General Patreon Update: Arizona and the New Mexico Mountains
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Month: March 2021
Portals 3 of 4: To Night/The Other
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03.12.21: Gila, New Mexico
There’s a Gila Woodpecker, a Gila monster, a Gila National Forest, and right now I’m next to the Gila River, which is quite lovely, especially after driving through Lordsburg, New Mexico, where everything except the graffiti on trains (“HELL TO OFFER!” “DOOM!”) and the neon signs on motels (“Luxury Inn. $27.99/night.”) is sepia toned because …
03.10.21: Cave Creek. Movement.
Movement— Freight trains of wind buoying tumbleweeds and dust through the yard, stalling my dreams of a Spotted Owl later on. Shadows of Steller’s Jays, scolding their way upslope in the seasonal relocations. Sparring Ruby-crowned Kinglets that flick their wings to the meter of scolding, namesake crest flaring in the backlight. The spring’s first Painted …
03.08.21: South Fork
I’m walking through the dark with my headlamp off, the stars lighting a passage gilded with ghostly sycamore limbs; echoing with Whiskered Screech-Owls. The creek is gurgling and abundant mystery footfall precipitates thoughts of jaguars, lions. Being present is often uncomfortable; to employ a light seems too far a degree of separation between myself and …
03.06.21: Barfoot
Camped on the border of the burn. It’s a good spot, hasn’t seen much human use: no toilet paper groundcover; no tire tracks; the can of Bud Light in the fire ring is faded and covered in fallen pine needles. The sun disappears behind the next sky island to the west while two Red-tails fly …
03.02.21: Hazards. Sells, AZ
Driving, east now; gliding over pavement after so many miles of second gear, 4WD. The road’s smooth, everything around it rough–busted bottles of malt liquor, dusty and tattered silk flowers on memorials innumerable, ribby dogs, feral horses, bars on windows and billboards advising to mask up and wash hands. Tripp’s out front. He flashes his …
02.28.21: Ajo, AZ
We’ve backed into the creosote flats, a couple miles west of the Border Patrol camp–took the first wide spot oriented so that the dust from passing vehicles goes away, towards Mexico, and not into our encampment. There are two saguaros visible to the naked eye; everything else is a creosote bush–spindly, gray bark with little …
02.27.21: Ajo, AZ
In a quiet corner of the Sonoran Desert, a blue flag flies high over the Palo Verde and the Ocotillo. It announces water for those in need, for this stretch of desert has claimed the lives of thousands of border-crossers. Costa’s Hummingbird males scream by on display flights, outdoing the maneuvers of the airforce overhead; …