Apache Maid: Sept, 2009

We found out a couple weeks ago that Jacki is pregnant. We were very excited about the news of our growing family but had a trip planned to go camping over Labor Day weekend. This news did not stop our adventure as Ellesha was also very excited to go. She loves camping as much as we do and likes to help out around the campsite. As she is still a little young to help set up, we send her out to police the campground and pick up any garbage that she sees laying around. This trip was not meant so much for exploration, but more for relaxation. We did take a quick run up to the Apache Maid lookout, and the ranger that was manning the station was kind enough to invite us up, talk about about the area, and instruct Ellesha on what it is that she does up in the lookout. Needless to say, the views from the lookout were amazing, we could see all the way to Sedona.


View to the red rocks of Sedona.


Cool dead tree haunting our campsite.


Camping with a full moon. Way cool.


Our campsite. It used to be secluded and quiet, but during the holiday weekend we had noisy neighbors about a 1/4 mile away.

Remember to tread lightly and leave no trace.

Aaron

Alamo Lake: May 2009

Sometimes parents need a break too. Our friend sets up camp every spring on Alamo Lake to do some fishing for about 6 weeks or so. He invited Jacki and I to come out and join him, and we took this as an opportunity to get away with out our daughter. After work on Friday we headed out to Alamo Lake to join him with some relaxation. We chose not to fish, as we both find it one of the most boring things a person can do (no offense to all those that love to fish). Instead, we decided to take the back roads to the ghost town of Swansea on Saturday. We got off to an early start and really enjoyed the drive; it was a pretty well graded, though very soft dirt, road until we decided to take the back way out of the town site. We stopped at the town of Bouse and the general store to pick up a few provisions and then off to Swansea. We made it back in time for the fish fry that night, and breaded and fried fresh trout is absolutely delicious. Many thanks to our friend for sharing his catch with us.


Sunsets and water, is there anything more spectacular? Perhaps if my photography skills were better.


On the way to Swansea, it seems that there is nothing around for many miles.



There are many structures still standing in the town, and it even looks like an attempt at renovation occured not too many years ago.


The back way out of the town presents a slightly more challenging route.


Joshua Trees abound on the back way back to Wickenburg.

Remember to tread lightly and leave no trace.

Aaron

Mingus Mountain: April, 2009

We went to Prescott for the Overland Expo in April of 2009. After checking out all the cool rigs and gear available, we met up with some frinds for a night of camping, camaraderie, and a trail run the next morning. The trail chosen was Smiley Rock off of Mingus Mountain. We knew the trail would be a challenge for us as the Montero was still stock aside from tires, but we decided to give it a try anyway. We did have to turn around as the rock section of the trail proved too much for the low hanging parts on Montero. But it was a good time anyway. We need to give it another try now that the Montero has a bit more stuff on it to help with its off-road capabilities.


Why the trail is called Smiley Rock.


Jacki getting a little too frindly with the rock. What is the saying? "You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose."


The desert is still in bloom.



This is as far as we made it. The rocks got just a bit too big for the stock truck. Better luck next time.

Remember, tread lightly and leave no trace.

Aaron