Grand Canyon NP, Mojave Nat'l Preserve & Death Valley NP - January 2014

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Start: Tucson, AZ
Finish: South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ


Today was the beginning of a trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, then continuing the road trip to Death Valley with my husband. I joined a group of 21 people to hike and stay at Phantom Ranch for 3 nights. The group has been doing this trip in January for the last 20 plus years. I was fortunate enough to be invited to join the group this year, the first year I could make it in January since retiring from teaching last May.

The adventure begins!
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That's me on the left.

We made a quick stop in Phoenix for supplies, then continued north on I-17. Lots of AZ Highway Patrol between Tucson and Phoenix on I-10. (This was also noted by my husband on his drive up several days later.) Lunch was in Black Canyon City at Rock Springs Cafe. This is a landmark along the route north of Phoenix. It is well known as a restaurant and bar, especially known for pie- many kinds available daily. The building is historic and furnished with antiques.

Rock Springs Cafe
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Next stop was for gas in Flagstaff then on to the Grand Canyon. The snow cover on the San Francisco was scant, the least I have ever seen at this time of year. I believe I have seen more snow on them in June and July.

San Francisco Peaks
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We arrived by 4 PM, met up with most of the crowd before checking into rooms at the Maswik Lodge. The group met for dinner at the Bright Angel Lodge. It was a time for old friends to get caught up and for us 'newbies' to meet the group we would be with for the next several days. Based on this first meeting it appeared to be a very congenial group, easy to mix in with.


Wildlife Sightings

Gila Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
Great-tailed Grackle
Mourning Dove
Cactus Wren
Northern Flicker
Mountain Bluebird
House Finch
House Sparrow

Wednesday - Friday: January 22-24, 2014
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Start: South Rim
Finish: Phantom Ranch


As this part of the trip does not qualify as a true road trip I will report the three days at the bottom of the canyon as one post.

Wednesday
The group met at Maswik Lodge cafeteria at 7 AM for breakfast. Many times we grumble about the cost of things in the National Parks, the breakfast I had was an exception. For $6.25 I had 2 eggs, potatoes, chicken fried steak with gravy and 2 slices of thick rye toast! After breakfast everyone made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the trip down and someone provided oatmeal, coconut with chocolate chip cookies - yum!

The weather was amazing - 32 degrees on the rim when we started out, a heat wave! I started hiking with three layers instead of the anticipated four layers. In the past the group has started out hiking at 9 degrees below zero. Also for the first time ice crampons on our boots would not be needed for the first part of the trail. Some ice was reported on the Bright Angel, but able to walk around most patches. No ice was reported on the South Kaibab trail.

Adventure continues
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The group broke into smaller groups and set their own routes. Five of us left Maswik Lodge at 8:15 and headed down Bright Angel Trail - 10 miles to Phantom Ranch and 4,500 ft of down. The scenery was spectacular, much more interesting and diverse than I was expecting. At 5 miles you reach Indian Gardens. At great place to rest, refill with water and a passport stamp opportunity.

Indian Garden
Passport Stamp box
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Relaxing
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The trail out of Indian Garden was wonderful, through a canyon. Along the way you reach a special spot - the Great Unconformity. A gap of over 1 billion years in geological history.

Great Unconformity

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More down until you finally reach the Colorado River at 8 1/2 miles. You walk east along the River until you reach the Silver Bridge, then another 1/2 mile before you arrive at Phantom Ranch. The area contains a NPS campground and lodge, which is managed by Xanterra, the park's concessionaire. A brief stop in the dorm (10 women in a small space) to claim beds. By the time I got there only upper bunks were available. As I was putting my stuff up on the bunk the young lady, only one not in our group in the dorm, arrived to say she would gladly take the upper bunk. Did I look that bad? I gladly took her up on her offer! She was a guide for a national adventure company who guided 3 young men from Chicago to Phantom Ranch.

Inside the dorm
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This hiking group has their priorities well established - Happy Hour outside at picnic table near the dorms. Adult beverages were brought down by most in platypus containers, plus wonderful snacks; gourmet cheeses, salami, crackers, dried fruit, nuts and dark chocolate!

Happy Hour
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Meals at Phantom Ranch are provided in the canteen. Two dinner seatings; steak at 5 and stew at 6:30. The meals ordered for me for the next few days were; stew, steak and stew. Meals are served family style. The first few minutes are hectic with food being passed and requested before it settles into friendly meal chatter.

