Into the Desert Wilderness🌵
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

Mid-winder recess always aligns with peak wanderlust, a breaking point where draining daily life in New York City grows to a frustration level that pervades and my soul needs a deep spring of wonder, nature and night. Respite. This trip I escape to the desert, a place I assumed would allow for easy February camping. But my time was within a cold snap, perplexing not only to me but most I encountered on my journey. Ill-prepared for below freezing temperatures, strong winds and, bizarrely, snow storms, my only night outside was at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge was populated with fellow nomads who wished to keep to themselves. And within its borders you can set up camp wherever you life, for the most part. I did so by a Saguaro Cactus right at dusk after many hours of driving from the Vegas area the evening prior.

Ready to hit the hay and pass some time before checking out the stars.

Once the stars appeared, I initiated a two hour program on my camera, capturing star trails. Star trails are my new go-to outside of Milky Way season, when the galactic core is not visible in our hemisphere.

Those iconic cacti at dawn…

Another goal was to check out the Kokopelli Spiral Labyrinth, a manmade spiral of gravel that measures 60 feet in diameter. In the center, a pile of stones with the likeness of a fertility deity Kokopelli.

The entrance to Palm Canyon, a hike I’ll have to complete when I return. Yes, the spirit of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is a lure I embraced and would like to again.

A fellow troubadour I met as she was placed in my path three times during my short visit. So the third time we stopped and spoke–a conversation that lasted a long time and went in many directions. The road does this, gives you who and what you require. Like a videogame, but real life.

And in one day, a world. What is in store for me the next?