This will be the last post of this adventure. Because today barely qualifies, and tomorrow will be just a road trip driving home from Phoenix to Los Angeles. But today was recuperation and luxury and the recognition of how very lucky I am to have to had the chance to see such amazing places on this trip. I’m at a…
Category: A Southwest Road Trip
May 27: And we’re out — The Falls to Hilltop
We had to be packed up by 5:45AM so that we could load our gear onto the pack mules, eat some breakfast and get on the trail by 6:30. There were many people heading out, and most started as early or earlier than we did. Once on the trail in the canyon the sun really makes it more difficult. So…
May 26: Exploring the Area
A free day! Not that the past several have been anything but vacation, but it was nice to know that if we didn’t choose to put on hiking boots we didn’t have to. So we all undertook different activities: some hiked back to the New and Rock Falls, others went to swim at Havasu, and a couple went to the…
May 25: Mooney and Beaver Falls
We had an early “call” this morning for a longish hike today, and the seventh graders in the adjacent campsite were up even earlier. My tent was closest to their area, and the chaperones were breaking camp beginning at 3:15AM, with the first group headed out by 4:15. They were relatively quiet for 12 and 13 year olds, but I…
May 24: Exploring
After the 10 mile hike down yesterday, we were treated to a relatively easy day today. Didn’t have to start too early, although the sun was the alarm clock. Our morning hike took us to an abandoned mine high above a dry creek bed. There had been galena, a type of iron, mined there, and traces of silver but in…
May 23: Hilltop to Havasu Falls
An early wake up, and a quick breakfast, and we were on the road to the Hualapai Hilltop trailhead about an hour and a half away. This trail provides the only overland access to the wonders of Havasupai below. Our gear is loaded onto pack mules and horses and will meet us at the bottom, so we have our backpacks,…
May 22: Scottsdale to Canyon Rim – ATF
NOTE: The posts from here one are after the fact (ATF) — I have pics and notes from each day, but had no internet for 6 days! We met the group early this morning to begin the drive up towards the Grand Canyon, with a stop for a quick hike along the way. (I’ve discovered that most trips do this…
May 21: Silver City,NM to Scottsdale, AZ
It was to be another long day on the interstate, so I headed out early so I might have some relaxing time before the next phase of my adventure. It was windy, requiring hands firmly placed at 10 and 2 to hold my lightweight vehicle on the road. There were signs along the way to watch out for dust storms…
May 20: Gila National Forest
The Gila Cave Dwellings sit in the north eastern corner of the Gila National Forest, a 45 mile drive from Silver City, but an almost 2 hour drive along a curving, winding, 25 mph road. Called the Trail of the Mountail Spirits, the road is a 98 mile loop around the wildnerness. The caves were not discovered until the late…
May 19: White Sands and Silver City
One of the reasons I decided to come as far in NM as I have is because I’ve wanted desperately to see White Sands National Monument ever since my friend Erica posted amazing photos on her road trip a year and a half ago. So, today I headed east out of Las Cruces to see the endless gypsum dunes for…