Snowbound in Patagonia
January 21-22, 2007
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a getting stuck.
That started in a desert town, aboard a tiny truck.
My mate is a mighty hailin' man, an old ham brave and sure.
Two passengers set out that day, for a three-hour tour, a three-hour tour.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/meadowvalleyflat.jpg)
After a week of unseasonably cold, damp weather, I was literally clawing at the door. Since it was too cold to hike or bike, we decided to go four-wheeling in Patagonia (our favorite playground). It was a beautiful drive from Meadow Valley Flat along Apache Road to Duquesne and Lochiel, and returning north through the San Rafael Valley, where we saw countless raptors.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound01.jpg)
By late afternoon, inky black clouds enveloped the Santa Ritas, but we weren't worried. Hey, this is southern Arizona!
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/velvetelvis1.jpg)
While we were having dinner at the Velvet Elvis, it began to snow big, fat white flakes.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/velvetelvis2.jpg)
My apologies to my sisters in Denver and Hastings and my buddy Kathy in Seattle, who have endured such terrible storms this winter, but snow in southern Arizona is a religious experience!
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound02.jpg)
Like all men with a new 4WD pickup and all the latest whiz-bangs, Dennis believes he can drive in any conditions. By the time we started the run uphill from Sonoita, Route #83 was blanketed with two inches of fresh snow over a sheet of glare ice. As the Taco Ma skated toward the ditch, I helpfully pointed out that I was the one with 27 years' experience driving on snow-covered roads.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound03.jpg)
Back in Patagonia — and still speaking to each other — we were lucky to find a B & B with an inexpensive room and two really great cats. We woke up in another world: a high-and-dry desert wrapped in several inches of thick, wet, fluffy, fresh snow!
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/red_mountain.jpg)
Red Mountain (today it's White Mountain).
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound04.jpg)
Another band of snow showers chops off the tops of the Santa Ritas.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound05.jpg)
Looking south of the border into a valley obscured by a thick layer of snog (snow + fog).
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound06.jpg)
An old windmill near Patagonia matches the metallic color of the sky.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound07.jpg)
The Taco Ma learns to skate.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound08.jpg)
Grasslands Café in Sonoita.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound10.jpg)
Once the road salt took hold, Route 83 reopened and we returned to Tucson. It was a little disappointing to see most of the snow had already melted.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/snowbound14.jpg)
"S'allright?" "S'allright." Dennis uncovers the tender plants that spent the night under an old sheet and several inches of snow!