Blanche’s First Camp-Out… Apache Lake
/We pried ourselves away from Page on a cold, gray-skied, drizzly morning, heading south through Navajo Tribal lands. Little patches of snow clung to the shaded nooks and clefts of rocks. As we climbed and neared Flagstaff, the remains of snowdrifts blanketed the roadside and forest floor. As we descended in altitude and latitude, the temperatures rose to the mid-70s, warming our spirits and our bodies.
David had consulted Compendium and chosen Burnt Corral Campground on Apache Lake which sounded like an ideal spot to spend our first camping days. We passed numerous campsites along Roosevelt Lake and wondered if we should just grab one, but decided to continue on. The turnoff for Apache Lake Trail (AZ-88) led us past Roosevelt Dam where the pavement abruptly ended and turned to gravel. The six-mile, tooth-jarring ride to the campground was worth every bump and jounce. The campsites stretched from the lake’s edge up cactus-studded hills.
We arrived in late afternoon and after a careful reconnoiter, we chose campsite #8 which was level, spacious and very private. Thick foliage of palo verde, mesquite and scrub oak surrounded us and mingled with bright yellow brittlebrush and pink Apache plume, just coming into bloom. Saguaro cactus stood sentry on the hills above, flanked by cholla, ocotillo and prickly pear. A perfect desert setting overlooking Apache Lake, glistening in the late day sun. The campsite had a grill, a fire ring and a picnic table shaded by a ramada, most welcome when the sun was beating down directly overhead. Vault toilets were about 400 steps away… yup, I counted.
Our welcoming committee included a snake (bull or gopher… harmless), several small lizards, a chirping, bright red cardinal and a host of turkey vultures circling lazily overhead. The vultures are certainly ugly birds close up, but they are so very graceful as they soar through the sky, drifting effortlessly, gliding on wind currents.
After an early dinner, we retired into Blanche when the sun went down and the temps starting dropping, but not before the rising full moon caught our attention. The night was cold, in the low 40s, but we were prepared, even without a diesel heater. Our flannel sheets and extra blankets kept us snuggly warm… not to mention I travel with my own personal furnace, namely David. We woke with the sunrise and though chilly, the solar panels had done their job and we appreciated brewing fresh coffee while we lay in the comfort of our bed. The Thetford cassette toilet worked like a charm. So far, all systems were working perfectly.
Once up and about, sitting outside with our backs to the sun was sheer delight. With the rising sun came warmer temperatures and a clear azure sky. It didn’t take long to shed our layers down to t-shirts. We wandered around the campground and found a short trail along the lake’s edge to Upper Burnt Corral campground which was closed as was Lower Burnt Corral due to flash flood issues. The walk, however, was leisurely and quite pleasant. Folks were making good use of the lake, boating, kayaking, fishing and even swimming (brrr!). Cormorants, mallards, eared grebes diving for breakfast and even seagulls enjoyed their day on the lake.
It’s funny how the day just whiles away when there’s no specific timeline or schedule. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner and a campfire and the waning day began its cool-down. Tomorrow, we are off to Albuquerque and a weekend with Gentry and family.