Meal time
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Bedtime came quickly and easily - yes, even with 10 women in close quarters!

Thursday
One of the women who had been on previous trips announced in the morning that the night had been the quietest she had ever experienced in the dorm! Breakfast is served in two seatings, as well, 5:30 and 7:00. If you are staying over you have the 7 AM seating, for those leaving breakfast is at 5:30.

Weather continued to be exceptional - highs of upper 60s!

I spent the morning tracking down the passport stamp for Phantom Ranch at the ranger station. The office is unmanned, but open from 8 AM to 6 PM and has good displays and reference material. Besides getting impressions for my husband (who had backpacked down there - rim to rim to rim - before the passport program was established in 1988) I also stamped a handful of postcards for family and friends. While at the ranger station I picked up the Phantom Ranch Junior Ranger booklet. I went back to the canteen, which is open from 8:30 until 4:00 PM, then from 8:00 to 10:00 PM for anyone; campers and lodge guests. There is a gift shop, snacks and beer and wine for purchase. A small lending library and board games are available for use, or you can just sit around.

Passport and bonus stamps
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I walked back down to the river and around the ranch area to work on the booklet. After lunch I hiked up the canyon to a side trail to work on a sketch for the booklet. The weather was spectacular. Lunch can be purchased from the lodge, but it basically packaged snacks, not served in the canteen. The group I was with recommended to bring your own snacks which worked well.

The afternoon ritual of Happy Hour, dinner, the bedtime was repeated - just as enjoyable.

Friday
Another breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes and peach halves. Plenty of food, just not a lot of variety. I spent the morning hiking back to the river, across the Black Bridge then back across the Silver Bridge with two others from the group, about a two mile hike.
After lunch a small group of us hiked up the North Kaibab trail into the box canyon along the Bright Angel Creek. Another beautiful day. Along the way we were fortunate to spot a bobcat across the creek. It is the largest bobcat I have ever seen, easily four feet from front to back. This was latter confirmed by a park ranger who agreed it was a very large bobcat.

Bobcat
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The highlight of time spent in the canyon bottom was earning my Grand Canyon Junior Ranger badge at Phantom Ranch. Simple things for simple people, or little things make me happy! Park rangers in January at Phantom Ranch are sparse. Luckily on Friday afternoon, about 3:30 I saw a ranger hike in from the North Kaibab trail. She gladly walked to the ranger station with me to review my booklet and award the badge. A unique patch featuring the pink rattlesnake is available for true Junior Rangers, I was able to get a picture of it. Ranger Betsy was very interested in Senior Ranger programs that are offered by some parks. She had me write down names of sites that offer this program for the older crowd. One of the reasons I do complete the junior ranger programs is to promote the senior ranger option. Lots of rangers have been interested and hopefully will have the resources to develop more options for seniors.

Junior Ranger - Phantom Ranch
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Junior Ranger - Phantom Rattler patch
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Afternoon ritual repeated; Happy Hour the dinner. Tonight I did join the after hours crowd in the canteen for a game of hearts. They were glad for my attendance, I garnered the most points!

Passport stamps
Grand Canyon NP
- Indian Gardens
- Phantom Ranch
Bonus stamps
- Scorpion, 3 live scorpions were found in and around while we were there.
- Mailed by Mule at Phantom Ranch - available in the canteen where a mailbag collects mail to be carried back up to the rim.

Wildlife Sightings

Mule Deer
Bobcat


Gray Jay
Stellar Jay
Canyon Wren - heard
American Dipper
American Robin
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Pat,

Fabulous field report. Brings back lovely memories. One October, years ago (1980) I spent the entire month below the rim... great hiking, lots of adventures.

Mark

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Start: Grand Canyon NP - Phantom Ranch
Finish: Williams, AZ

Breakfast at 5 and on the South Kaibab trail by 6 AM. The first hour of hiking was in the dark which allowed for some early light in the canyon.

Dawn
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Trail Up
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Lunch buddy
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Not much to report along the trail. This trail provides nice views of the canyon. It is an 8 mile hike straight up from Phantom Ranch. I was surprised at how much easier it was going up than down. The temperate weather continued to make hiking delightful. I had expected to be more out of breath as I climbed up and up, however the slow, steady pace kept the oxygen level in balance. Left at 6 AM and reached the trailhead on the rim at 12:30 and the temperature on the rim was mid-50s! Usual temperatures in January on the South Rim are in the 30s.

