Del Albright: desert

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REPURPOSED DESERT FENCE: OLD TIRES AND FRONTIER INGENUITY

USING TIRES TO BEEF UP OLD IRON FENCE WITH FRONTIER INGENUITY

By Del Albright

If you explore the remote desert long enough—whether overlanding, off-roading, or just wandering—you’ll witness ingenuity that borders on genius. Survivors and settlers in harsh conditions had to adapt fast and waste nothing. What might look like junk to some becomes treasure out here.

GIANTS OF THE DESERT: OVERLANDING TO FIND THE SAGUARO CACTUS

Magical Mysteries on the Arizona Strip

By Del Albright

While overlanding across the rugged and remote trails of the Arizona Strip, I had the unforgettable chance to come face-to-face with some of the desert's most iconic residents—the Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea). These towering green giants are not just plants—they’re legends.

The Saguaro is native to the Sonoran Desert and is found mostly in southern Arizona and parts of California and Mexico. But in the vast, open, and beautifully barren landscape of the Arizona Strip—especially near routes like the Camino del Diablo—you’ll find these cacti standing like silent sentinels of the desert.

A Closer Look: Strange Shapes and Long Lives

One of the highlights of my journey was spotting a particularly twisted Saguaro—its arms looping and curling like desert sculpture. Every arm tells a story. Did you know it can take up to 75 years for a Saguaro to grow its first arm? Some of these beasts are over 150 years old, soaking up the sun, storing water, and surviving heat waves, drought, and monsoon winds.

These unusual shapes are often the result of frost damage, genetic quirks, or damage from birds and insects. Whatever the cause, the result is always worth a second look—and a few photos.

Overlanding with Giants

The Arizona Strip is perfect for overland travel. Rough trails, historic routes, and breathtaking views make it a four-wheeling and camping paradise. And when you throw in some massive Saguaros towering beside your Jeep or military trailer rig, the experience gets even better.

📸 Tip: If you’re running the Strip, keep your eyes peeled near wash areas and hillsides for the tallest and oldest Saguaros. Sunrise and sunset give the best lighting for photos—casting long shadows and bringing out those cactus ridges in full contrast.

Respecting the Desert

Saguaros are protected under Arizona law—and for good reason. They’re slow growers and serve as vital homes for desert birds like woodpeckers and owls. When overlanding, let’s keep our recreation sustainable by staying on designated trails, packing out all waste, and giving these desert icons the respect they’ve earned over the centuries.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re an overland traveler, a desert lover, or just someone chasing open skies and dirt roads, the Saguaro cactus is one of the most awe-inspiring sights the Southwest offers. It’s not just a plant. It’s a pillar of desert life, and every twist and turn in its arms is a reminder that nature is the best artist of all.

DISCOVER THE FUNERAL MOUNTAINS OF DEATH VALLEY

RUGGED, JAGGED, FUNERAL MOUNTAINS OF DEATH VALLEY

By Del Albright

🧭 Discover the Funeral Mountains in Death Valley National Park — a rugged, remote range rich with history and haunting beauty. From towering limestone ridges to eerie old mining roads, this lesser-known range offers breathtaking views and deep pioneer lore. Don’t miss Daylight Pass, Hell's Gate, and the stark solitude of Funeral Peak. 🌄🌵

The Funeral Mountains form a rugged and dramatic eastern boundary of Death Valley National Park, rising sharply from the floor of the valley near Furnace Creek and stretching southeast into Nevada. Though not as well-known as other Death Valley ranges like the Panamints, the Funeral Mountains offer unique geology, stark beauty, and a rich human history.

🌄 Funeral Mountains Highlights

🔹 Location & Landscape

Stretch from Daylight Pass (near Beatty, NV) down toward Ash Meadows and Amargosa Valley
Form part of the Amargosa Range, separating Death Valley from Nevada
Composed of rugged limestone and dolomite ridges, deeply eroded canyons, and jagged peaks
Elevations range up to around 6,700 ft at Funeral Peak

🔹 Scenic Highlights

Daylight Pass Road (CA-374): Stunning drive from Beatty into Death Valley, offering views of both the Funeral and Black Mountains
Hells Gate Viewpoint: On Daylight Pass Road — dramatic views over Death Valley, particularly beautiful at sunrise or sunset
Funeral Peak: A remote hike with sweeping views of the Badwater Basin and Black Mountains
Boundary Canyon: A lesser-known but geologically rich canyon near the NV/CA line

🌱 Ecological Notes

Higher elevations support Joshua trees, pinyon pines, and desert scrub.
Home to bighorn sheep, coyotes, and desert reptiles — though far less traversed by visitors than other ranges.
Geology features ancient Precambrian rocks and Cambrian limestone, giving rise to deep washes and colorful strata.

