We decided to move on from the Hot Springs to something a little more rustic. A friend had told us about a hike a few miles to the north that led to some pictographs and another slot canyon hike called Smugglers’ Canyon. We headed into Blair Valley where we learned there were primitive camp sites to be had for free. The camping areas surround a dry lake bed. The only thing designating the camp sites are some dirt roads that snuggle up against the rocky hills that surround the valley and signs stating that no shooting is allowed and no fires are allowed accept in metal rings. No metal rings were there though. Maybe some people travel with metal rings? However, we do not. There were a few scattered campers (pops-ups, rvs and tow behinds) already set up in these areas. We had the windows down as the hot sun of the earlier part of the day was starting to abate. We waved to some folks as we passed.
We decided to keep on the dirt road (4 wheel drive might be helpful in a couple spots, but not needed) that runs about the lake and head to the trailheads. The road is part of what was the old stagecoach route in the area, the Butterfield Stagecoach Route. A small sign as you turned in the valley indicated the distances back to 3 hikes each a few miles away. One hike was for the pictograph trail our friend had mentioned and another for one for the Marshall South homestead (an early settler.) When we reached the fork in the road and had to chose we headed towards the pictographs. There was one more small designated (semi-designated) camping area on the way back to the trail head, but we heading all the way back as the sun was starting to set and found a few rustic camp spots at the very end of the road. We had the place all to ourselves. We pulled in just during that awesome part of the evening when the light bathes everything in that beautiful light that makes you take deep breaths and gaze at the simple beauty of the light playing on the rocks and landscape in a cinematic perfection. A stroll of a few steps around some rocks led to an awesome view of the valley. We made some food and enjoyed the sunset. Malachi the Wonder Beast sniffed rocks and peed on Agave. We played our music for whatever critters that might be dwelling in the rocks.
In the morning we took the pictograph trail and saw gazed upon the red markings on a giant boulder made by Kumeyaay Indians long ago. We stayed on trail until it headed in a slot canyon you could barely make out from a distance. This is the called Smugglers Canyon. I imagined in my head pirate like rum-runners or some such craziness, as I couldn’t imagine what else might have been smuggled out here in the desert. Maybe the name just comes from the hidden aspect of the canyon. The trail ended in a steep drop off with a view of the valley on the other side. The trail seemed to go on the other side, but the drop off would require ropes or some sort of bionic bioengineering that neither Zack Attack or I are outfitted with.
We headed back to our campsite only and began an episode which I shall call, “Attack of the bees.” Desert bees, apparently desperately thirsty had swarmed on Malachi the Wonder Beast’s water bowl. Even once we worked up our courage and managed to approach and overturn the water bowl (I should be clear here and give full credit to Zack Attack and a long tent pole for this feat of bravery) the bees apparently decided that the entire camper and our other assorted camping supplies must be the source of water and would not be convinced otherwise even as I shouted at them futilely that this was not the case. Needless to say, we packed up quickly as we could bolted down the road. One or two straggler bees had managed to get inside the truck with us, but gave up quickly once they realized they were now without companions. We escaped and hit the road for our next destination.