5 miles up the road Squaw Gulch Rd turns off to the east and several mile up that 4-wd road is the base of Squaw Peak.  On top of Squaw Peak there is a geocache, Native American Women Peak by name.   And since it is a fairly high peak, clearly not the highest, I figured it would offer some great vistas with beautiful picture opportunities!  So off we went on one of our days off.  This was actually our second time to target this geocache.  But, several week earlier we had tried it and found out that shorts were not the uniform of the day for this adventure. 

On Salaro Rd with Squaw Peak in upper left

We enjoyed the ride up and could see the peak in the distance grow closer as we headed up Salero Canyon Road.   Once we turned onto Squaw Gulch Rd however it was time to shift into 4 wheel drive and not long before it took granny low to proceed!  But, the Gray Ghost handled it well and we enjoyed the ride (well at least I did – BJ walked part of the way)!

Squaw Gulch Rd - BJ in front walking instead of riding

So we got to a parking spot at the base of the peak, GPS said we were about .35 mile from the GC (geocache) and we noted it was all up hill (very uphill) from here!  

We shortly ran into a wash (dry creek bed) that was heading in about the right direction. So we headed up it for aways then took off to the left climbing a pretty steep gulch toward the peak.   Kept hoping to find a trail, but all we ever saw was game trails.  They helped some but not a lot. 

Note the trails - NOT!

                   

Finally we were about a third of the way up and BJ decided this was not for her.  She found a nice shaded flat spot near a wash and said she would rock hound while I finished the hike.  So I continued.  It did not get any easier and several times I thought about rejoining BJ and abandoning this geocache quest!   Especially when I was finally about 500 ft from the ridgeline and figured out I was working my way up the wrong wash.  I needed to be in one to the left which entailed a change in direction and increased effort. 

Finally got to the ridge line and the peak was still too my left a about 500 ft but walking along the broad ridge line was a piece of cake compared to what I had been doing.  The views were magnificent AND my camera battery was dead!  I had brought along spare batteries for the GPS, but camera took a special battery and I did not bring one.  I did manage to take some pics with my camera phone but they are not nearly as good as the "real" camera! 

Nearing the crest!

The GPS took me to a spot that was in the middle of a triangle formed by two gnarly trees and an agave bush about 20 feet below the peak on the opposite side that I came up! While I was glad to go down for a change I was not relishing the 20 foot clime back to the peak so I could go down.  At any rate I spent about 20 minutes searching for the  geocache in the triangle with no luck and getting discouraged.  All that effort with no find was not a good feeling.  However, it had been nearly two hours since I had left BJ and I knew she had left her phone in the Jeep and I knew she would be concerned about me.  I took one last look around and decided to check out a tree up the slope from the triangle I had been searching and viola there was the geocache in an sturdy small ammo box ( a common container for geocaches)! I quickly signed the log, finished the short climb back to the peak so I could start the descent! 

View from the top!

So I started down, thinking/hoping it would be a quicker and easier trip down!  Wrong, the lack of trails and the very rocky surface made it no easier going down, just a little less effort!  But, the views remained great all the way.

However, a little less then half way down I see the Jeep below starting to move!  I had visions of our trip to Mt Vesuvius several decades ago.  BJ, the kids and I had hiked from the parking lot to the rim of the volcano across the barren rock surface.  The trail wound around the mountain top.  As we descended the trail and came around the side of the mountain the parking lot came into view still way below us!  And, we saw vandals plundering our car!  Not much we could do about it and when they heard me yelling they calmly got into their car and drove off – with all our stuff.  Interestingly we had seen that same Fiat parked along the road on the way up to the parking lot.  I young couple was sitting in the front seat making out!  We got a laugh over that.  But, they got the last laugh. 

Anyway, back to Squaw Peak.  I remembered BJ's phone was in the Jeep so I called and she answered!  She had gotten tired of waiting for me – it had been close to 3 hours by now and decided she needed to get to the car in case she had to direct a rescue operation to me!   Well, I was not in need of that but I was still a long way from her time wise!  However, she made it easier as that meant I would not have to cross over the ridge to the gulch I had left her in hours ago!  I eventually reached the wash we had initially worked our way up to the gulch we had worked our way up until she stopped.  This wash was broad and relatively easy to navigate and I knew that it eventually crossed the Squaw Gulch Rd we had come in on some distance behind where the Jeep was parked. 

The "waterfall" from the bottom!

