April 11, 2008 Ripsey Wash to Kelvin

Last night was another "campfire in the road" kind of windy evening; but a nice campsite otherwise . We watched the light of the sinking sun move up the cliffs beside the camp . Vultures were circling low, heading in to their roost for the night . The mules had had a long day with only one place for water; they were quiet and seemed glad to be "home" at the trailer .
Dick had set up camp where the trail crosses Ripsey Wash .
The next day a work crew was coming into this section to do some trail work . Two members of the crew (John Rendall & Dave Babcock) had been a big help to me regarding maps of the area, and scouting . I wrote a note to them and the work crew . We left the note in a side wash that we thought they would be using for their camp . Don't know if they got the note .



If you look closely in this photo, in the lower right quadrant you can just make out the truck and trailer . This was our camp in Ripsey Wash as Corinne and I saw it as we were riding down the final ridge into the main wash . In the background is what is called The Big Hill . The trail switchbacking up it is a real marvel in engineering and construction; easy grades and well stabilized tread . Great views looking back west into the many side canyons of Ripsey Wash .

The following photos were taken from the ridge going north from the Big Hill.

Looking east to the Galiuro Mountains

Superstitions on the horizon (See Billy's ear?)

Hillside of brittlebush


Looking east, down into Kearny


Diane and Billy admiring the view

buckwheat, and claret cup cactus


brittle bush and globe mallow

On the way down off the ridges and toward camp, we came to a small wash that had a little pool of water . It was about 6 or 8 inches below the level of the wash . Rosie was thirsty . She got down on her knees to drink from that little pool ! They had had water a couple hours before but she wanted some of this water too . Billy was not that THAT thirsty I guess . It had not been hot weather .

On the switchbacks coming down, I got off to take a flower picture . As I was remounting, from the uphill side, the bank gave way and I slid under Billy . He didn't even flick an ear .


Camp at last . Dick had the hor d'oerves out and the cold drinks ready . Jane and Jesse were always excited to see us coming into camp . Dick was too !

Mules LOVE to roll . At one point they were both rolling at the same time but we were not fast enough with the camera to get it on film .


Billy and Diane What a good mule !

Jane and Diane