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monkey44's avatar
monkey44
Nomad II
Mar 19, 2014

Texas to Death Valley

Any one got some off the beaten spots to see on the trip between Texas and Death Valley -- we've seen and camped most of the 'well known sites' but are looking for day trips - along the route N or S of 1-IO for the next two weeks or so as we wander along -- we'll hit DV by the end of the month. No hurry ... should still be cool enough there to manage some short day-hikes, and hang out in the A/C in the hot parts of the day ... but w don't want to Just Drive Thru" along this route, we want to wander and see things 'not so famous' but still worth the effort. Mostly nature and history interests ...

We're leaving Davis Mountain TX this weekend, heading west.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Mar 19, 2014
    Have you been to Chiricahua National Monument and Ft Apache? South of I10 right after the NM border. There is also Bisbee and the Queen Mine tour.
  • TexasShadow's avatar
    TexasShadow
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2014
    Near Wilcox AZ is Cochise Stronghold, a small, scenic area to see.
    9 miles south of Benson, AZ is Kartchner Caverns State Park, very nice.
    Tucson has St. Xavier Mission and a little further south of that is Tubac Mission State Park.
    From Phoenix, take 60 to Wickenburg and then 93 to I 40 and Kingman. In route, a few miles south of Wikieup, is Burro Creek campground, nice place for an overnight stop.
  • monkey44's avatar
    monkey44
    Nomad II
    Mar 19, 2014
    Great -- will check those out -- leaving for Davis Mtn tomorrow for a few days with the Javolinas :) ... then on to Death Valley for a couple weeks.

    AS a side note -- was a Davis last year. Some campers left out a large cooler on the table. The Javolinas took about five seconds to find it, and had their own private picnic for about a half-hour. Was a sight to watch them push one another around and 'fight' for the pickings. Took them about ten minutes to figure out how to open the catch - was very funny, in a way.

    Signs all over -- DO NOT leave food out.
  • TexasShadow's avatar
    TexasShadow
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2014
    I think sometimes folks leave something out simply because they do not notice it sitting there in plain sight. I've done it and I suspect many others have, too.
    Looking for that is part of a camp host's job when he/she makes his rounds.
  • monkey44's avatar
    monkey44
    Nomad II
    Mar 19, 2014
    This was a tent site - tent sitting there, cooler on table -- bet they don't forget it next time.

    Those Javalinas are pretty mean critters - about eight or ten of them, and fighting one another for the goodies, grunting like dogs ... was quite a sight. No one was getting anywhere near them either. Nasty tusks ... and very quick.
  • TexasShadow's avatar
    TexasShadow
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2014
    re javalinas...yeh, I've been at Davis, too, and they're always bigger than my memory of them, ha ha. Not sure I would tent camp there.
  • monkey44's avatar
    monkey44
    Nomad II
    Mar 20, 2014
    TexasShadow wrote:
    re javalinas...yeh, I've been at Davis, too, and they're always bigger than my memory of them, ha ha. Not sure I would tent camp there.


    They won't bother you unless you taste like food ... so, just be sure you don't salt and pepper yourself or pour steak sauce over your toes.

    But gotta tell ya, these pig looking things are very fast and very strong, with nasty tusks. They seem almost unaware of folks around, so not dangerous as a general rule - long as you leave them alone.

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