I was grateful for the easier going and decided I would follow the wash to the road crossing rather then tackle the two ascents to go over two other small washes to directly reach the Jeep.   BJ & I had exchanged several text messages progress reports as I was coming down but in this wash I was apparently not receiving a signal.  So I continued on down enjoying the trip and the beauty of these washes.  THEN, I reached what was probably a beautiful waterfall when there was water!  It seemed like it was a 1,000 ft drop, but was more like about 45-50 feet.  I did not feel like climbing out of the wash to get around the drop so I studied it carefully and decided there was some foot holds down the face of the stone front of the waterfall!  I made it down about half way and ran out of footholds but I sure as hell was not going to turn around now (as if I could)!  So I tried for a very tenuous foothold and it held – for a few seconds then I slid down the rest of the way.  Fortunately, I had noticed that at the bottom of these drops there was always an accumulation of loose sand left by the waterfall and I had noted it was a bigger and deeper pile here because of the greater drop.  So I landed on the pseudo beach and just laid there for awhile and rested.  I took the picture with my phone while I was laying in the sand at the bottom of the "waterfall" wishing there had been some real water to land in!

Some cactus flowers in wash!

I continued along the wash until I noted the road was about 20 feet up one side of the wash and I found a spot that was a quick climb so I made it.  Then I walked back up the road about 350 ft and there was the Jeep.  I tooted the horn and BJ shortly returned from a rock hunting expedition to another nearby wash! 

We thought the adventure was over for the day and with her driving we headed home.  Successfully drove back down Squaw Gulch to Salaro Canyon Rd, a downtown city street in comparison.   However, about a mile down the road we found out the adventure was NOT over!  We had a flat tire!  Just what I wanted!!

At any rate by the time we got back to the RV we had a full day and deceided we didn't need to seek any further geocaches as remote as this one was!  (But, I would still love to get back up there with the good camera rather then the camera phone!!)

 

Always at home no matter where we are!

Travelling in SE AZ!

We are doing fine in SE AZ finishing our first month of a 3 month volunteer gig at a wildlife refuge in the beautiful AZ high plains surrounded by stunning mountain views. 

<<Roads are a little rough sometimes in the mountains!  BJ decided she was going to walk instead of riding with me on this road!

Sometimes the traffic is pretty heavy on the mountain roads! 

You get water where you find it sometimes.  Don't ask questions!>>>

This is Sonoita Creek, a major element of the wildlife refuge where we are volunteering.  It is one of the few perennially flowing creeks.  This time of the year it starts at the east end of the preserve and flows west but the dry wash extends for a dozen miles further east and during the monsoon season the wash and the creek will be full of water, normally 3-4 feet of water vs the 6 inches we see now.  One of the veteran hands here says he has seen it with 8-10 feet once. some years ago!

                                                                                 

I have been attending the Patagonia-Sonoita Rotary Club since we been here.  The two small towns are about a dozen miles apart and each one has less then 1,000 residents so they combined to make a club.  They meet the first two Thur in Patagonia for breakfast and the last two Thur for an evening meeting in Sonoita.  Nice club and they have a fund raiser later this month.   Their biggest fund raiser is connected to KY Derby day and held at the county fairgrounds where they apparently have horse races leading up to the Derby.  Not sure exactly how it works yet, but I have volunteered to work it that day so we will see.  They apparently net $25 to $30K each year on it and it attracts a lot of people even from as far away as Tucson! 

Always at home no matter where we are!!

A Slice of Paradise

Well we have been two weeks now at Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve and we are convinced we have stumbled on a rare gem of a place.  Patagonia is about 60 miles SE of Tucson in a  basin at about 4100 feet elevation with mountains surrounding.  This is the Mountain Empire area of AZ and includes Sonoita, a town about 12 miles east of Patagonia that is the heart of a recognized wine producing - an American Viticultural Area.

We are the resident volunteers at the Preserve and are responsible for operating the visitor center and assisting the visitors enjoy their stay.  This is a major birding area this time of the year and we have been averaging 40-50 people a day from all over the country.  It appears that many visitors from the surrounding area come here specifically while folks from further away include this as one of the stops on their AZ trip!

Sonoita Creek in the Preserve

Sonoita Creek wash east of the Preserve

It is a relatively small preserve along one of the few permanently flowing streams in AZ.  While you can pretty much jump across Sonoita Creek this time of the year, I understand that during the monsoon season it usually is a raging torrent that is typically 8-10 feet deep!  This time of the year you can see the water raising out of a small spring at the east end of the property.  However, a wash extends about a dozen miles east to Sonoita.  During the monsoon season it collects water from the watershed created by the surrounding mountains and sometimes becomes a raging river!   I know, I know, you cannot imagine a monsoon season in AZ.  Well, neither can I, but there is plenty of evidence that for a short time in the Fall they get torrential rains. Apparently, that is when they get 90% of their moisture at the lower elevations.  Snow fall in the higher elevations (4500+) is another major source of water though.