Success
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Arrangements had been for my husband to park the van at the Visitor Center and text me the location so he could go to the village for passport stamps and smashed pennies. We had no idea when I would arrive. We met back up and were on the road by 1:30. A quick stop for a hamburger and fries on the way through Tusayan. We continued down US 180 to AZ 64 to Williams, AZ. We decided to call it a day there, I needed a good soak in a tub!

We enjoyed dinner at Route 66 Italian Bistro. They had two IPAs on tap; British IPA and Rye IPA. We go for the hops, so we enjoyed a pint of Rye IPA. Their wood-fired pizza was excellent, along with a tasty kale salad.

Then back to the room for a good night's sleep!

Smashed pennies
Grand Canyon NP - Bright Angel Lodge gift shop

Passport Stamps
Desert View, AZ
Tusayan Ruins, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Verkamp's
Kolb Studio
Yavapai Geology Museum
Yavapai Point, AZ

Wildlife Sightings

Common Raven
Great-tailed grackle
Red-tailed Hawk
Gray Jay
Stellar Jay
(too tired to look!)

Pat,

Thanks for posting the great photos.

Enjoying the report

Yep, nice report Pat, I'm really enjoying the read and the photo's.

One day I would love to go back and hike into the canyon, and hopefully I will !

Dave.

Dave,
I live in the state and it has taken me years to achieve this goal. Hang in there!

Sunday, January 26, 2014
Start: Williams, AZ
Finish: Mojave National Preserve- Hole In The Wall campground

Breakfast in Williams, then headed West on I-40. Part way along we realized we hadn't thought through our route to and from Death Valley. We stopped in Kingman for gas, groceries and to pow-wow. It was decided we would stay on I-40 and head to Mohave National Preserve for the night, then head north into Death Valley on Monday.

Before reaching the AZ- CA border we stopped at Franconia Road, exit 13. There are two Letterboxes off this exit; one commemorating the townsite and cemetery for the ghost town of Franconia and another quite a ways along a dirt road to an old Aeromotor windmill. Fun finds along the way.

Windmill
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Crossed the Colorado River into California. Quick stop in Needles for afternoon refreshments. Continuing along I-40 we exited into Mojave National Preserve on Essex Road. Twenty miles up the road is Hole In The Wall, Visitor Center and campground. This center is open Wednesday though Sunday. Besides having several passport stamps they had one of the best selections of postcards with animals. As we travel I send postcards to the family, mainly the under 10 crowd. They prefer animal cards to scenic, as I have been told by them and their parents.

We always enjoy spending time at Mojave NP, one of the more 'unknown' NPS sites. When living in S. CA years ago this was a favorite place to hike and camp, also a place where my husband did paleontogical research. We were glad when it was preserved within the system.

We set up camp and immediately got the grill going and a campfire. The wind was fairly strong, but the campfire ring was well surrounded by sand. We enjoyed our dinner and campfire. With the wind it cooled off quickly making for an early night to climb in and read. It never got as cool as predicted, a nice night for sleeping.

Hole In The Wall campground
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Hole In The Wall campground
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Passport Stamps
Mojave National Preserve
-Hole in the Wall, CA
Old Spanish NHT
- Mojave National Preserve

Wildlife Sightings

Common Raven

Pat, With your frequent trips to Mojave National Preserve did you ever climb to the top of the primary Kelso dune for sunset? That's an awesome walk (exhausting) but awesome. The "singing" sand crystals are pretty amazing to hear too.

Yeah, it's very cool that the area is more protected than it used to be.

What kinds of paleontogical research did your husband do?

Mark

Mark,
No hike to the top of the dunes - too much effort! Evenings are always nice there.
Husband's research - invertebrate paleo, trilobites. First at Cal State -LA, UCLA, then UC-Riverside.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Start: Mojave National Preserve
Finish: Death Valley National Park

Breezy all night long, but clear sky. Woke up to sunshine and continued breezy. After breakfast we went over to the picnic area at Hole In The Wall to check out the hole and the unique rock formations. As we left the area heading for Kelso Depot I worked on the Junior Ranger booklet.

Much warmer and no wind/breeze at Kelso Depot. This Visitor Center is open Friday through Tuesday. The exhibits have been extended to the upstairs since our last visit several years ago. All of the exhibits are well done giving extensive historical information about the area. The depot is along an active train line, with frequent trains throughout the day. Hearing the trains go by while looking at the exhibits inside brings the railroad history to life.

