Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Table Top Wilderness - Sonoran Desert National Monument


Note: all maps included are .pdf geo positioned maps loaded into an app called Avenza.  I’ll eventually review what map software we use and the advantages for exploring.

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There was time for one more day for another Wilderness sightseeing trip while in Ajo, AZ and before I head to San Diego to visit family again for a week.

The purple drawn likes on the above map show the roads we traveled.

So, where is the Table Top Wilderness Area.  It is south of I8 between Gila Bend, AZ and Casa Grande, AZ.

Below is the Sonoran Desert National s Monument Map that I used in this blog.


The Table Top Wilderness will be the dark orange area on the bottom right of the map, above the salmon colored areas, that comprises Tohono O’Odham Indian Nation.



Above is an enlarged view of the area we toured in Joanne’s Jeep.

- We first drive to the Lava Flow North Trailhead.



When you enter the Sonoran Desert the BLM sign welcomes you

The road we traveled have not been maintained recently and are only accessible by high clearance 4x4.  Joanne’s Jeep is just the right vehicle for exploring.



The side road clearance is narrow from grown in thorn trees and cactus.



Before figuring out we need to close the windows this thorny beast broke off and cane into my window.  I’m glad I saw it before it got me.

- Then the Lava Flow West Trailhead

The scenery was not that spectacular compared to other areas but the roads were technically fun to figure out.

- Lastly the Lava Fliw a South Trailhead and up the road a bit further the Table Top Trailhead

But then we got to this old grading field and it was just spectacular to see and get out and take some photos.



as we headed out to the mountains in the distance we roads up in elevation and we got some nice views.



That is Tabke stop Mountain in the distance



We gained enough elevation to get into a growth of the Saguaros. 



In the map above there is a sawtooth red line connected by dotted red line.  This area requires a permit to access.  We did not enter that area.  Possibly a future trip.

All the wilderness areas are fun to see and visit but some areas have less natural beauty.

Finding that spring flowered cover field was worth the whole trip to me.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

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