After finishing up my hikes that afternoon, it was time to head over to my campsite. I had secured one of the four sites at the Alamo Canyon Primitive Campground. Finding the site was not easy, as I drove right by the turn-off and had to double back to make the 3-mile drive down the dirt road. I pulled into my spot and quickly got to setting up my Luno Mattress. I could not find the nozzle for the compressor, so I had to hold it carefully to each valve to inflate them. I found the nozzle the next morning when packing up, under the folded back seat. How it got there is a mystery. I opted to bring a sandwich for dinner and skip a dehydrated meal or the hassle of any real cooking. I sat and watched an incredible sunset, and actually ran around looking for some nice saguaro to frame in the fading light. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument does not allow campfires, so when the darkness comes, it comes. Soon, Orion came into view, low in the western skies. I spent some time working on my astrophotography. I am slowly understanding AstroShader, the app I use for these experiments. Shortly, the effort of the two hikes and the drive told me it was time to crawl into my car and get some sleep.
Around 4 am, I woke up and decided to crawl out and grab a few more photos, as the Milky Way was now visible in the night sky. I slept for a couple more hours before the morning light crept through the window. I made a simple breakfast of oatmeal before heading out to hike the Alamo Canyon Trail. I was technically 0.12 miles shy of the required 5 miles to earn that “I hiked the green desert” pin. This 1.8 round trip trail is fairly flat, so those miles wouldn’t be an issue, and there is an old house and corral to be seen along the trail as well.
The trail worked its way along the north side of the wash, passing a variety of cacti, including some Organ Pipe Cactus. The morning light offered some great photos. I came to the old house first and poked around it some, but I was on a bit of a timetable. I crossed through the wash and quickly reached the corral. I snapped a few photos and began to retrace my route. There in the wash was the rusted remains of the engine that must have been the pump to pull the water from the wash to the storage troughs. Soon, I spied the end of the trail and the end of my adventures in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. I changed out of my hiking gear and drove back to the visitor center to obtain my pin. Now for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Tucson for the rest of my Arizona adventure.
I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. In 2019, I became the third person to complete the San Diego 100 Peak Challenge. Not stopping with that accomplishment, I set my sights on the harder San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list, which I completed in 2021. In addition, I have conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and Arizona-Winter). Beyond attempting the San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list a second time, I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.