Kelso Depot
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The volunteer at the Information Desk reviewed my completed Junior Ranger booklet and issued me the certificate, badge and pledge. It was an interesting booklet to complete. I got to do several sketches of observations I made. It also taught me some important facts about Desert Tortoises.

On to Baker for gas and lunch. What, no Bun Boy! Life happens. Our son found a link to the drama recently surrounding Baker.

Leaving Baker
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Left Baker on CA 127 north to Death Valley. Detoured in Tecopa for the postal cancellation, then out to China Ranch for a hidden treasure. Very interesting place, well worth the drive out there. Besides the palm trees, dates and gift shop there are several hiking trails. The road in is very interesting, a real taste for the unique desert environment in the area.

China Ranch

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Hiking at China Ranch
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Road out of China Ranch
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Our next stop was Shosone for another postal cancellation and hidden treasure. This took us up Dublin Gulch, alongside their cemetery. Very unusual placement of headstones along the drive up the gulch. We left there heading for Death Valley Junction and the turn on CA 190 into Death Valley National Park. We arrived around 4 PM as the sun was low in the sky and providing beautiful colors.

For the first time we camped at Furnace Creek Campground and took advantage of the electric hookups. For winter camping having the extended lighting in the evening for reading is a plus. We were surprised at how big the sites are, plenty of space in between campers. Each hook up site has electric, water and sewer. $30 full fee, $21 with Senior or disabled pass.

The weather was incredible when we arrived; clear, warm and no breeze. After dinner it was still nice for a walk around the campground and then some stargazing.

Death Valley Sunset
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Passport Stamps
Mohave National Preserve - Kelso Depot
Old Spanish NHT - Mojave National Preserve, CA

Letterboxes
3 along the way, mainly drive bys.


Wildlife Sightings
Common Raven
Feral Rock Dove
Red-tailed Hawk

Coyote

Weren't they still serving lunch at the Kelso Diner (inside the Visitor's Center)? I've driven down there several times for lunch

More photos from Dublin Gulch... 0h, that's odd I've not published that report on RTA....I'll dig those up.

Mark

Unfortunately The Beanery is currently closed. The signs posted explain they are currently looking for a replacement concessionaire. I actually sat at the empty lunch counter completing my Junior Ranger.

When posting this I realized I did not take any pictures of Dublin Gulch. That would be great to see some.
Pat

Miners in the southwest sure were a hardy bunch. Here are two examples of "cabin settlements" created by cutting "rooms" into the surrounding rock.

The first four photos are images from 2006 and 2007 of the Rosalie mining area (in the Mojave National Preserve -- about 1/2 mile from I-15). Below this set are five photos taken from the Dublin Gulch area found just outside Shoshone, California near Death Valley National Park.

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Looking past the townsite toward the mining tailings
(2006 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

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Tailings from the copper processing plant
(2006 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

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Rosalie apartments near the processing area
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

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Closer view of those Rosalie apartments
(2006 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

These are images from the Dublin Gulch area (on the outside of Shoshone):
The history is unclear when these homes were first constructed, but it's likely that the first miners arrived as a result of the silver boom in the early 1870's at the nearby silver and talc mines. Some of the caves remained more-or-less occupied into the 1970's. I've wandered around this area and found several more farther up the canyon.

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The main area of the Dublin Gulch area
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

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Same location -- but you can see the highway,(CA state highway 127). Just behind the cliff, you can see the Caltrans facility -- a good landmark when you travel to this place.
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

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Heading into one of the Dublin apartments
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

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Same Dublin apartment looking outside
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

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Luxury apartment in Dublin!
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

More photos by Bill Cook -- and more explanation about this site on his Ghost Towns site.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Start: Death Valley NP
Finish: Death Valley NP

Lazy morning in camp. Eventually made our way to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, which was right next to our campground. Got the passport and bonus stamps, and I picked up the Junior Ranger booklet. The ranger on duty told me she had been working on a Senior Ranger program for Great Basin National Park (Nevada) before her assignment to Death Valley. We will definitely add that that to our itinerary for next summer, another favorite park!

Basically a very laid back day, but a successful day for our hobbies; letterbox, postal cancellation, smashed pennies, Junior ranger and passport stamps! In addition the weather was PERFECT; 70s and NO wind. This may be a first for us to be in Death Valley without strong winds.

