Desert to the Pines 2019 - Area "A" to Strawberry

[Stepmurr]

Steve's Alaskan adventure was chilling me to the bone so I set out on an Arizona Adventure. I obtained a permit for area A of the Sonoran Desert Monument and figured that should warm me up a little.

Area A is an inactive (hopefully) part of the Barry Goldwater bombing range that is open to the public. You have to get a permit and acknowledge that if the Air Force doesn't kill you the smugglers probably will
I set out Friday morning for area A.

 

[Stepmurr]

The first part through the main Sonoran Desert Monument was a nice gravel road.

First stop was a dried up water system

I saw lots of these along the way.

 

[Stepmurr]

Saguaro in bloom

Flyin High

Pretty, desolate, & pretty desolate

Another abandoned well system

 

[Stepmurr]

Area A first gate - hope your will is up to date

No more nice gravel road

First use of four wheel drive to get around this rock

Border of Area A (inactive) and Barry Goldwater (active) bombing range. Go no further!!!

 

[Stepmurr]

Area A photos

 

[Stepmurr]

Fallen Hero

This would look cool in the moonlight

This Barry border was in a really bad spot up a very steep washed out road

Turning around made me glad I have lockers

 

[Stepmurr]

Roads in Area A must not get much maintenance

It was so hot even the buzzards stopped flying

Sin agua

 

[Stepmurr]

Such a lonely country the Saguaros have to hug themselves

Shaft furnace in the middle of nowhere

 

[Stepmurr]

Farley's cabin

Driving around in 110 F at slow speed really upped my intake temperature. I usually run a little over ambient when I'm driving highway speeds. Really kills the air conditioning too

Roads were really overgrown in the washes - pin-striping guaranteed!

 

[Stepmurr]

End of the day trip to the Sonoran Desert Monument

I did not see a single vehicle on the monument - Phoenix traffic was quite a shock

I was hoping that the Joshua Tree Forest north of Wickenburg would be cooler. Got there just at sunset.

Saturday morning temps were already in the high 80's at 6 AM

The Joshua Trees were cool, but not cool enough to spend the day.

 

[Stepmurr]

Sunrise in the Joshua Tree Forest

On to pine country!

Quick stop at the Yarnell State Monument. When it gets cooler I'll come back and hike the memorial trail.

 

[Stepmurr]

Prescott national forest was a bust - I couldn't find any cool pines so I headed to the Coconinos

The western most pines along State Road 260

Snowball cactus in bloom

Aw . . . the piney woods

 

[Stepmurr]

The pines

More snowballs

80 F at 4:30 pm Saturday afternoon (ignore the time on the thermometer)

49 F Sunday morning

 

[Stepmurr]

Sunday sunrise on Clear Creek

Visit from the locals

 

[Stepmurr]

Watch out for the "WILD FIR"

Waiting for the June "Strawberry Moon" eight miles North East of Strawberry, Arizona. Hope the clouds go away before tonight!

 

[ARJMN]

Very nice Steve. Super envious of your trip.

 

[Pitch]

Excellent photos and storytelling, sir!

 

[Hank Tank]

What a great road trip. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Stepmurr]

Strawberry, Az

June's "Strawberry" full moon rising eight miles North East of Strawberry, AZ.

The clouds gave a tiger-stripe effect to the full moon

Strawberry sunrise Monday morning

 

[Stepmurr]

Monday's campsite a little further into the pines

:Local resident

My, Granny, what big teeth you have!