Mountains, Deserts, and Saguaros - September 2026

 

Sunrise at Seminole Canyon State Park, TX

We planned this trip three months ago and dreaded the I-10 drive across west Texas.  We have driven it three times in the past three years, so it was a no-brainer to drive U.S 90 through southwest Texas.  We could not drive through Uvalde without stopping to pay tribute to young lives lost in 2023.  There are small shrines around a fountain and murals of each Robb Elementary student lost to the mass shooting.

After Uvalde, we camped one night at Seminole Canyon State Park and loved sleeping with the van's sliding door open to the cool air, no screen needed.

Pecos River High Bridge, U.S. Highway 90

Before reaching Marfa, we made a fun stop and chuckled at the sign, especially the last line.

In planning this trip, our first reservation made was for Indian Lodge in Davis Mountain State Park.

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 and recently reopened after renovations, we checked this off our bucket list.  It was fun exploring the various terraces and courtyards. The tarantula was a bonus.  

aoudads resting on the hillside behind the lodge

Shelter built by CCC at the end of Skyline Drive

We were up early the next day and really enjoyed the scenic drive through the Davis Mountains in the cool low 60s temperature with the windows down.  We didn't encounter any other vehicles, but did have to slow down for wild turkeys in the road.

Morning sunrise from a terrace at Indian Lodge

Reluctantly, we joined the throngs of 18-wheelers on I-10 to get through El Paso and Las Cruces, NM.  When we reached Deming, NM and got off the interstate, we made our way to City of Rocks State Park - a place we discovered in the dark on a previous trip.  We made a side trip to Silver City, a thriving tourist town with lots of public art.  Back at the campground for a near full moon and sleeping with the van door open again all night.

5:00 a.m. with the setting moon framed between two outcroppings - City of Rocks SP

I sprinkled cremains of two sisters in the desert

City of Rocks in the early morning sunlight.

On to Arizona . . . I eagerly scanned for my first glimpse of saguaros as we approached Tucson.  We made a visit to each unit of Saguaro National Park.

We camped one night at Catalina State Park just north of Tucson.

Datura blooming all through the campground (channeling Georgia O'Keefe).

Downtown Tucson at 7:00 a.m. - perfect light to photograph this 150-foot tall mural.

You have probably guessed that I LOVE saguaros.

Looking Back to 2010 - Phantom Ranch

 

With the news of the recent flooding of Bright Angel Creek in Grand Canyon National Park, memories of our grandest adventure of all came flooding back.  In the years before retirement from teaching (and the launch of this blog), we traveled many miles with our children to numerous sites in the extraordinary U.S. National Park System.  As a couple, we have continued our journeys and adventures for the past 20 years.  A few national park trips in the past 8 years have included our grandchildren.  You will find those adventures within this blog.

On the drive back to Houston in 2009 after attending our son's Army deployment ceremony at Fort Drum, NY, we decided to plan our hike into the inner Grand Canyon.  I remember stating that if we were ever going to do it, we shouldn't wait any longer. (Not getting any younger, ya know) After securing reservations for beds in the bunkhouse at Phantom Ranch one year in advance, we were committed.  

As a pair of 55 year olds living on flat land at sea level, we were wise enough to know we couldn't achieve our goal by simply driving straight to GCNP and hitting the trail.  Having the luxury of a whole summer off from teaching, we spent about a month logging 100+ miles of hiking at elevation throughout the western states.  Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque, a short section of the Continental Divide Trail at Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado, many trails in Colorado National Monument, Bryce Canyon NP, and other day hikes.  We were as ready as we would ever be.

In 2010, we were still tent camping.  At GCNP, we pitched our tent in the campground and listened to the rain throughout the night.  Early on a misty morning, we hopped on the shuttle bus to the South Kaibab Trail head, donned ponchos and backpacks, and started off.  The distance to Phantom Ranch on this trail is 7 miles . . . downhill hiking mile after mile is no joke.

After about an hour, we were able to stow our ponchos and enjoy the relatively cooler temperature.

looking at what was ahead of us

Confluence of Bright Angel Creek and Colorado River

Clear water in the creek joins the river that was its true color after the recent rain.

at the bottom with the view of one of the bridges that crosses the river

Phantom Ranch bunkhouses - I stayed two nights in the women's building while Brian slept in the men's.

While we spent two days at Phantom Ranch, we were told the inner canyon can get up to 110 degrees.  It was 85 degrees during our viist.  Our good fortune came at a price, though.  A ranger was going through the nearby campground warning people of potential dangers.  He was injured in a rock fall while doing this and had to be evacuated by hellicopter.  

Brian signed the trail logbook at the river level of Bright Angel Trail before we began our 10 mile hike back up to the South Rim.

We made it out safely!

a well-deserved souvenir t-shirt

Looking back, I am grateful that we had a successful experience.  Recent events of last month's flood and last year's Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim,  reminds me that we are interlopers in the natural landscapes of God's creation.  Grand Canyon was formed by raging waters and that process continues.  We were lucky enough to visit the North Rim again a few years ago.  I fervently wish my grandchildren will be able to see more of our public lands in the coming years.  They are under threat these days and the National Park System needs more funding and staffing.  Same for national monuments administered by the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service.  Our nation stands to lose something grander than ourselves if we do not support them.