![Turtle Mountains Turtle Mountains](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-SsGzfLC/0/M/dscf9811_2014-12-31-M.jpg)
First night camp near Browns Camp and the Mexican Hat Trail
![Unamed Peak Unamed Peak](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-2FBP4H5/0/M/dscf9622_2014-12-28-M.jpg)
Sunrises were great
![Sunrise at Browns Camp Sunrise at Browns Camp](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-bDbTcvT/0/M/dscf9623_2014-12-28-M.jpg)
![Sunrise Sunrise](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-JfvKVKd/0/M/dscf9774_2014-12-30-M.jpg)
Some more starry night shots
![Milky Way Milky Way](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-t8JQ3VS/0/M/dscf9697_2014-12-29-M.jpg)
My camp setup just after dusk
![My Camp Setup for the evening, near Table #2 My Camp Setup for the evening, near Table #2](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-knbD62N/0/L/dscf9693_2014-12-28-L.jpg)
The Lost Arch Inn
![Lost Arch Inn Lost Arch Inn](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-9wLr8T9/0/M/dscf9636_2014-12-28-M.jpg)
![Lost Arch Inn Lost Arch Inn](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-WT9czGx/0/M/dscf9655_2014-12-28-M.jpg)
![Lost Arch Inn Lost Arch Inn](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-Bqm7BHR/0/M/dscf9647_2014-12-28-M.jpg)
![Lost Arch Inn Lost Arch Inn](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-59kFvWc/0/M/dscf9639_2014-12-28-M.jpg)
The Car Corral
![The Car Corral The Car Corral](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-ZC464TR/0/M/dscf9659_2014-12-28_v2-M.jpg)
![The Car Corral The Car Corral](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-sszn5F4/0/M/dscf9661_2014-12-28_v2-M.jpg)
Coffin Spring area
![Coffin Spring Trail Coffin Spring Trail](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-2CnhDwV/0/M/dscf9672_2014-12-28-M.jpg)
![Coffin Spring Trail Coffin Spring Trail](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-SnvD7PJ/0/M/dscf9675_2014-12-28-M.jpg)
The Lisa Dawn Cupola Mine is was left as is but with a large metal cover
![Lisa Dawn Cupola Lisa Dawn Cupola](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-4MjD2wK/0/M/dscf9720_2014-12-29-M.jpg)
![Lisa Dawn Cupola Lisa Dawn Cupola](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-SJcCfMP/0/M/dscf9716_2014-12-29-M.jpg)
Mexican Hat and trail area
![Mexican Hat Mexican Hat](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-H7PF2Cm/0/M/dscf9767_2014-12-29-M.jpg)
![Unamed peak at sunrise Unamed peak at sunrise](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-vvgfFsF/0/M/dscf9779_2014-12-30-M.jpg)
![Unamed peak Unamed peak](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-jcQKdSd/0/M/dscf9786_2014-12-30-M.jpg)
Here are some photos of the Heritage Trail area and Mopah/Umpah Peaks. We didn't get a chance to hike to them, the weather kept us away with strong winds, rain and some light snow
![Heritage Trail Heritage Trail](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-tBDPWv4/0/M/dscf9797_2014-12-30-M.jpg)
![Mopah and Umpah Peaks Mopah and Umpah Peaks](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-hqGGxM3/0/M/dscf9801_2014-12-30-M.jpg)
![Joel near the Heritage Trail Joel near the Heritage Trail](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-gkVMMLS/0/M/dscf9799_2014-12-30-M.jpg)
I even broke out the bug hut and tarp for the weather
![I put up the tarp and bug tent for the strong winds and rain, we got some light snow also I put up the tarp and bug tent for the strong winds and rain, we got some light snow also](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-2cKGDdb/0/M/dscf9810_2014-12-31-M.jpg)
I guess they call them the Turtle's for a reason
![Tortoise Shell Tortoise Shell](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-4gNJLnw/0/M/dscf9806_2014-12-30-M.jpg)
We packed up and started out for the Orocopia Mountains but first stopped by West Well, lots of wild burros out there
![Wild Burros Wild Burros](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-B9HSDdt/0/M/dscf9814_2014-12-31-M.jpg)
Some petros and gorgeous colors in the hills
![](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-5sPGTS5/0/M/dscf9835_2014-12-31-M.jpg)
![Nice colors in the sand and rock Nice colors in the sand and rock](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Mojave-Desert/Turtle-Mountains-12-27-2014/i-Q98vrWN/0/M/dscf9839_2014-12-31-M.jpg)
We took the Red Canyon Trail into the Orocopia's, it was a fairly easy 2WD high clearance road
![Red Canyon Trail in the Orocopia Mountains Red Canyon Trail in the Orocopia Mountains](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-psknP97/0/M/dscf9845_2015-01-01-M.jpg)
Lots of great colors down in the canyon
![Red Canyon Red Canyon](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-kSVdHfT/0/M/dscf9851_2015-01-01-M.jpg)
We camped out near Gucci Spring and hiked around the area
![Gucci Spring Gucci Spring](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-cQmqcn2/0/M/dscf9860_2015-01-01-M.jpg)
Gary pointing out the wildlife watering hole
![Wildlife water tank at Gucci Spring Wildlife water tank at Gucci Spring](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-TLP9trd/0/M/dscf9861_2015-01-01-M.jpg)
A Selfie at our camp near Gucci Spring, it was damn cold every night, teens and low 20's, freezing bottles each night
![Selfie Selfie](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-kPTvWN3/0/M/dscf9867_2015-01-01-M.jpg)
More sunset stuff
![Sunset/Moonrise at Gucci Spring Sunset/Moonrise at Gucci Spring](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-666wsQv/0/M/dscf9871_2015-01-01-M.jpg)
Salt Creek bridge on the Bradshaw Trail, that is Rabbit Peak way off in between the bridge, it has snow on it
![Salt Creek Trestle and Rabbit Peak with snow Salt Creek Trestle and Rabbit Peak with snow](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-CZCWZr3/0/M/dscf9883_2015-01-02-M.jpg)
Last day out we hiked Painted Canyon in the Mecca Hills, a really neat canyon I thought
![Painted Canyon Painted Canyon](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-b9fRXX9/0/M/dscf9892_2015-01-02-M.jpg)
![Painted Canyon Painted Canyon](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-Bzwtjpn/0/M/dscf9899_2015-01-02-M.jpg)
![Painted Canyon Painted Canyon](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-vxZ7rNw/0/M/dscf9906_2015-01-02-M.jpg)
![Mt Jacinto in the distance with snow Mt Jacinto in the distance with snow](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-q5LbtWb/0/M/dscf9908_2015-01-02-M.jpg)
You can see Gary down at the bottom of this huge canyon wall
![Gary in Painted Canyon Gary in Painted Canyon](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-3wvFcJ8/0/M/dscf9913_2015-01-02-M.jpg)
Total Mylar Balloons this trip - 6
![6 Mylars this trip 6 Mylars this trip](http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Orocopia-Mountains/Orocopia-Mountains-01-02-2015/i-tws2qpQ/0/M/dscf9866_2015-01-01-M.jpg)
You can see more photos here
Turtle Mountains Photos
Orocopia Mountains Photos
Looks like a nice, quiet, cold, and dark outing. I am hoping to get out in the desert over the next couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely desert season now so I hope you can get out there!
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