Quaddin'

IMAGES OF ARIZONA

March 9, 2011

Song: "Wipeout" by The Ventures.

• Muggins Mountain

• Ocotillo in bloom

• Fields of vegetables

• Video

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Heading for the Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Today we went quaddin' in the Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area. I shared a "Rhino" with an able driver and had to do nothing but enjoy the view and the ride and take pictures. Finally, the dust caused my camera lens cover to quit otherwise I'd have had even more pictures. My camera seems to flatten the landscape. These were much steeper trails than it looks. There is no eyepiece on my camera and the glare from the viewfinder was blinding so I just pointed it in the general direction. The pictures are surprisingly good, given that I couldn't compose a thing - even myself!

The desert arroyos (washes) we drove through had some very tricky narrow places loaded with boulders but these little quads (ATVs) seem to be able to go over anything. We climbed the steep banks of the washes with no problem. My brother often stopped to take a picture of an ocotillo in bloom - or of me because this was my first time doing anything like this. It was great. I felt like I was riding my lawn mower and I was sure I'd be deaf by the time I made it home.

Heading for the Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area by back roads as much as possible.

Heading for Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Heading for Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground along a canal

Heading for Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

What remains of the Gila River after the canals have had their share.

Heading for Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Heading for Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground beside vast fields of lettuce. This area supplies over 90% of the USA's lettuce.

Heading for Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground by fields of green onions grown for seed.

Heading for Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

Heading for Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground - More lettuce fields.

In the background you can see the bus that brings the Mexican workers up from Mexico daily - plus their portable toilet trailered behind. (See next picture.)

Heading for Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

Picked lettuce field.

Heading for Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

Heading for Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground by the canal

Heading for Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Now we're getting into the rougher stuff.

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

We began traveling through a wide wash that obviously had flash floods through it moving these boulders.

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Beginning to have trouble with my lens cover.

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

This was a lot steeper than it looks.

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

This little spot was REALLY rough.

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

We were warned to stay off the Proving Ground and we did, more or less. I heard only one bomb.

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

My brother is an exceptionally tall man. J

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

I'd seen plenty of ocotillos but this one is the first I've seen in bloom. All the others were just spiny wands but they develop leaves and blossoms swiftly when the warm weather comes.

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

The decision was made to go into unknown territory. No marks marred the desert varnish so we knew we were the first on it.

Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground - Out of the wash.

Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground out of the wash behind us

Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

Yes, we climbed out of that wash with no problem.

Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

Another ocotillo in bloom.

Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

Hard to hold my camera steady. I can't see a thing in the viewfinder. I just point and shoot.

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area at the top of a very steep bank.

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

The new direction proved impassable so we turned around and headed back.

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground

Muggins Mountain - Proving Ground area

(Drake photo)

Muggins Mountains - Proving Ground

And so I was introduced to another facet of the desert and I followed in imagination the old prospector, with sympathy for his poor little burros. This is one desolate bit of country.