More Arizona Meanderings: Chiriahua National Monument

The weather in northern Arizona was freezing and unpredictable with snow, hail, rain and windstorms. I headed south and ended up at the Chiriahua National Monument. Entrance is FREE! There is no free camping and inside the park is Bonita Canyon Campground, but it was expensive and full. A van-dwelling friend advised to camp right outside the gate on a triangular patch of dirt where the three roads meet. It felt vulnerable to be parked out in the open at an intersection, but I asked the park's visitor's center and they said, "Yep, there are usually 3-4 RVs or vans there every morning when they come in for work. Perfectly legal." I was the only one, but there was a white van parked right next to the entrance sign all night. Cell service is scattered, but the visitor's center has wi-fi.

The landscape was beautiful with majestic scenery, breathtaking views, and all kinds of bizarre rock formations. The first day I hiked the top at Massai Point Nature Trail and then the Nature Bridge the second day in the morning. Beautiful hikes, but that second day was an exhausting 4.8 mile that felt like 15 miles through a canyon, up a mountain, along a ridge, down the mountain, along another canyon and back! I was hoping to walk a nature bridge or at least walk under one, but it was inaccessible located up on the mountain's wall. The whole time I was worried about woke rattlesnakes, rabid coatis, and mama bears, but I only saw birds and chipmunks. I did see two coatis the day before on a hillside. Perfect weather, cool and sunny. 

Arizona Escapades

I wish...

After freezing in Southern California, I decided to sightsee some of Arizona. I ventured north first stopping in Quartzsite where my friends were still staying at the LTVA. It wasn't too cold, but the wind was violent! My friend claimed it's never windy, but since this is the second visit I've made to Quartzsite and the SECOND windstorm, I was skeptical. I thought Lake Havasu sounds like it's hot and prone to vacationers. Maybe the weather is better? North I continued.

The various parks along the drive right before Lake Havasu with the beautiful lakes were gorgeous. The palm trees lining the beaches looked like something from a fantasy television show! Lots of BLM land along the highway just south and north of Lake Havasu City. I stopped at the local Ford dealership to spend some money on fluid changes and general maintenance. While I waited for the van to be done, I walked to The London Bridge! I stopped in the tourist center and watched the history of the bridge. Pretty cool! The clouds eventually blew away but the wind was so violent I thought I'd get wind burnt rather than sun burnt!

I left with not much of a plan. Maybe north then to Prescott? This freedom is wonderful! I looked at a map and tried to formulate an itinerary. I took the old Route 66, then ended up on a twisty turning highway with a drop off on one side in the middle of snow flurries that turned into a hail storm! Really? How did I manage to get colder?

North of Prescott I found a BLM campground. Shortly after this photo was taken it began to rain. I awoke the next morning to 28 degrees! No. No. No. I visited Prescott in 42 degrees. Beautiful town, but way too cold!

North of Prescott BLM campground

I drove back up into the mountains on another frightening twisting highway covered in ice with a drop off! There was a semi with a long, empty bed in front of me which gave me some courage. I figured if he could take those turns and not fly off the cliff, I was good to go. I watched as he crossed into the incoming traffic lane. Good god! My nerves were shot once I arrived in Jerome, a really cool town built on the side of a mountain. I continued to Cottonwood. Tired of snow, hail, and freezing temperatures I hightailed it back to Tucson. Once I dropped into the valley the weather warmed, turned onto Highway 79, a beautiful drive through the desert, arriving "home" around 5:30pm to 60 degrees. Finally!

Someone told me before I left, Tucson is the primo spot for wintering. Perfect weather compared to every other place in the USA. I doubted this man's knowledge, but I now agree. I plan to hang out around southern Arizona until the rest of the world warms up!