Don's Hiking Site

Don Hill here, hope you'll like this little site I've made about hiking.

Camping in the backcountry requires these items.

FOOD
You need a lot of high energy food when you're out. Lots of rice is perfect to include in your meals and lots of chocolate for snacks.

SLEEPING PAD
Make sure you bring something to shield you thermally from the ground, comfort is a plus too.

FIRST AID KIT
I recommend bringing a good first aid kit, even the ones with lots of stuff weigh very little.

BACK PACK
Backpacks are very fashion sensitive items, lots of people get a new backpack because their old one isn't cool any more, if you're one of those people I can't help you, sorry. Buying a backpack is like buying shoes, you've got to try a bunch of different ones, and just like a good shoe it gets more and more comfortable the more you wear it. It adapts to your back over the years, so if you have a good old backpack that fits you well, keep it until it falls apart.

WATER FILTER
I've been using my MSR water filter for years, and even though most hikers agree that this is the best water filter money can buy it sometimes breaks down just like anything else that has moving parts. For those times it is absolutely necessary to bring a very light weight wood stove with absolutely no moving parts such as the Trailstove and a small pot to boil water in.

TARP
Bring a tarp even if you're just going on a day trip, in case you get stuck you can easily make a shelter to shield yourself from the elements.

STOVE
If you haven't tried a Trailstove yet you're missing out. It a small wood stove, very light. I would recommend it to anyone.

Making a fire

Gather some wood, a handful of very thin twigs and a couple of handfuls of finger thick sticks will be enough to get things started. You also need to gather a number of larger pieces of wood to keep the fire going for as long as you want to.

Make a ring with rocks on the ground or dig a pit for the fire.

Make a teepee shape with the sticks and twigs, the thinner pieces on the inside and the thicker on the outside, leave a space open on one side of the teepee.

Put some starter material such as some dry leaves into the side opening and ignite.

Once the teepee collapses into a random looking heap of fire you can start adding the bigger pieces.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Ajo, AZ

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument celebrates the life and landscape of the Sonoran Desert. Here, in this desert wilderness of plants and animals and dramatic mountains and plains scenery, you can drive a lonely road, hike a backcountry trail, camp beneath a clear desert sky, or just soak in the warmth and beauty of the Southwest. The Monument exhibits an extraordinary collection of plants of the Sonoran Desert, including the organ pipe cactus, a large cactus rarely found in the United States. There are also many creatures that have been able to adapt themselves to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight and little rainfall. Acreage: 330,688.86; Federal: 329,316.31; Non-federal: 1,372.55. Wilderness area: 312,600.

CONTACTS

Email - orpi_information@nps.gov

Fax- 520-387-7144

Write to
10 Organ Pipe Drive
Ajo, AZ 85321-9626

Phone
Visitor Information - 520-387-6849

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Visitor Center open daily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm except Christmas Day

Getting There
PLANE - Nearby airports are in Phoenix and Tuscon, than by private vehicle.

CAR - From the north: follow AZ 85 through Ajo and Why. The Monument is 22 miles (35.4 km) south of Why. From the east: follow AZ 86 to Why, then turn south on AZ 85. From the west: follow I-8 to Gila Bend or I-10 to Buckeye, then turn south on AZ 85. From Mexico: drive on Mexico Route 2 to Sonoyta, then north to Lukeville.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - None available.

Weather & Climate
Nov.-Apr. is mild and usually sunny, May-Oct. is hot, with daytime temperatures over 100 degrees F. Two rainy periods yearly - December through March there are usually gentle rains; thunderstorms likely during August and September. Rain gear is recommended during these periods.

Accessibility
The visitor center, parking area, and rest rooms are handicapped accessible. The visitor center has a captioned slide program. There are accessible campsites, and the scenic drives have accessible rest rooms.

Getting Around
No rentals or public transportation available in area. Access is by foot, cycle or private vehicle. During the winter season motorized tours of the scenic drives are offered on a regular basis.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
INDIVIDUAL
$3.00 for 7 Days
Fee for entry by foot, bicycle or motorcycle per person.

VEHICLE
$5.00 for 7 Days
Fee for entry in a private vehicle.

Permits
OVERNIGHT BACKCOUNTRY PERMIT
$5.00 for 14 Days

Local Passport
ANNUAL PASS
$15.00 for Annual

CAMPING

Alamo Campground
Open All Year
Primitive campground with pit toilet(no water). Four sites that are tents only. First come/first served with a permit available at the visitor center. Cost: $6 per site per night.

Twin Peaks Campground
Open All Year
208 campsites are available on a first-come first-served basis all year for $10.00 a night. Length of RV unit is not to exceed 35 feet. Generator hours 12 noon to 4 pm only. Water, rest rooms, grills, tables, and a dump station are available. Fires are permitted in grills, but wood gathering is prohibited.

FACILITIES

Visitor Centers
TWIN PEAKS
Open All Year 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone - 520-387-6849
Location - On highway 85, 35 miles south of Ajo, Arizona.
Closures - Closed Christmas Day.
Special Programs - Ranger conducted activities are generally available every day from late-December through mid-April. These activities include evening programs in the amphitheater, ranger-led walks to various points of interest and informative patio talks at the visitor center. Activities can be scheduled for other times of the year or for groups by contacting the Division of Interpretation. A 15 minute slide program is available throughout the day from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Exhibits - Museum with photographic exhibit and dioramas on the Sonoran Desert.
Available Facilities - Southwest Parks and Monuments Association Bookstore.

Some content donated by Hikercentral.com and the National Park Service

FOOD		You need a lot of high energy food when you're out. Lots of rice is perfect to include in your meals and lots of chocolate for snacks.
SLEEPING PAD		Make sure you bring something to shield you thermally from the ground, comfort is a plus too.
FIRST AID KIT		I recommend bringing a good first aid kit, even the ones with lots of stuff weigh very little.
BACK PACK		Backpacks are very fashion sensitive items, lots of people get a new backpack because their old one isn't cool any more, if you're one of those people I can't help you, sorry. Buying a backpack is like buying shoes, you've got to try a bunch of different ones, and just like a good shoe it gets more and more comfortable the more you wear it. It adapts to your back over the years, so if you have a good old backpack that fits you well, keep it until it falls apart.
WATER FILTER		I've been using my MSR water filter for years, and even though most hikers agree that this is the best water filter money can buy it sometimes breaks down just like anything else that has moving parts. For those times it is absolutely necessary to bring a very light weight wood stove with absolutely no moving parts such as the Trailstove and a small pot to boil water in.
TARP		Bring a tarp even if you're just going on a day trip, in case you get stuck you can easily make a shelter to shield yourself from the elements.
STOVE		If you haven't tried a Trailstove yet you're missing out. It a small wood stove, very light. I would recommend it to anyone.