Temperature
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Furnace Creek Ranch
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note: Smashed Penny machine on porch

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Evening light
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Passport Stamps
Death Valley National Park
-Furnace Creek
Death Valley NP - Passport 25th Anniversary





Wildlife Sightings

Coyote

Common Raven
Mallard
American Coot
Brewer's Blackbird
Mourning Dove

I've edited the post above about the mining camps.

Death Valley is one of my favorite places in the USA.

Mark

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Start: Death Valley NP, CA
Finish: Death Valley NP, CA

Treated ourselves to the breakfast buffet at the ranch. Did a bit of housekeeping at the campsite, then headed up the valley to Scotty's Castle. The drive takes about an hour from Furnace Creek. You are driving north along the valley floor, the scenery is spectacular. It appears January is a quiet month for the park, it is the least amount of traffic we have experienced. The weather was again PERFECT, 70s and NO wind.

We have toured Scotty's Castle in the past, well worth the price of the ticket for the stories and the decor. This time we spent our time working on Scotty's Treasure Hunt for the Junior Ranger award. It was fun exploring the areas outside the normal tour. The sundial was up on the side of the castle. Looking for the wagon took us up to the stables where several old cars were also stored.

Sundial
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Cars
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Original entrance
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Our next stop was Stovepipe Wells. At the Visitor Information Center we got the passport stamp for Stovepipe Wells and I turned in my completed Junior Ranger booklet. Ranger Justin reviewed the booklet page by page with me, then administered the Junior Ranger oath and gave me my Death Valley badge. For $2.50 I purchased the Junior Ranger patch.

We drove up to Mosiac Canyon for a picnic lunch and a short hike. This is one of my very favorite places in Death Valley. The rock formations are amazing. They are also right there- touchable!

Mosaic Canyon
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On our way back through Stovepipe Wells we stopped at the motel and purchased showers. $4 per person, towel provided and use of the pool, if desired. Nice hot shower in the pool locker room, and a tall shower head! The pool key card was very pretty, the clerk told me to keep it as a souvenir.

We drove back up the valley, past Furnace Creek and continued along the Badwater Road to Artist's Drive. Spectacular rock formations and colors. It had gotten cloudy as the day progressed so the afternoon light wasn't great for photos.
Artist's Drive
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Ended the day at the Corkscrew Saloon at Furnace Creek Ranch for a beer and shared sandwich.

As we left the campground I stopped to take the picture of the propane recycling container. This has been a pet peeve of mine as we travel. We still use white gas in a Coleman stove. I understand the convenience of using the propane canisters, but not the ecological waste. We see them in trash cans or piled up alongside trash cans. I have had numerous discussions with rangers about the waste, they have also been concerned. A few parks have collections bins like Death Valley. In the Winter issue of their Visitor Guide they explain that the valve stem is removed, contents emptied and then the steel is recycled. According to their information if all,of the canisters around the country were recycles 8,000 cars could be produced. Thanks for letting me spend some time on my soap box!

Propane Canister Recycling Bin at Furnace Creek Campground
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On a brighter note, right next to the recycling bin was this beautiful flower. Truly the only flower we saw in bloom in the park. Called Desert Gold or Desert Sunflower, depending on which guide you use. Therefore the scientific name is more valuable; Gerara Canescens

The one and only flower we saw in Death Valley
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Passport Stamps
Death Valley National Park
Scottys Castle
Stovepipe Wells

Wildlife Sightings

Coyote - heard

Mourning Dove
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Common Raven

As another family that still owns a white-gas Coleman stove, we too were concerned about the disposal of propane tanks. That's quite impressive, 8000 cars if all of them were recycled! People always cite "safety" as a reason to convert to propane, but for us there is little difference in safety!

Beautiful photos --- keep 'em coming! We haven't been through Death Valley yet. Maybe one of these winters after *I* retire from teaching! (I still have a few years to go.)


Donna

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Start: Death Valley NP, CA
Finish: Boulder City, NV - Lake Mead NRA

Left camp by 9 AM, heading to Beatty, NV for postal cancellation. Stopped by Rhyolite ghost town. Checked out the cemetery which is down slope from the main part of town.

Rhyolite
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Followed US 95 south to NV 160 to Pahrump - If You Lived Here You'd Be Home, their logan in the early days! The wind was picking up significantly. We stopped in Pahrump for lunch and gas. Gas was only $3.05 at Smith's, cheaper than Tucson. Usually gas in Nevada is closer to California prices.

Wind and dust as we left Pahrump with stronger winds predicted for the Vegas area. Looks like we ran out of good weather, again!

