Sonoran Desert Truck Camping
A trip through Southern Arizona documented on various film formats.
A few months ago, we started thinking that my old 1985 Toyota wasn’t exactly the most ideal way to haul out camper around. It’s an old truck that drives like it. And although it is an Xtra-Cab, the behind the seat section was not nearly large enough to keep our dog back there, so he rode in the truck bed with the windows open connecting the cab to the camper. There were a million other reasons to get a different truck, like having more horsepower to carry the added weight better, airbags for the safety of our family, modern independent suspension that doesn’t beat you up like a solid live axle does, etc.
So, after a few months of frustration on internet postings, someone I knew was selling their well-kept 2002 Tacoma. It was perfect. The camper we had would fit right on, it had the legendary 3.4L 5VZ-FE engine, it was an Xtra-Cab (one with enough room for the dog to sit in the cab), and it was a TRD package model, meaning it came with a factory rear e-locker. And to my fortune, it had a 5-speed manual transmission.
After picking the truck up a couple weeks ago, we swapped the camper and our bed platform build over to it and hit the road south for 4 days of camping in the Sonoran Desert.
We had no real plan at all. We had an idea of the region we wanted to camp, and we knew we wanted to hike a lot and see some new things. So after a short time studying some maps I figured we would head out for the base of Picketpost Mountain outside Superior, AZ. I knew this area was right along the Arizona Trail (AZT), so we wouldn’t have any trouble finding good hiking. There was also an expansive stretch of the Tonto National Forest throughout the area, so we could find camp with relative ease.
After we found our camp for the first night, we ate a quick lunch of some pre-made pasta salad (thanks Sami!) and then set off for a short hike along a nearby flowing steam.
The following morning, we woke early and after packing up our camp, we made our way a bit further south to a quieter stretch of forest just off the AZT. We pulled of on a doubletrack turn off to make coffee and breakfast before we loaded up our packs for a few miles of hiking along an incredible section of this 800+ mile National Scenic Trail. The Mexican Gold Poppies were in full bloom and although it was a bit warm, it was a welcome change of weather from the seemingly never ending winter we are facing in Flagstaff.
Cameras
I brought two film cameras with me on this trip. My primary camera was the Leica M6 paired with the 28mm Zeiss Biogon. I also brought a 50mm Sumacron, but it didn’t get too much use. As for 35mm films, I shot 3 rolls of Ilford HP5, one roll of Delta 100, and my last roll of Fujifilm Superia 400. I also packed the 4x5 and a couple sheets of HP5. 35mm for documenting quick, everyday moments, paired with the slow and methodical nature of large-format, made for a wonderful combination.
The Desert
Just about one year ago to the day, we set out on our first trip through the Sonoran Desert and found the State Trust land north of Tucson to be absolutely amazing. So we headed there to find a place to camp in an area close to where we had before. This time we found an even better spot.
This area is surrounded by tall grass that sways as the wind blows. Saguaros stand tall and line the hillsides. Cows MOO in the distance. And thankfully we were able to make camp in our own small valley away. After setting up, we needed a bit of a reset after our time on the AZT that morning. We read, napped and just hung out, enjoying our time in this beautiful desert.
The desert during this time of year is an incredible place. Being from California, I’ve taken many trips through the Mojave over the years, yet the Sonoran Desert seems so different. Each of the four deserts in North America (Sonoran, Mojave, Great Basin and Chihuahuan) are home to their own unique ecosystem. For example, the Mojave Desert is the only place on Earth where you can find native Joshua Trees. To the uninitiated, a desert may seem devoid of life, but if you take just one second to really experience the desert there is life everywhere. This year’s wet weather brought incredible color to all surrounding flora. Grasses were a deep green, the same shade green you might find in a dense rain forest, and the creosote bushes were full of their bright yellow flowers.
The following morning, we loaded up, and decided on making our way back to where we were the previous night, right off the AZT. This time we took the scenic route and traveled along the Pinal Pioneer Highway. This stretch of sealed road is a worthy byway as it takes you through a forest of skyscraping saguaros and cholla. The road also has several “roadside tables,” as they were labeled, and we chose to pull off at one to cook some egg sandwiches for a late breakfast.
As we waited for the mid-day sun to fall a bit lower and bring cooler hiking temperatures, we hung out in a shady pull off beside a dry wash in a shallow canyon. When we were ready, we loaded the packs up again with water, some snacks and a handful of cameras. We took the trail northbound this time around and covered a few miles until we reached the Gila River. We arrived back at the truck just as the sun was setting and found a wonderful spot to call home for the night right on the edge of the hillside. With a great view of the changing colors in the sky, we made dinner, had a drink and went to bed.
The next morning would be our last, and after walking Rider with our morning coffee, we pull the truck out and began along our road north back to Flagstaff. However, we did make time for one more stop on the way home. We turned off Highway 17 at Black Canyon City and hiked a handful of miles along the Black Canyon Trail (BCT). While we weren’t able to cover as many miles as we may have liked that day, due to the very high water levels of the Agua Fria, it was a welcome sight to see so much snowmelt runoff in such a dry place.
The trip proved to be a great test run with the new truck. Everything worked well and we made notes of a few things to change with our camper setup. This summer we are planning on loading up and hitting the road for a couple months of camping throughout the American West. It has been a few years since I’ve done this and I am glad we are making time for it. In 2019 I traveled, mostly solo, in my ’85 Pickup with not much more than a ground tent and my mountain bike for over two months. That trip really excited me on long-term, vehicle-based travel. While we could drive across the country and back in the time we are allotting for the trip, I’ve found spending more time in fewer locations to be far more rewarding as you are able to truly experience a place for its own uniqueness. We are both looking forward to heading out in about two months’ time. Until then we are working on getting the truck as dialed as we can. I’ll try documenting that here when I can.