Where the West Stays Wild

We did it! We experienced primative camping on the "Arizona Strip" and made it back to talk about the experience. I even have pictures! This first picture is about 60 miles from "town" in front of the Mount Trumball one room schoolhouse. The desert was gorgeous this time of year. Most of the time it is very brown with little vegetation. We have been getting quite a bit of rain so the plants are blooming and growing.

This gives you some idea of the vast area. This dirt road is maintained by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and is wide enough for two cars to travel. Now having said it is maintained, this doesn't mean it is an easy comfortable ride. It is ridged and has areas that are washed out during flash floods. You need a car with good tires and at least one spare. Also PLENTY of water!

This is the Bar 10 Ranch, about 70 miles from St. George. According to their website, "The Grand Canyon is the home of the Bar 10 Ranch. Located on the north rim of the canyon, the Bar 10 has been hosting Grand Canyon visitors for several decades. We are the perfect beginning and ending point for many river rafting experiences on the Colorado River and we are an excellent spot for back country hiking and adventure on the north rim of the Grand Canyon." They offer lodging and other back country experience. They are located 10 miles from the rim of the Grand Canyon.

This is the first glimpse of the Grand Canyon in the background. I was surprised to see all the volcanic rock in the area.

It's getting closer!

The first view of the Colorado River. This is truly the Grand Canyon, the western end. We camped at the rim in Whitmore Canyon. One of the appeals of Whitmore canyon is the trail to the Colorado River. At 2500 feet elevation, the one mile trail decends 1000 feet to the Colorado making this one of the accessable points from rim to river.

Now before you think I'm crazy, consider that the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (the most famous and accessable for viewing) averages about 7000 feet and the North Rim is about 8800. So being a meer 2500 feet is great for those who have the ability to hike down. Not us this time. We decided not to try it this time. The daytime temperature was over a 100 and there are no trees or shade. This would have made the hike brutal. Unless you start at 5 am! I am not a morning person!

This is our campsite at dusk. The ocotillos in the background had leaves on them and were so pretty.

The Canyon at sunset. The golden highlight on the river is right in front of a sandy beach area where some rafters camped for the night. Good luck seeing them!

Nine am and Madison the wonder poodle is already looking for shade. Poor girl, she went out to pee in the morning and stooped over an ant hill. A big red fiery ant bit her between the pads of her paw and stayed there. I had to grab the stupid ant and pull it off her. She limped for about 3 hours. It must have really stung!

The nighttime was very quiet and peaceful. The stars were brillant and the temperatures did fall. It still was very warm for sleeping in the tent, but hey, there scorpins in the desert. No sleeping under the stars for me! About 8 am, we were awoken by this.....

A helicopter from the Bar 10 Ranch picking up rafters. It was a very surreal experience, exciting to see a helicopter swoop down into the canyon and yet disturbing to me that we have people pay for this extravaganzance. Joe and I were the only people camping at the rim. It was a very strange feeling seeing this helicopter ferrying people out.

So there you have the primitive camping experience. It was a lot of fun, hot but relaxing and fun. Oh, and how did I get pictures from my faulty camera? Duck tape! I duck taped the battery compartment closed. I really wanted pictures.