A close encounter in the Desert

[PapaBeav]

We are down here in Organ Pipe National Monument for a couple of days taking in the sites. This morning we did the 21 mile Ajo Mountain Drive loop which is absolutely gorgeous. So after lunch I decide to hike the Victoria Mine trail right out of camp, which is a beautiful 4.5 mile round trip hike. After leaving the mine and heading back to the campground I encountered 3 Hispanics with large backpacks coming down a wash. Ducking and staying out of sight until they passed I then called the encounter in. When I got back to the trail head the park ranger and a border patrol were waiting. I gave the agent the GPS coordinates as to where I had seen them and off he went fully armed. I was also told that other agents would be coming in from the south eastern end of the wash to try and intercept them. I was informed that they were probably smuggling marijuana. Kathy can't wait to get out of here now, so we will be leaving first thing in the morning and headed for Tucson.

[bob n pam]

Just think, David and Jo-Anna Kikel walked all over that area hunting bufflegrass for two winters. They have some good stories!

[nailbender]

Rich, Glad you kept your head down and stayed safe. We are saving a camping space here in Tucson, see you tomorrow.

[8.1al]

Glad you spotted them first Rich. We once came across a group of 8 while hiking that trail but they were not carrying drugs just sneaking in and wanted no trouble. It's a shame that most of the park to the west has been placed off limits. There are many nice hiking trails there. I don't imagine it will be long before the Victoria Mine trail is closed too.

[hazmic]

WELCOME TO THE RGV

[twindman]

Glad you got out with no trouble. If you had taken Baxter with you on the hike, he would have protected you. Say hi to him from me.

[bighornram]

Be sure to protect your trucks while in those (border) areas. They will find there way south as an irrigation pump.

[DQDick]

Seems like you can have similar experiences anywhere in Arizona or New Mexico.

[bighornram]

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/st...8#.Tza00e4naTE

A few years ago I heard they where driving the trucks right off the car lots in Albuquerque and driving them straight to Mexico.