The316 acre preserve is operated by the Nature Conservancy and is one of several properties in this area.  Each is a unique piece and offers the visitor a wonderful experience in enjoying natural AZ features.  We are looking forward to visiting the other properties in this and other regions.  This is the only preserve in AZ that has the volunteer resident program, but we will be looking at other Nature Conservancy properties that might have the program.  What a hoot, it would be find that Blowing Rocks Preserve in Jupiter FL has a resident volunteer program!

The Railroad Trail in the Preserve today!

The mountains surrounding the basin use to be a big mining area.  However, about 50 years ago it had declined to the degree that it was no longer profitable.  In fact, the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve was developed on land the Nature Conservancy purchased from the railroad when it went out of business because there was no more ore to transport.  The Railroad Trail is one of two main trails in the Preserve and follows along the former railroad embankment.  As well as birds, you can spot deer, javelinas, bobcats, and coatamundi along the trail.  In November a mountain lion was photographed by one of our trail cameras as it passed through the Preserve.


We took a day last week and went exploring.  Patagonia Lake is about 8 miles west of us and was formed when they dammed up the Creek in the 1950's.  It is a long fairly large lake that has value as a flood control facility and a recreation area.  It has a nice RV park and a first class boat launch, along with some great birding trails.

The bad part of Flux Canyon Road

We took Flux Canyon Road which we were advised might be difficult once we started climbing.  That was an understatement, but it was so beautiful.  BJ deceided to get out and walk while I took the Jeep, very slowly, across the worst part.  Of course I think her ulterior motive was to check out the rocks and add to her collection!

The better portion of Flux Canyon road.  Abandoned mine behind the Jeep ! 

At any rate we got past that part and road got better relatively speaking!  And she eventually did note to me that if we had taken her advice and turned around we would have missed a lot of breathtaking scenery as we climbed the mountain to a pass and proceeded down the other side.

Following are some more pics from that day of adventure.  We both are looking forward to some more exploring while we are here the next several months.

Another one of the abandoned mines

Another beautiful view!

Patagonia Lake 

Some homes high in the mountains

Always at home, no matter where we are!!

Off the beaten path

Today we met some friends from the SKP club about 10:00 and headed up into the Santa Catalina mountains for a day off-roading in our Jeeps.  What a beautiful day it was for riding in the mountains.  Sun was shining all day long, not a cloud in the sky and beautiful scenery all the way!

Tucson in the valley below!  We love Tucson and this is one reason!

There were 3 Jeeps and 4 couples for the day's adventure.  We did not have any particular target or destination.  One couple spends the winter here every year and had a better idea then the rest of us about the area we were headed into, so their guidance was an important component for the day.  But we all just wanted to enjoy the day as it happened rather then meet some predetermined goals.

The caravan for the day!

The road to the snow covered mountains in the background

We could see snow on the mountains in the distance and one of our crowd said we ought to go up for a snowball fight!  Sounded like a good idea so off we went in that direction!

Heading for the snow covered mountain!

Lunch break on the trail

A road hard to travel

We took a side road toward the snow covered mountains; however, it turned out to be really very rough road with large rocks making the road too uncomfortable for some of our party.

Snow covered mountains were getting closer!

A "forest"of the iconic Saguaro cactus

As we were travelling across the back road to somewhere we spotted 3 large solar panels sticking up from the countryside.  We had seen nothing to indicate  a need for some electricity so we were puzzled.

As we moved down the road we caught sight of a cattle holding area and the frame of an old non-functioning windmill so we suspect the solar panels were powering water pumps to bring water to the cattle.

We ended up on the north side of the mountains (Tucson is on the south side).  We stopped for dinner at a Mexican restaurant and then we headed back our individual ways until we meet on the road again.   We know we will see at least one couple in the Keys next winter.

Always at home, no matter where we are!!

A Different Tucson

BJ and I decided to visit Old Town Tucson and have lunch downtown.  We had visited part of it when we were here in November but there was still more we had not seen.  On the way we found a nice Greek restaurant and had a great lunch then we pressed on to this area marked on the map as "The 4th Avenue Shopping District" which was just northwest of the the "Iron Horse Historic District".  This is all part of the old Tucson area and has a lot of older buildings and homes; some have been renovated, others are in progress and some are still in need of same!

Another stupid pic that won't stay rotated!  But, you can make it our!

                                                    
The shopping district had a wide street thru the middle with old trolley rails down the middle (not sure trolleys still used them) and stores on both sides of the street.  We found a parking spot on the far end of the district and got out to walk back up one side of the street and back down the other side, about 3 blocks each way.  First thing that greets us is this large gorilla head in a lot on the street.