Stopped at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Visitor Center for passport stamps. Too windy and dusty to enjoy the scenic loop drive which we have done before. A must see when in the Vegas area. The wind was picking up and up. Drove over to Boulder City - love the run-around, SR 215!

Red Rock - windy & dusty
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In Boulder City we stopped at the Lake Mead NRA ( National Recreation Area) office for their passport stamps. Then went out to the Visitor Center along US 93, recently renovated. After getting the passport stamps we decided to camp here for the night at Boulder Beach. Campsites here are $10, or $5 with eligible passes. Obviously no hook-ups, but flush toilets and water readily available.


As it was mid-afternoon and the wind was too strong to sit around we went back into Boulder City. This is a very cool town; lots of interesting stores and restaurants. We went through several antique stores, the ended up at Boulder Dam Brewing Company for dinner.

Boulder City pictures
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Smashed Pennies
Boulder City, NV - Grandma Daisy's

Passport Stamps
Old Spanish Trail
Red Rock Canyon Nat'l Conservation Area, NV
Boulder City, NV
Lake Mead National Recreation - Boulder City, NV




Wildlife Sightings

Cottontail Rabbit


Common Raven
Great-tailed Grackle
Brewer's Blackbird
American Coot
Cactus Wren

Friday & Saturday

Start: Boulder City, NV - Lake Mead NRA
Finish: Wikeup, AZ

Friday, Jan. 31, 2014
The wind let up sometime during the night, much appreciated. We had a quick breakfast at The Hacienda, soon to be re-constructed as Boulder Dam Lodge. First time, for us, across the me bridge, back into Arizona, that replaces the trip across the Dam. Fairly anticlimactic after seeing the bridge being built from afar. Not much to see, due to the high side barrier, and you are over it quickly. Concern over crosswinds had high profile vehicles driving in the left lane to cross.

Next stop was Chloride, AZ for a couple of letterboxes. An active mining area with an Old West tourist appeal. Several restaurants and gift shops are currently open. The cemetery (follow the signs) has a number of eclectic markers, well worth the short side trip off US 93.

Chloride - Tin fence
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Chloride - cemetery
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We cut back over to Laughlin area for a quick stop at Katherine Landing for the passport stamp then over the Colorado River to the county park north of the casinos for letterboxing; one find, one attempt and one box replaced. The trail along the Colorado River is very well done with interpretative signs, restrooms and picnic armadas. Several trails take off from the paved path and it eventually ends up at Davis Dam. A great alternative to the casinos!

Riverwalk
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After leaving Bullhead City we drove through Oatman with some beautiful afternoon lighting. Actually got through town without a traffic jam from either cars or burros! A stop at Cool Springs yielded a couple of "treasures" hidden for us to find.

Oatman
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Cool Springs
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After a stop for gas in Kingman we continued down US 93 towards Wikeup and Wickenburg. After a bite to eat in Wikeup we arrived at Burro Creek campground just at sunset. Another very favorite place to camp.

Passport Stamp
Lake Mead Nat'l Rec Area
-Katherine Landing, AZ

Wildlife Sightings

Seagull
American Coot
Greater Roadrunner


Saturday, February 1, 2014
Start: Burro Creek campground, near Wikeup, AZ
Finish: Tucson, AZ

Woke up to a cool morning, some ice on the windshield. Enjoyed some hot beverage and breakfast before heading home. A couple of quick photos of Burro Creek campground. There is also a picnic area. Across from the picnic area is a Desert Garden with a brochure describing the local plants. During the Springs the cliffs pictured below are a rookery for Great Blue Heron. The creek has water most of the year, great birdwatching area. So if you are traveling US 93 between Wickenburg and Kingman a stop at Burro Creek is highly recommended.

Burro Creek
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Barrel Cactus - hanging on!
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Not much to report for the rest of the trip. The new Loop 303 on the far west side of Phoenix which links US 93 to I-10 is much improved, maybe 2/3 freeway. Home by mid-afternoon, a memorable trip with exceptional weather!


Wildlife Sightings

Common Raven
Hummingbird - ?
Red-tailed Hawk
Great-tailed Grackle

You went to Chloride and didn't go look at the murals?

And Digger Dave's

Mark

No, we didn't go see the murals, and we even own an etching of his from the 70s! A reason to go back.
Pat

He and his students went back a couple of years ago and repainted the murals -- very nice and bright now... They had to do it on the sly to avoid BLM rules enforcement.

Mark