After five days in Organ Pipe Cactus, we decided to make our way back north, with stops along the way.
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The first order of business meant getting fuel, fresh food, and tacos (of course!) in Ajo, AZ. Ajo once boomed as a copper mining town, had a bust, and now sees some resurgence due to outdoor recreation, tourism, and the arts. Any similarities to another former mining town that went bust and then grew because of tourism may not be entirely coincidental!
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A sign from the town’s past did make me pause a bit –
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A slur from the past that lost most of its punch and is, thankfully, lesser known than it would to previous generations—a name on the ash heap of history.
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After some driving, we made it to the Painted Rock Rock Petroglyph Site. Not far from Phoenix, it contains one of the densest collections of petroglyphs. It’s located along the Gila River, meaning many people have come to and from this place for generations.
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The site’s popularity today is better explained by its low elevation location and relative warmth, even in the winter, as a place for many RVers. The clean and inexpensive campground, not far off the interstate, makes for a pleasant stop overall.
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Once I “explained” to one RV neighbor in my usual subtle manner that it was past the posted hours to run generators, we could hear the coyotes yip and the owls hoot.
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The following day we made our way north to Phoenix, supplied at Trader Joe’s to get Joan’s fix, and then checked out the Agua Fria National Monument.
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I stopped and camped there five years ago but looked forward to seeing it again. As before, I saw two more accessible (relatively speaking) sites and camped there. The petroglyph site off the interstate makes for a pleasant leg stretcher. The vast area near a flowing stream made for a prominent gathering place.
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Metate slicks.
After this stop, we made our way to the monument and went to a pueblo site. This site, though considered one of the more accessible ones, does require at least an AWD vehicle with decent ground clearance. Since I last stopped by, a local non-profit group marked the site and has a brochure explaining certain areas.
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We did spot some red-ware sherds dotting the pueblo area, too.
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Post-visit research indicates much of this relatively small monument remains lightly visited due to the roughness of the roads that required true 4WD (not just AWD) and the need to look over maps for clues to the location of the sites. We’ll return at some point and see the lesser-known places in an obscure area.
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That evening we found one of many available dispersed sites to call home for the evening and took a quick hike from our campsite.
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Our beautiful, but cold and windy campsite, made for an enjoyable last evening at the higher elevations.
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We spent six nights camping. And on day seven, we woke up to gusts and cold breezes.
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Breaking camp. PCO Joan.
We broke camp quickly, made our way to a diner off the interstate, and decided, with single-digit temps further north, a night in Flagstaff with a hot shower and a relatively quick drive to Moab later, a motel room made sense.
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But not without some other stops. We made our way to Montezuma Castle National Monument. Another place that I visited in the past and was pleased to see again. A volunteer guide added much to the tour and answered our questions about the area and its historical place.
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A short drive later, we stopped in at Montezuma Well National Monument. The importance of this steady water source in a desert area can’t get overstated. On this site, you can still see the remnants of centuries-old irrigation ditches.
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. Our final stop before rejoining I17 and making our way to Flagstaff meant fortuitous timing on our part. We stopped at the V Bar V Heritage Site, which has limited hours open to the public.
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With over 1000 images, the site’s uniqueness also stems from the fact that it features almost only one image style and minimal vandalism.
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Additionally, the site contains a solstice panel.
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After our last stop, we made our way to Flagstaff, checked into our room, took a much-needed shower, and enjoyed some of the amenities of Flagstaff.
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The following morning we made our way to our desert home and were not sad to return.
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