Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

  
 "Soon," says Shirley. "Soon!"
   Right after we clear the Thanksgiving table and begin putting out the Christmas decor, we start thinking about our winter trip. Soon! Winters in the great frozen tundra hold few charms for us. We can't wait to be someplace warm and sunny. Oh, yes, sunny by all means. A little cold might be tolerated but five months of gray is a burden on the soul.
  In recent years, warm and sunny means Arizona: White Water Draw, Las Cienegas, Tucson, Saguaro National Park, maybe a visit with friends in Phoenix. And Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Definitely that.
   Organ Pipe is west of Tucson and due south of Phoenix. It sits right on the border with Mexico. From our site in Twin Peaks Campground we can see the lights of Sonoyta below us, five miles off. 
   This is the Sonoran Desert--the green desert. The park is named for the columnar cactus that reaches the northern-most extent of its range in southern Arizona. Even there, it grows on south-facing slopes where it can absorb the most sun. The Monument is home to 28 species of cactus including the saguaro, the quintessential armed cactus the everyone recognizes.
   We have heard people complain that the desert is just brown and boring. This post should dispel that notion.
   

Organ pipe cactus

Ocotillo

After it blooms, ocotillo leaves turn color and drop just like trees in the north.

They are left looking like dead, thorny sticks until the next rain.

Organ pipe cactus prefer the south-facing slopes.

Abandoned ranch at the end of Alamo Canyon

There is a nice 4.5 mile roundtrip hike out to the old Victoria Mine.

Yes, there are serpents in the desert. But this gopher snake is harmless. To people, that is.

The pattern on its back resembles that of a rattlesnake so it can be somewhat disconcerting until you recognize him.

Snake went in the front door. Packrat came out the backdoor.

It can be rough spending your winter afternoons in the desert. 

Gambel's quail scurry through our campsite and don't hang around. They are not beggars.

 Genetic mutations can produce crestated or deformed cacti. 

Fairy duster

Blue-spotted lizard

Gila woodpecker

Nevermore

The Quitobaquito tour goes to an oasis on the Devil's Highway.

Mexican Rt. 2 is just across the fence from the Monument.

Salt-tolerant pup fish survive here and in Death Valley.

Chain fruit cholla appears to produce bunches of grapes.

Curve billed thrashers built their nest in a cholla right next to our RV.

Chicken on the Cobb grill.

Moon rise over Mt. Ajo.

Site 15 is our favorite. It has a canopy, or ramada, and is at the end of the loop with unrestricted views. Sometimes we have to wait for other campers to leave the site. Worth the wait.