January 13-15, 2025 Organ Pipe National Monument, Arizona

 High of 61 and sunny.

A historic church in Ajo. We went to re supply and do laundry. Plus James and I went to the thrift stores. One of the many upcoming events in Ajo, I will most miss going to the Mad Hatter Tea Party benefiting the fire dept. Imagination is the only weapon in the against reality!

Last light on the Ajo mountains. Sunset over the campground.

Sunset over Mexico, south of the campground. Full Wolf moon rising.

Full Wolf moon. Judy hiking up Alamo Canyon.

James and Judy checking out a historic building along the trail. A corral from an old ranch in Alamo Canyon.

Lunch in Alamo Canyon. Nicotiana, phainopepla, cholla fruit and green encelia. 

How many people does it take to grill dinner? Judy, James and John grilling lamb chops. Ajo window. 

We hiked Estes Canyon toward Bull Pasture this afternoon. John, Judy and James ahead of me.

Hiking toward Bull Pasture with John, Judy and James ahead. 

The view toward Mexico from the ridge. Backlit cactus.

Sunset.

January 10-12, 2025 Organ Pipe National Monument

 62 and sunny.

Cute quail scurrying around the campground. Our friends James and Judy arrived today. We will do some hiking together. John cooked a wonderful red sauce and pasta dinner. 

Sort of sunset with moon. We hiked with Judy and James from Red Tank, through Senita Basin back to the campground. It is a 6.7 mile hike with a car shuttle. James, Judy and John at the Red Tanks. This are has deep holes in the rocks that will retain water from rain etc for the wildlife. There is a drought now, so there was no water. 

Judy, James and John hiking in the arroyo below Red Tanks. Ocotillo bloom and a carpet shoe. The illegals wear these carpet shoes because it is supposed to disguise their foot prints in the sand so they can't be seen from planes or helicopters. 

Saguaro cactus forest. John, James and Judy hiking along the trail.

Judy and James prepared a delicious dinner tonight in their site. No clouds, but nice light at sunset. 

After dinner went to the evening ranger talk about bats. Very interesting. Today we went on the Puerto Blanco north drive. It says you need high clearance 4 wheel drive, so we have never been on it before.  James drove his big pickup. After doing the drive we see we could have done it with the Subaru. Beware of smugglers and illegal immigration. The park borders Mexico and these remote areas are areas of smuggler activity. We didn't see any.

Rugged peaks in the Growler Range along the drive. 

The cactus on the left has a cristate on it, a kind of cancer that grows on cactus. John, Judy and James hiking toward Dripping Springs. We had not done this hike before because we didn't have 4 wheel drive.

On the way to Dripping springs. This peak is out in the valley.

Sue and John with Dripping Sprigs. Dripping springs was once a vital water source for travelers through the area. 

Looking back at the trail to the springs. Cholla and saguaro with rugged peaks in the background. 

We stopped at Bonita Well for lunch. This well was also once a vital water source for travelers in the area.

John, James and Judy at Quitobaquito spring pond. People have lived here for generations because it is one of few  year round sources of water in the area. Water coming from the spring into the pond.

Quitobaquito spring. The Wall.

Full wolf moon in some saguaro. Sunset,

Glowing eye lights in the campground. I went to an interesting evening ranger program on the full moon.