Next, BJ notices the poles that formerly held parking meters now have these stylized skulls welded to the top.  The skulls were made from scrape metal and tools and were unique, if not pleasant!

BJ holding on to a skull!

                                                       
As we progressed down the street we noted the unusual coloring of most of the buildings, purple with green trim, black and orange, bright yellow, etc.

One of many tattoo parlors 

So we started checking out the businesses, plenty of grunge bars with no shortage of clientele in the early afternoon.  Every 3rd one seemed to be a tattoo parlor with accompanying decorations on the front windows, several were fairly large.  There was a nice shop with some interesting pottery and cloth from different countries.

Another interesting paint job - this one a bar!

As we were heading back to the car we passed one of the larger and grungier tattoo parlors a small group of rough characters were yelling at each other outside.  One had some tattoos around his face and on his head.  I thought I could get a tattoo on my head and it would look like I had hair!!

BJ made her normal stop at a Goodwill store looking for that long lost artwork and I picked up a couple of interesting books.  Considering the neighbor hood I was a little apprehensive about entering the place.  However, it was very well arranged and stocked and the staff obviously took pride in the facility. 

Always at home, no matter where we are!!

Sabino Canyon - just beautiful

 Sabino Canyon is at the NW edge of Tucson and we spent a day there hiking the canyon and enjoying the beauty of the canyon and surrounding area!  It is part of the Coronado National Forest and they have a visitor center and lots of marked trails including one paved one that runs a regular shuttle to the end of the canyon about 4 miles into the Santa Catalina mountain range which was formed about 12 million years ago (seems like only yesterday).

Looking up the canyon from the entrance

The iconic Saguaro Cactus is very evident!

However, much more recently (geologically speaking) an earthquake centered in northern Mexico in 1887 dislodged an array of massive boulders lining the canyon walls, which crashed down and came to rest in the valley below.   This area has been under the protection of the National Forest Service since 1905 and has been a popular recreation area even before that!  A stream runs down the canyon most of the time and it even has a small dam built back in the 20's to help control the water.  Today it is just a pretty part of the landscape.

You find water in the strangest of places!

Along the canyon walls to the west

The remnants of the dam! A fun spot for the kids!

A close up of one of the desert flowers at Sabino Canyon

This was "stretched" rock!  When hot and semi-molten earth movement stretched it like taffy and you can see the marks!

Of course water wasn't plentiful!  This was part of the stream bed that had not seen water in decades or longer!

Always at home, no matter where we are!!

A Beautiful Day at the Rodeo!

The Tuscon Rodeo is the largest outdoor winter rodeo in the west.  It pays out over $300,000 in prizes and attracts some of the best cowboys in the business from throughout the USA and Canada.  And, it is this week and BJ and I decided to go to the rodeo as neither of has ever been.  This is about a 10-day event and we went on the next to the last day which was apparently the last of the elimination rounds!

A Happy Crowd

Make way for the star performers

It was a great day to be out.  Sun was shining in a cloudless blue sky; temps in the mid 70's and a happy crowd was there to see the action.  

Opening up the show was a squad of cowgirls, the Quadrille de Mujeres, on fast horses doing some intricate drills on the field. 

The field is ready!

Quadrille di Mujeres

Theses talented horsewomen perform through out the West.  Their entrance to the arena is at full gallop and they immediately start their routine which involves some detailed maneuvers and lots of excitement.  The ladies and their horses are as one!  Wish I had a video of it to show you, but afraid not!

First event was the Bareback Riding.  The object was to stay on the horse for 8 seconds and in the right form.  I did not realize there was certain ways to hold on and where your legs were supposed to be during the ride.  I thought it was just an easy game of holding on for dear life!  No - you got to focus on holding the proper form while holding on for dear life - and the horses don't care.  They just want to dump you!

A rough ride!

 After that there was steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding.

Saddle bronc ride!

The rodeo clown was there too!

The ladies did the barrel race!

Bull Riding seemed to be the toughest ride!

We really enjoyed the day and stayed until the very end as did most folks.  Very few people got up and left before it was all over. 

One unexpected treat was some beef brisket we had from one of the vendors.  With all due respect to my good buddy and dive partner back home, Bill Allen, this was out of the world brisket.  Bill has a recipe he make every year for the dive club Christmas Party and I love his brisket, but this was just too good.  I asked for their recipe and they said they would give it to me if I could stay on the Phantom Menace for 8 seconds!  That is the Phantom Menace in the picture above!  He is the big 4-legged guy!  Guess I will continue to enjoy Bill's recipe!  

We expect we will see some more rodeos before we leave the West for awhile next Fall and head back to the East Coast. 

Always at home, no matter where we are!!