Yuma, AZ

“I'm going to Yuma for business the first week of April. Anything there worth arranging a free day for hiking?”

“Only if you want to drive. Not much in Yuma, but Patagonia is nice and not too far away. Full of short mountains and tall grass. You will see lots of wildlife--mountain goats, catmundi (sp?) at night, bobcats, birds, rattlesnakes, maybe even a mountain lion so take your camera!”

“no more New york? or do I have the wrong dates?

mapleleaf”

“It is only 4 hours to Tuscon where there is some GREAT winter/spring hiking. Sabino canyon is really nice and you could make it a dayhike. Yuma is really a small military town and there is not a lot of outdoor enthusiasm unless you count sanddune ATC riding. Tucson is more granola--hiker oriented.
Here's a good link.
http://arizona.sierraclub.org/trail_guide/”

“I forgot to mention, you actually drive through Tuscon to get to Patagonia. Sonoita/Patagonia has a couple local wineries w/ tasting rooms too if you're into that. It is really pretty country down there and one of the best kept secrets around.”

“LOL, maple. NYC is still on.

I've been to Tucson and Sabino Canyon. Nice spot.

I may drive from PHX to Yuma. I am told that it is 3 hours to drive and takes that long to fly.”

“This looks like a good possibility. I could stop by here on the way back to Phoenix after my work is completed in Yuma.

Sonora Desert National Monument”

“If Yuma disappeared tomorrow nobody would miss it.”

“That's not what I hear. I hear some snowbirds would miss it. ;-)”

“After California falls into the ocean, Yuma landowners will have some nice beachfront property.”

“Johnny Yuma was a rebel!”

“I had never heard about the Coati before, so when I saw one in the Grand Canyon I was like "WHAT IN THE HELL IS THAT???"

LOL”

“Amen Mary, Yuma is a tough one. Pathman, accept our condolences. I suggest you do your work and go home early. If you have any free time while in Phx, let us know.”

“i went there in high school on a wonderful trip out west. visited my uncle at the marines base. the coolest thing was night time. i would wander out into the desert and you wouldn't believe the critters out there at night. and they all make weird noises. there were these ghecko type lizzards that would let out blood curdling screams. it was awesome. and the stars, oh man.... new environments are cool to experience.....wouldn't wanna live there though...too hot”

“So, no feedback on Sonora Desert NM? April should be a nice time. Wildflower blooms if it rains, right?”

“yeah....and guilla monstors.....they say ya gotta cut their heads to get um to let go of your highly painful-venom filled leg.....”

“Actually you squeeze really hard right on the back part of their jaws. A reflex action causes them to loosen their grip. They transmit their poison slowly, thus the need to clamp onto your finger, or arm, or toe. They move slowly but if you pick one up by its tail, it's lightning quick in flipping around and grabbing ahold of you. This information is courtesy of the Phoenix Zoo youth program and Sheila the Gila.”

“I think the flowers bloom earlier than April down there--more like the end of Feb. They are real close to sea level methinks.

Robert and I went across the Camino del diablo several years ago after a hurricane had dumped tons of water on the normally dry desert. Fantastic flowers--once in a lifetime kind of thing.”

“sheila the gila...LMAO!”

“I believe Gila Monsters are a protected species. Saw one once in the wild, we discussed the fact that the bring big bucks in the illegal pet market.”

“sounds like a great meal.”

“I hear ya Tilt!
Those coatimundi are wild. Well, not really. I mean, they walked right up to our campfire and started helping themselves to some beans steaming on rock next to it. So much for fire scaring the animals off. lol

If you ever get a chance to have a gila monster sucking on your leg, consider yourself lucky. I lived in the desert for 30 years and only ever saw one. btw, they're lightning fast! (I observed as it was running away from me)”