3/08/2010

March 6-8, 2010 Why, Ajo, and Organ Pipe

On Saturday (6th) was just a kick back day since it was VERY WINDY.  Saturday night, the rain started and continued until about lunch time on Sunday.  When it ended we headed out…. Our plans were to go to Ajo to the Mining Museum but we did not make it.  We did check out the BLM lands and Coyote Howls East in Why – as future places to stay…   We ended up at Bill’s Roadhouse in Ajo for a late lunch (the meal was okay) and then just headed back.  So we have a couple of things to do for next season when we are here – :-)))

Today (Monday, 6th), we decided to hike the trail to the Victoria Mine Site.   Victoria Mine is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as one of the oldest prospecting sites (copper, lead, gold and silver) in southwest Arizona. I had some trouble locating some history on the mine but here is a link to some great info on it:

http://www.nps.gov/orpi/naturescience/upload/V-Mine-CLI-6-08.pdf

The stone building is actually Levy’s store (although their is some conflicting stories on this also):

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 079

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 065

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 069

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 076

One of the shafts:

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 056

The hike overall was 5.3 miles from our campsite (not bad for 2 old folks) and the scenery was …..

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 006 

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 015

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 048

More strange Saguaro shapes:

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 011

 03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 019

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 046      

And the flowers have started to bloom (and some will be shortly):

03-08-10  B Organ Pipe Cactus NM 014

03-06-10  Organ Pipe Cactus NM 002

03-06-10  Organ Pipe Cactus NM 004

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 052

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 003

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 031

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 037

03-08-10  A Victoria Mine Traile OPCNM 040 

03-08-10  B Organ Pipe Cactus NM 004

 03-08-10  B Organ Pipe Cactus NM 006

So tomorrow we are heading back to Gila Bend to the same campground as last week (if we can get in).  There is some more cleaning that Andy and I both want to do..

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