2024 Sonoran Desert Safari Recap
Western Arizona / Southeastern California
January 29 – February 2, 2024
On this adventure, we had 6 4×4 vehicles: 4 Jeep Gladiators, 1 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited, and 1 1975 Ford Bronco.
On Day 1 we left Grand Mesa, Arizona and headed out into the Sonoran Desert. We stopped to see a water catchment system that is designed to help provide local animals with precious water. We also saw an old homestead as well as a mining smelter. At camp. we had a fantastic dinner of trail-made Dutch oven lasagna and a giant chocolate chip cookie to celebrate the 78th birthday of one of our participants. You’re never too old to get out there and explore!
Day 2 started a stop for gas at an interesting dinosaur-themed gas station in Gila Bend. We stopped along the Woolsey Peak and Signal Mountain Wilderness Trail at a very cool working *mechanical* windmill that was pumping water into a tank for animals to use. A lunch stop in 4th of July Wash lead to a decommissioned windmill that had been converted to solar for pumping water into a tank. After that, a stop at an abandoned mine that had a grate covering the pit which you could climb on top of to see into it. Finally made it to camp where we had a fantastic meal of Cowboy Quiche with an apple-cinnamon roll dessert!
Day 3 we explored the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. One of the interesting things we saw was the remains of the Hovatter Homestead, in which they planted what were small cacti at the time lining their driveway. Today they are huge. Then it was on to see the Hoodoo Cabin, in which travelers are allowed to stay. After that we saw the Wilbanks Cabin, again in which travelers are allowed to stay. Finally we made our way to camp, where we had delicious flank steak tacos with ice cream and trail-made brownies for dessert!
