2022 - West - May 13 - Saguaro National Park & May 14 - Chiricahua National Monument

 

Finished with Silver City, we were anxious to move onto to Tucson AZ.  In addition to the sights there we are hoping to get some work done on the coach.    

On Thursday we drove through Saguaro National Park West.  Although we had visited the park before, it was definitely worth revisiting.  These huge Saguaros are magnificent. Many of them blooming now.

Friday was spent restocking the coach and more importantly, getting new tires on the jeep.  

In our haste to get to Tucson, we realized we should have stopped for a day at Willcox AZ,  mid-way between Silver City and Tucson.  This town is the nearest to Chiricahua National Monument.  Reviewing some info about this place convinced us we needed to correct this error.  

Today (Saturday May 14) we drove the jeep all the way back to Willcox, AZ (120 miles each way) and visited the Chiricahua National Monument. Once off the Interstate the drive was interesting - lots of deer and we even saw a peccary crossing the road.

Mexican Jays were everywhere.

The Chiricahua Mountains were once inhabited by the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apaches back in the 1400s. This landscape were created about 27 million years ago with an eruption from the Turkey Creek Volcano.  Erosion over time created the pillars seen in these pictures.  

Vaughan decided it would be fun to hike the Echo Canyon Loop trail -  a 3.4 mile hike starting on top of a mountain down through grottos and into a canyon. It wasn't too bad until we had to hike back out. It was exhausting but beautiful.

Lots of places in the west have a "balanced rock", but here nearly every formation had a similar feature.

At several points on the trail, the rocks formed a "grotto".  Interesting to explore and a respite from the sun and 90 degree heat even at 10AM.

Around every corner, especially on the descent into the canyon, was yet another beautiful vista.

Wildlife was scarce, but we did get to see some beautiful woodpeckers.

Sorry, I just can't enough pics of these Yucca blooms.

We finally made it back out of the canyon,  Unlike the intermittent shade on the trip down, this part of the hike was almost entirely in full sun.  The jeep and its air-conditioning a welcome sight. 

Stopping by a dry stream bed to do a little rock-hounding, this Mexican Jay surprised me.  Landing on a rock only a few feet from where I was standing, it seemed perfectly happy having his picture taken.  Unfortunately I didn't have anything to reward him.  Sorry buddy. 

Leaving the park, we spotted this cutie-pie munching by the side of road.

On the way home, both tired and hungry, we stopped in Willcox at Big Tex BBQ and ate in an old train dining car.

After returning to Tucson, we rested a bit before showering off the trail dust.  After massaging our sore leg muscles we headed to a local casino for some dinner and entertainment.

I think tomorrow will be a recovery day.  Perhaps a chance to wash the coach and jeep.