🧭 Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit: Fall through spring — summer heat is extreme
Access: Best approached via Daylight Pass Road (paved) or 4x4 trails from Amargosa/Beatty side
Hiking: Remote and rugged — bring GPS, water, and navigation tools
Camping: Primitive camping allowed in many areas, but no developed campgrounds

#DeathValley #FuneralMountains #ExploreNevada #Overlanding #WesternHistory #MiningHeritage #DesertViews #PublicLands #AdventureTravel #DesertHiking #TreadLightly #SustainableOverlanding #PinToExplore

NAMRC Supports CAMRC to Save Johnson Valley, CA

SAVE JOHNSON VALLEY and the HAMMERS

October 31^st, yesterday, the North American Recreation Council, NAMRC, in Las Vegas, NV in conjunction with SEMA, made Johnson Valley and the Hammers a top priority action item. NAMRC will basically follow the lead of CAMRC (the Calif. Motorized Recreation Council), and provide national support of JV efforts. Whatever letter-writing, donations and action items that CAMRC puts together for a Strategic Plan, NAMRC will follow suite and jump in with national organizational support to fight for Johnson Valley. This is SWEET news to those who love this unique place – and ask that the Marines go someplace else for whatever training needs they might have.

More on NAMRC on Cal4wheel’s website here: http://www.namrc.com

More on the “Hammers” and the Hammerdown email list at http://www.savethehammers.com

(NAMRC is hosted by SEMA every year; facilitator provided by BlueRibbon Coalition)

TDS Safari and Death Valley Desert

For the last couple weeks, I've been a couple different places in So. CA and So. NV, and here are a few highlights. First TDS, Desert Safari. What an awesome event this year, and a great cause for helping to save trails and keep our sport alive.

There were thousands of participants at Safari, and part of the fun is the first trail ride morning when everyone lines up near camp to start the day.

Event staff and helpers get around in whatever it takes. The desert was full of side by sides, quads and dirt bikes, besides the 1200 or so registerred 4x4 rigs in the event.

The "raffleman" did a great job and he had plenty of helpers. With about $122k in prizes, the average prize was around $800 EACH. Totally awesome. About 2500 folks filled seats at the raffle, with the 100 plus vendors surrounding them. It ia always quite the sight.

Here, Greg Mulkey of Raceline Wheels (Allied) gave away the first prize package with his bitchen beadlocks as part of the deal. Raceline Wheels is also one of my Jeep sponsors and a proud sponsor of BlueRibbon Coalition.

After TDS, I headed to Death Valley area, with our camp headquarters in Beatty, NV, just the other side of Daylight Pass and the town of Rhyolite. My club joined me and we had a few days of fun wheeling.

Glass Bottle House at Rhyolite, NV

Learning to Geocache -- which is a kick in the pants by the way...an adult treasure hunt. Mike Stoller here is our champion cacher -- well, Tami his wife is, but Mike seems to be in all the pics. Way fun stuff to do.

Mark Foley from my club got "engaged" to geocaching in DV, with this ring he found in the cache. Ok, he put the ring back but still enjoyed the "engagement."

Flourspar Mine cabin, just outside Beatty, with a good view of the desert.

This is what the "settling" of the west, and the 49ers, were all about. Can you imagine??

I found this fixer-upper in Rhyolite. Yup, it's an Impala. Needs work.

If you've never done Death Valley, I highly recommend you put this on your list of adventures. I would be happy to point you in the direction of some pretty cool stuff. This trip was my 27th week-long venture in this marvelous place. Yea, I know...27 years...I must have seen it all, right? Nope. Still finding a few new things to see each year inspite of the National Park Service and mis-guided members of Congress making way too much of it Wilderness.