South by Southwest

[balzaccom]

We're just back from a two-week adventure through Arizona and New Mexico. The primary focus was a few pueblo and petroglyph sites, but since we were in the area, we took in a a few other things as well. We began with a couple of days in Joshua Tree, hiking around the Black Rock Campground (a first for us) and then staying at Cottonwood the second night.

From there we visited Casa Grande in Arizona, and day-hiked the Aravaipa Canyon (we were too late with our reservations to get an overnight permit). Down through San Xavier del Bac, Tubac, and Tumacacori, with a stop at Patagonia Lake to see birds--the Vermillion flycatcher was striking!

And then through Tombstone (yawn) and Bisbee to Douglas, up into New Mexico for Rock Hound State Park--a real gem, pun intended. Gila Cliff Dwelling was maybe our favorite stop on the whole trip, but we also really loved Three Rivers Petroglyphs, on BLM land. We stopped to see Quarai of the Salinas Pueblos, and then camped in tiny Tajique--two campsites, no fees.

Finally drove through Santa Fe to spend three days exploring in an around Bandelier, which was also magical, including La CIeneguilla petroglyphs. And after Petroglyph National Monument, we took in El Morro (WAY better than we expected) Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, and then called off a visit to the Grand Canyon because it was going to snow there, with temps down into the teens.

Not good if you're planning to hike some of those trails started at the South Rim...

The whole story is here: https://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/ ... -southwest

and the photos, including more petroglyphs than you will ever want to see, is here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YKxsvXvKzDLeBE6N7