Turtle Mountain Wilderness March 17, 2011 We found prickly pear, palo verde full on desert mistletoe, nolina with old flower stalks, and desert poppys in bloom. A side blotched lizard was willing to be photographed. Ocotillo were leafed and some in bloom. There was a well-camouflaged round tailed lizard. Mopah spring was half full at the end of the day then full to three quarters full by the next morning. Perhaps the palms pull water out of the pond during the day. We looked for a way to get to Kettle Mesa that is south of Umpah Peak. We went around Mopah to a valley from the east. From there we could see the entire eastern cliff of the mesa and could see no reasonable route. We found a rusted artifact that looks like it fell out of the sky. I think it is likely that it was wind blown in storms to account for the damage. There was another piece of this several yards south. Our guesses range from propeller, to burner, to ceiling fan. It remains unidentified. On our way form Mopah Wash to Gary Wash we again were impressed by Patton’s airstrip and rock structure. We saw several humming birds, a few hawks, several quail coveys, many fast moving brown lizards, a few horned lizards, desert cottontails and jack rabbits. We followed the direct route from Gary Wash to Coffin Spring that goes through Cactus Garden. Coffin Spring was full of water. The last day we visited and explored Brown’s camp. |
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