Month: January 2015

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Chiricahua National Monument

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Echo Canyon Trail into the valley of rock formations. We hiked one loop trail on the Jan-6th and got a shuttle van on the 7th to hike back to the campground.
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Balanced rocks and blue skies.
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So little sense of scale. We feel minuscule.
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Atlas Shrugged!
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Exploring the Grotto of big boulders.
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A Rubber Ducky! With a Chem Trail…Ha!
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Morning Moon-Rise over our campsite.
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The evening of Jan-6th we decided to cook dinner at Masai Point Overlook to enjoy a sunset and then stay and enjoy some star gazing. Henry’s one-pot wonder was Alfredo noodles with salmon!
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Oh yes – Spectacular! We were the only ones at the overlook to see this view!
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Cochise Stronghold National Forest

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I think I see some Apaches!
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There was still snow on the path but quite a few hikers. We talked to an interesting couple that had worked for the Nature Conservancy while we took a break by the Spring.
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We dispersed camp in the nearby valley and enjoyed watching the moon-rise from the comforts of MINI with an evening glass of Merlot.
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Warm colored rocks at Sunrise.
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Organ Pipe Cactus NM Ajo Loop Drive

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We last drove this road in February 2011- see blog entry http://tealsky.com/2011/02/08/organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument/ It is only a 22 mile road but it took us the whole day to enjoy and appreciate.
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Allegedly a short one-mile trail at Arch Canyon Overlook. But Henry decided to climb to the top and Pam opted to enjoy the solitude of the wilderness from one spot.
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Sunset looking West from walk around campground.
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First 2015 Moon-rise from the east! Our eyes and camera need to swivel back and forth. Such a rich butter yellow-orange color.
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Another day ends here at this fabulous Biosphere Reserve – we will be back to absorb some more of the magic.
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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument – Senita Basin

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NPS Ranger drove a shuttle van to Senita Basin for us to hike back to campground. The unpaved road paralleled the border of Mexico. The hike was very secluded and incredible.
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We did not see this Cholla Cactus in Tucson so it probably likes warmer weather as do the Organ Pipe Cacti.
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Building left from Victoria Mine – we had our picnic lunch enjoying this view.
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Framing a hiking companion and the view of this wilderness area.
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Moon rise before sunset. This awesome view is from our campsite!
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Tonight’s ranger evening program will be on the Moon – how it reflects different cultures and what we know about it. It is quite beautiful to contemplate.
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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

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A whole new section of the park has reopened. We took the Red Tank trail-head to Baker Mine and saw these views along the way.
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Humongous Organ Pipe Cactus – so full of character.
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Nice scenery.
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Moon rise during dinner a few days before it is full.
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Desert View Hike before the ranger evening program on National Parks A to Z.
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Happy New Year 2015

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We woke up in Tucson with a dusting of snow! Not something that happens there every year. No snow on the road but a beautiful day to drive. We ended the day in a campsite in Organ Pipe National Monument with this scrumptious sunset.