More Organ Pipe Photography
©Bert Gildart: Here are a few images that I have not had time to work into a more informational blog, but which stand alone and tell a bit more about the diversity of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
One of the images shows black water bottles, and a park brochure says to report the location and presence of such bottles. These were near Victoria Mine, just uphill from the mine, and were used by illegal immigrants.
L TO R: Black bottles usually indicate the passage of illegal immigrants; Janie inside cabin at Victoria Mine (requiring
a several mile hike); Don and Nancy approaching
Bull Pasture, following hike accessed from Ajo Mountain Drive.
In one of the images Janie is framed by the window of an old cabin once a center for sporadic gold and silver excavations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Other paths continue from this structure and lead to nearby Senita Basin, which has been closed for several years because of problems with illegal immigration (see my last several blog postings: one, two, three). Victoria Mine is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as one of the oldest prospecting sites in southwest Arizona.
Cactus forest near Bull Pasture, just off the Ajo Mountain Drive
Other images are from the hike Don, Nancy and I made to Bull Pasture, accessed from along the Ajo Mountain Drive. Flowers were still out and the hike was literally a stroll through a cactus forest.
Sadly our trip is coming to a close and we must leave this lovely place, bound for Big Bend and the celebration of a friends very significant birthday. We’re not sure which day we’ll be leaving, and most likely won’t know until we wake up one morning and say, Yep, guess it’s time to go.”
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AIRSTREAM TRAVELS SIX YEARS AGO:
*Stalking the Mangroves of Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
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4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Sometimes the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
December 7th, 2012 at 9:57 am
I love the photo of the lush cactus forest. The spines glowing in the sunlight remind me of tinsel. The only lush cactus garden that I have ever seen was at the Huntington Museum gardens.