Heavy storm clouds overhead
As I drive south on SR 191 towards Needles, heavy dark rainclouds are moving into the area. I hope I make camp before the rain hits. I know from the last weather report to expect a couple of days of intermittent showers.
I turn onto 122 and head down through the canyons to the Needles area. Along the canyon I find lots of trees, shrubs, grasses – the leaves are starting to turn here and occasionally I see a bright yellow that I think is aspen. The biggest surprise - 2 wild turkeys! No place to park along this narrow 2 lane road with no shoulder – so no pictures. I was surprised to see turkey here.
As the landscape flattened out, I get my first glimpses of the Needles. The storm has clearly arrived there already and soon I’m dodging showers as I get closer.
I tried the campground in the park first – the campsites are really lovely and fairly well separated as they nestle against (or under) large rock formations. But, the campground is full. I remember some BLM camping from the last time I was here (can it be 30 years ago?!) so I backtrack about 8 miles to the sign and find the exact spot I camped those many years ago. Unfortunately, it is now a pay-campground and is also full. I continue down the road a bit and find a spot. It’s not as cute as the spots right next to a rock face, but the views are great and I’ll get great sun (when it comes out in between thunderstorms) for my solar.
I set up in the rain; but soon after the clouds parted and I had several hours of sun. I took a hike down a nearby wash and then up into the slickrock that pretty much surrounds me here. I won’t get great sunrises or sunsets because I’m camped a bit down in a bowl.
Tomorrow I’ll trek back into the park and check out some of the hikes. They’re all either really short or really long – but I might get some great views even if I only do part of some of the longer hikes.
The rain is back and I go to sleep with the sound of rain on my roof.
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