After the chaos of January in Quartzsite, Arizona (about which I did not post), camping in the quiet of Palm Canyon about 20 miles south was very welcome. Miscellaneous photos follow.
ARIZONA. JANUARY-FEBRUARY.
Although I am not a desert person, since I have to spend each winter in its warmth, I try to look at the positives. Among those are the beautiful light and the clear night skies, illustrated in this photo set.
There is a great deal of dispersed camping in southern California (“Big River” community) just across the Colorado river from Parker, Arizona. Parker is a small town but has most all needed amenities. After I stayed in this area, I headed to Bouse, Arizona, with folks I met at Big River. I had been by Bouse a couple times but had never camped there. One must go there already well-supplied since amenities are few, but the area is beautiful and the hiking opportunities abundant and interesting.
More info in captions.
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA. DECEMBER/JANUARY.
These days included some rare rainy travel in the desert and ended with the discovery of a new camping area with new campmates.
More info in captions.
NEVADA/ARIZONA. NOVEMBER.
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Stewarts Point is one of my go-to camping areas. The amenities are not great, but the views are. Nearby Valley of Fire State Park is also a great place to visit. I’ve stayed here a number of times but, oddly, I found a great new camping spot on a walk just before I left. I will be trying it out next time.
More info in captions.
NOVEMBER. NEVADA.
Of the four corners, Arizona was my choice for my next stops.
A couple friends camphost in the Flagstaff area so I spent some time there. Flagstaff is at 7,000 feet so this is a good area for cooler temperatures during the summer months. Also, there is quite a bit of public land available for camping all around Flagstaff and, that city is large enough that it includes any kind of needed amenity.
After my time here, I went south to a pretty area not far from Sedona at which I’ve camped in the past. Oddly, I have still not actually visited Sedona but will get there at some point.
See photo captions (i) for more info.
ARIZONA. OCTOBER-NOVEMBER.
My route next took me thru Colorado to Pueblo where I was supposed to complete a previously arranged trade of my truck tonneau cover for a camper shell. Unfortunately, the other party welched on the deal, and I was ultimately cheated out of considerable funds. (It’s a long, unhappy story that I will not relate here). I am still looking for a suitable shell/cap/topper for my truck.
At least, on this ill-fated trip, I once again was able to see some beautiful country–and this time it was adorned in autumn splendor. After my disappointing stop in the Pueblo area, I hurried south through Colorado.
Oddly enough, I actually stumbled upon the turn to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (featuring the tallest dunes in the U.S.). I usually carefully plan National Park visits, but I guess I was preoccupied by recent events and didn’t notice it was along my route. It was a stunning day and turned out to be a good visit, even though the Visitor Center was unfortunately closed due to the government shutdown occurring at the time. I had a ball taking photographs. Sometimes the surprises in my travels turn out to be among the most enjoyable experiences.
After the Park, more beautiful scenery along the road and a short visit to the Four Corners Monument. I’m glad I finally stopped here but I found this Navajo Nation site to be rather sad. No disrespect intended at all. I know funding, for one thing, is often a challenge, but I wish this unique location could feature cultural information, art, relics, or history about this mighty nation so visitors could be properly educated. I’m probably naive about the difficulties involved in providing something like this or maybe the Navajo don’t even want this for some reason, but I still wish something more could be done here to take advantage of the tourism and benefit the Navajo Nation.
(see captions (i) for more info)
COLORADO/ARIZONA. OCTOBER.
I continued traveling north in Idaho. On the way to my next stop, I saw the amazing Sawtooth Mountain Range for the first time.
It turned out my next campsite, outside the small town of Stanley, had an outstanding view of the Sawtooths. When I arrived, the specific site I had found on an app was occupied so I parked my rig and took a hike with Sadie to look for another site. While on our hike, I happened to meet up with two ladies who were also hiking, Anne & Katherine. Anne kindly invited me to come to her & her husband’s home a couple hours away for my next stop.
While I enjoyed first one site and then another with outstanding mountain views, I was also monitoring a Facebook page listing “workamping” jobs. To my surprise, I saw one that was just a few minutes from where I was camped. I contacted them, went for an in-person interview, and (later) got the job. It was a bit before I was to report, so I went on up to visit with Anne in McCall. On the way, I stayed one night above beautiful Lake Cascade (which had been my original destination in coming to Central Idaho). The next day, I made my way to Anne & Joe’s beautiful home. Their hospitality, including meals at an actual dining table, proper showers, and the opportunity to finally clean the mud off my rig from City of Rocks was much appreciated. McCall is a beautiful resort town with water and snow and golf playgrounds.
I may have overdone this gallery with mountain scenes, but I can’t get enough of them. The Tetons and the Sawtooths are ranked one and two in my book–not necessarily in that order.
IDAHO. JUNE.
From City of Rocks, I headed toward Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve with one overnight stay along the way. While I was still at City of Rocks, it had begun raining and the roads throughout are dirt. Upon my arrival to the camping spot I chose on the way to Craters, I realized the full extent to which those conditions had affected my rig. It may be strange to mention this, but the mud created by the rain on the dirt roads seemed like it contained some kind of adhesive! The mud that coated many parts of my rig had hardened–and I couldn’t get it off. My cleaning brushes were ineffective. I drive on dirty, muddy roads all the time, but this was like something I had never seen. Since there was no way to clean it, I just had to leave it that way. Fortunately, an angel with a hose and cleaning supplies (plus my elbow grease) came to my rescue several days later.
Craters of the Moon was a unique place. It’s so strange that this landscape is where it is. ‘Certainly does seem like another celestial location. As usual, no dogs are allowed on the paths, so I mostly drove around seeing as much as I could see with a couple short walks here and there.
This was one of the situations where finding public lands to camp was not practical, so I grabbed one of the last spots in the Preserve’s campground. This was also an unusual experience as it was located on volcanic rock.
CotM is an interesting place and certainly worth a visit if only for its uniqueness.
IDAHO. JUNE.
The temperatures were getting high, so I started heading north. Using the apps, I found some nice campsites with beautiful views.
Also visited Fossil Butte National Monument. Found a good camping spot just outside it but the National Monument was so-so for me. The visitor center was well done but not much else to see.
As usual, I recommend clicking the first photo for a slideshow of larger photos (and captions).
I’ve also included a video below the gallery.
UTAH/WYOMING. JUNE.
My favorite kind of landscape is definitely “green” but I must admit, Arches was amazing.
I stayed on public land about 15 minutes away. No amenities but easy to get in and out of.
Only one hike – to the famous Delicate Arch. I started late in the morning which I don’t recommend. It was the first of June and hot. I knew it would be, so I took as many “shade breaks” as I could. Seeing the famous arch was pretty neat. I would like to go again when it’s cooler, the light is a bit better, and I’m in better shape.
One nice feature I enjoyed photographically are the La Sal Mountains that provide a beautiful backdrop to many settings in Park.
I got a bit carried away with photos and took quite a few. Believe me, though, I left quite a few out of this post. Of the ones in the gallery, several are out of order but I’m just going to leave them.
There’s also a video at the bottom of the gallery.
UTAH. JUNE.
