Ahhh, spring break!! The annual celebration of fresh air, shirked responsibilities, and family bonding. The perfect time to leave our cares behind and spend some time with our busy teens — namely, son Max and his girlfriend Lili.
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We extolled all of the RV’s luxurious virtues, only to get the reply, “But we want to camp in a tent.” Whaaat? No queen mattress? No memory-foam topper? No forced-air heating to ward off cold desert nights? NOPE. A tent it had to be. (They were happy to avail themselves of the Lucky Charm’s indoor plumbing and WiFi, however. Roughing it has its limits, after all.)
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Tent in the background! Not too close, not too far …. |
We had visited Picacho Peak State Park before, and were happy to return for its huge, spread-out-from-your-neighbors campsites. Besides the usual camping activities (sunset strolls, gooey s’mores, arguing over which Die Hard movie was the best) we had two goals: “Feed Ostriches” and “Risk Death.” Feeding ostriches, because one of our favorite Arizona attractions, the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, is right down the street.
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Risking death, because Philip wanted to try hiking the treacherous Hunter Trail to the top of Picacho Peak, a 1,780-foot gain in 1.5 measly miles (one way). Steeeep! But more on that later.
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First order of business at Rooster Cogburn’s is a ride in the mega-monster truck. Wheeeeee-hahhhh!
Lots of laughs and screams all around. We learned a TON about the desert and about ostriches.
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But then on to feeding the animals. Lots of animals. Hungry animals. Animals with poor oral hygiene. Animals everywhere!
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We particularly enjoyed “Ostrich Fishing,” attaching a piece of fruit to a pole and feeding them from the relative safety of a high platform. The ostrich seems to be one angry, aggressive animal!
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But by far, our favorite activity was the lorakeet exhibit!
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Back at camp, we found the desert awash in gorgeous spring beauty!
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Picacho Peak is perhaps most famous for two things: being the westernmost site of any Civil War skirmish (and the only one in Arizona) — the Battle of Picacho Pass in 1862. Also, for being the location of the busiest (and thus, most woefully understaffed) Dairy Queen between Phoenix and Tucson.
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The climb up Picacho Peak coils around sheer cliffs and rocky slopes, with steel cables embedded in the volcanic rock to assist you in your scramble to the 3,374-foot panoramic summit.
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The trail was built in 1932 to service a light beacon on the summit (no longer there).
Only halfway up, we spotted our RV campground down lowwww (the white specks)!
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Almost there …….
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Tah-dah!!! The tippity tip top! Whoo Hoo!
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As our quick spring break adventure drew to a close, we were grateful for this fun location just 80 quick miles from Phoenix, and for teens who are still willing to spend a little time with us! Next up for the Lucky Charm, a new destination in April: Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, AZ!
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