Exploring the Cargo Muchacho Mountains

It’s not terribly crowded on this BLM boondock along the southern feet of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains, don’t tell anybody, but I happily share the view with a few distant neighbors and when the weather permits I walk, sometimes discovering flowers, rocks, and animal tracks.

Nothing wrong with my last camp along American Girl Mine Road, but after running errands in Yuma I opted to be closer to the rugged Cargo Muchacho Mountains so drove further north on Ogilby Road and followed a typical two-track not far beyond Tumco, the historic mining town site.

Horse head shadow

Sadly my first choice for camp had very iffy signal so I moved a bit but it still didn’t improve.  I truly liked the view enough to suffer that for another day and took a couple short walks.  Also walked back up the road a bit around the tip of a small ridge and found better signal that might also block some of the typical northern winter winds.

So I moved the next day and was able to post on the blog and upload the video about Mexico.  And of course still had a beautiful view of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.

That afternoon high cirrus clouds showed sundogs to both sides of the sun.

Followed by an outstanding sunset that I took far too many photos of and ended with a pillar of light.  I figure these are all good signs for a well chosen camp.

A 73° day with barely a breeze called me out for a walk.  I generally just follow the two-track roads that 4x4s and OHVs use then wander off to attractive sights.

Many side roads also look inviting yet can be saved for another day.

The road often crosses boulder strewn dry washes where the vegetation is found.  Sunshine highlights the fall colored leaves of Ocotillo and the still flowering Brittlebush.

Sometimes the wash is the road.

Tiny purple flowers caught my eye.

Amazing rock washes down from the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.  Lots of quarts with mineral inclusions.

I am always looking for signs of wildlife and have barely seen anything including birds in this dry environment.  This track got my attention.  Note the size compared to my shoe and lack of claw marks which makes me think a cougar walked this way.  I didn’t see any more tracks in the rocky wash.  A rare animal to actually see in the wild yet we are likely to be seen by it.

I only walked a mile round trip but was gone for more than two hours.  That’s the way I stroll.

Christmas eve’s 76° drew me outside to read in the sunshine.  Later in the day a neighbor came over and we shared little treats as we shared our herstories.  I took no photos that day.  That evening, I heard from a friend that a mutual high school friend had passed away.  We had both dated John at different times in our lives.  I know that getting older means loosing more people.  Not easy, yet reminds me how precious this journey called life really is.

So on an almost 80° Christmas day I sat outside and reflected on life.  Wish I could report some epiphany, but basically I just sat and watched the world go by.  I did post a Christmas video made with one of Joann’s puppets.

The following day was also warm.  Another short walk along a different road into the Cargo Muchacho Mountains took me past a neighbor with a delightfully friendly dog named Kofa.  Seeing what looked like a covered telescope I asked and the cover came off in a flash.  This neighbor is an astrophotographer and shared some examples of his images.  WOW!!  Think I’ll stick to the moon.

Gatee over mine opening allows bats through b

And what I see along life’s way.

Plus sunsets.

And sometimes sunrises.  The clouds hung out most of the day and thickened towards evening along with an increase of wind.  Prediction for that night and next day was rain.  That would curtail more exploring at least for a few days.