December 31-January 1, 2021 Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

 63 and partly sunny. Beautiful day to hike.

We hiked to Victoria Mine. Sonoran desert flora. Me in front of the ruin of a cabin at the Victoria Mine. If we hike 5 miles. with photos to prove it we get a pin. So here I am at Victoria mine as proof that I was there. It was 4. 5 miles, so need to do another half mile and prove it for my pin. 

A bumpy organ pipe cactus, a sign with a coyote with a mask on, a sign says smuggling and/or illegal are common in this area due to the proximity to the international border. Organ Pipe has 31 miles on the border to Mexico. Many armed saguaro and a lone early ocotillo bloom. 

You can see the border wall running up the hill here. When we were here in 2017 there was just a vehicle barrier there, this looks like the new 30 foot high wall. John on the trail. He is next to an organ pipe cactus, so you can see how tall they are. 

Desert fall color. John on the trail almost back to the campground with cool clouds. 

Sonoran desert flora at sunset. There were lots of cool clouds all day, but of course they evaporated at sunset. Here are a few that are left. 

Chain fruit cholla in the sunset. The mountain in the background is in Mexico.

Another chain fruit cholla in sunset. Organ pipe cactus with wild sunset clouds. 

 

Zoom New years eve dinner with my sister and niece. Please keep a safe distance from rangers and other. 6 FEET, the length of a turkey vulture wingspan. I love how creative different places are with these signs. 

We started to hike in Alamo canyon today but John got vertigo, so I had to drive us back. This is a photo at the trail head. I finished the latest basket. It has a dichroic glass turtle center that I made. It is made with dyed and natural needles and glass and metallic beads. 10 1/2 x 8 x 1/2 inches. The large beads have frogs on them. 

Another view of the basket. Sunset tonight. No clouds, just a nice glow.