Southwest 2021-5: Arizona: Quartzsite, Gila Bend, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

March 3-5, 2021

Our campsite at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

     It was the season of Snowbirds, and we anticipated little chance of camping at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on the US-Mexico border. But since Marilyn had not been with Doug when he was there previously, we at least wanted to drive through.

    Almost due west of Joshua Tree National Park, we crossed the Colorado River from California to Arizona.

 It was to be the first of many days experiencing the Colorado--little did we know that we would camp along it in Moab, UT  three weeks later.

    Quartzsite, Arizona, was made famous by the movie "Nomadland." Doug was amazed at the number of Snowbirds     still there in their RVs, trailers, tents, you name it, that cover the desert around town in winter. The main street was lined with vendor tents for the various gem, rock, and mineral shows that take place there. 

    Turning too early resulted in our stumbling upon this intersection: the house we own and in which Doug's son and daughter-in-law live is on Kenoyer Dr in Bellingham WA.

Kenoyer appeared a typical desert neighborhood with multiple saguaro...

...and other cacti as landscaping.

    When we arrived in Quartzsite the wind was blowing from the southeast at over 25 mph. We got gas, then headed east on I-10. Note the flag in the picture. 

The air was thick with dust. We finally pulled off at a rest stop.  Fighting the van through the wind was fatiguing for Doug, physically and mentally, and rather nerve wracking for Marilyn, as well.    

    Back on the road, it continued windy even when we turned south for our night's campsite at the Gila Bend AFB FamCamp--note the palm trees. Doug did laundry, which we typically do about once a week on the road.

    The next morning we drove the 60 miles south to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument--and to our glee were able to get a campsite! Unfortunately the showers were turned off due to Covid but the site was clean and only $10 with our seniors pass. The interpretation of covid safety varied greatly among campground and gas station coffee bars. Most importantly, in California, Arizona, and New Mexico, about 90% of folks donned masks when passing on trails.

    As it was still early, we headed out to do the 5-mile roundtrip Victoria Mine Trail to the Victoria Mine. Prospectors mined silver from 1880 to 1976, when the area was acquired as part of Organ Pipe Cactus NM. 

Though we began and ended at approximately the same elevation, the trail led us through saguaro forestup and down, and up and down, through many washes, and finally up to the former mine site. 

The terrain is also populated with organ pipe and other cacti. Here, a barrel cactus in bloom.

The ocotillo, Marilyn's favorite cactus, although it isn't technically a cactus, were nearing the end of their bloom.


Ocotillo bloom.

Saguaro, organ pipe, cholla.

We encountered a variety of cholla we hadn't seen before, "jumping" or "chain fruit" cholla.

Fruit of the chain fruit cholla.

The trail conveniently had several benches along the way. Doug relaxes on one under a palo verde tree.

Organ pipe cactus and young saguaro. We were amazed to learn that saguaro do not develop arms until at least 70 years of age. 

Penitent saguaro.

Marilyn rests at remains of Victoria Mine store.

Looking from Victoria Mine store south to Mexico.

    Once at the mine, we were only a couple of miles from the Mexican border--border wall runs up and over hills. It was rather sobering to think that we were hiking for pleasure through the same area that migrants attempt to cross for a better life. 

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