Months of messing around. No big trips, but plenty of little ones. Difficult to remember what all’s been going on and not a lot of photos to show for many pleasant days and numerous local outings. Revisited a few regional sites from past posts and found at least as many new ones. Spent a week in Southern California and the rest of the time right here in Southeast Arizona—day hikes, backpacking trips, weekend BnBs, working on personal projects, and plain ol’ work. Disjointed recollections:

Tucson and Surrounds

Spent a week in Tucson checking out a couple state parks as well as hiking in Saguaro NP. Were scheduled to spend the time on a Mexican beach in mid-December, but the border crisis shut the crossing down for weeks keeping us close in. Appreciated the reduced driving and enjoyed the cabled route up and down Picacho Peak, a big loop around and across Wasson Peak, and a beautiful day in Romero Canyon in Catalina.

Time Travel

The Southwest is rife with relics of past lives and cryptic human histories. Realities we can scarcely imagine. It’s amazing the things one may come across without meaning to. With effort, whisperings of remnant artifacts may be pondered in proximity. I don’t prioritize visiting vestigial fragments of other cultures, but confess a curious nature when it comes to finding little known sites in difficult to access areas.

Salton Sea

I recently spent a week in Idyllwild, CA brushing up on some wilderness medicine skills. There were many reasons I chose this particular class, not the least of which was its location in potentially wintry elevations. I’m getting right tired of being hot all the time—especially in the wintertime. Packed up the lighter layers of my Alaska gear and was pleased to spend a few days lying around in deep snow, often covered in fake blood and occasionally feigning injuries like heat stroke—though with slim chance of suffering the same. On the way there I spent a night beside the Salton Sea, which was both interesting and entirely uninteresting at the same time. Interesting for the anomaly which is the body of water itself; not interesting for the uninspired squalor of subhumans dwelling in barely habitable shanties along the shoreline. The inverse of freedom presents as autonomously imposed oppression.

Douglas, Coronado, Naco, Bisbee, Cochise Stronghold

This was one of those ‘best of’ trips comprised of reimagined alterations to past itineraries. Sunset wildlife show at Whitewater Draw, a night at the historic Gadsen Hotel, a few miles walk to the border in Coronado National Monument, a steep climb to cave descent, an afternoon meal in Mexico, a couple chilly nights in an old mining town, stair climbing the Bisbee 1000, backroads out of Tombstone, a walk into the Dragoons…

Local Local

Or maybe. There is much to be discovered right out the front door around here. Though perhaps more like out the front door, into a 4×4, onto the highway, off the highway, down some dirt roads for a good while, and then… No trails means no people, rugged terrain, secret spots, and seldom seen landscapes in abundance.

Bonus Tracks