Where to spend winters and summers

[Don]

I read it closely every day and not sure what you are referring to.

 

[twomountainlions]

Still not sure what ya mean here...yeah I read the news. People tend to overexaggerate every thingle thing. Yawn.
If you mean illegals they are not the ones creating camping overcrowding so I dont expect any changes either way.

Read the news more closely

 

[WanderingRose]

Given Trump’s threatened crackdowns and deportations, I would agree there will likely be a lot of activity along the border particularly this next year.

I would probably stay out of that area for awhile, but then I would personally prefer not to get caught up on anything,

 

[bullfrog !]

Given Trump’s threatened crackdowns and deportations, I would agree there will likely be a lot of activity along the border particularly this next year.

I would probably stay out of that area for awhile, but then I would personally prefer not to get caught up on anything,

Unless you are Border Patrol there isn’t much of an issue as most crossing want to turn themselves in and begin the process of getting asylum as soon as possible in my opinion. The real problem isn’t going to be solved with the inadequate system we have quickly without major funding to increase the number of immigrants that can be processed or major changes to the system.

 

[WanderingRose]

I’m thinking more of an increased presence with BP, and any round up activity that Trump decides to initiate.

As he has promised.

Me, I would not want to be in the middle of that.

 

[bullfrog !]

I’m thinking more of an increased presence with BP, and any round up activity that Trump decides to initiate.

As he has promised.

Me, I would not want to be in the middle of that.

Trump doesn’t have a chance of dealing with the problem as it will take years with his failure to lead and plan such an operation. Executive Orders can only do so much. Congress hasn’t done much in decades and Trump killed the only legislation that tried to be brought up. Most “truly bad illegal” immigrants get as far as possible from the border as quickly as possible if they plan to stay in my opinion. You are more likely to have problems in major cities where they can blend in and remain anonymous.

 

[maki2]

I stayed on BLM dispersed camping land near the border just south of Ajo AZ in January two winters ago. Everyday of that time there was frequent traffic on the BLM road from Border patrol vehicles. Day and night flights with military and border control planes and helicopters and drones too. They do thermal imaging searches after dark.

In February that year I moved west to Sidewinder Road just west of Yuma off Hwy 8. The border wall could be seen in the distance from my campsite. Once again there was both day and night time patrols along with the California Hwy Patrols.

Part of the noisy air traffic is from the military bases. There are always a LOT of ongoing military, border patrol and local law enforcement training and resupply missions going on. .Great if you enjoy watching the aircraft and ground patrols. Not so great if you are looking for peace and quiet and hoping for no eyes in the sky or passing by of frequent patrols. According to the stated intentions of the current President Elect that activity level in January will increase compared to two years ago. The check points on the highways that are near the border have already reopened and vehicles are being stopped with drivers questioned, ID and vehicle plate numbers recorded, etc. so if you detest that type of “intrusion of your privacy” you will not enjoy being subjected to all of that every single day eyes in the sky, and on the ground stuff.

People sometimes show up in the forum assuming what things are going to be like when they get to their intended destination. Then go into denial mode when people who have been there tell them that things are not a match to the mental image they have. Go and find out, you may love it, you may hate it. Airplanes flying around do not bother me that much as I like airplanes and am tolerant of that type of noise having been a builder and flyer of airplanes. Patrols do not bother me either as they are not interested in me unless they have been assigned to stop and check me out that day.

 

[twomountainlions]

People in this forum seem to make whole lot if assumptions about others, like if others never camped where they did, haha

So this is about large scale military operation affecting camping? Or people just skipping camping there because of that and it becoming uncrowded?
Around Ajo is crowded and believe will be crowded no matter what. I actually pan to camp in areas more remote and further towards the border than Ajo, and theres tons of campers everywhere now, with javelina, deer archery then birds seasons especially, which are back to back. Don't expect any real changes. Lots of people are hunting though winter and then birds in spring.

 

[twomountainlions]

Dont see how BP activity would make those areas "uncrowded", BP had been active for a long time and checkpoints are nothjng new. Hunters will be hunting like before, snowbirds will be wintering just like before. Unless there's large military operaton and camping areas get closed, but then, remaning open areas only will get even more packed.
I expect it all to be more crowded near the border. Major dispersed areas around Lake Mead just got shut down, more homelessness, further increased interest in primitive camping this year, etc means more people will head to those warmer areas.

 

[twomountainlions]

This reminded me of illgals who cut up and were frying freshly killed deer the hunter shot and he then gave them a lift after he got his deer meat back. Or that one hunter who woke up to 2 BP agents pointing rifles at him cause they thought he was illegal. It used to be much wilder there in mid 2000s. They used to steal trucks from camps. More BP activity will probably only mean more campers as they will be feeling safer.
I guess I will travel all over entire border area all the way to NM now its going be safer for solo travel

 

[bullfrog !]

I really enjoyed a late night trip back to camp escorted by a couple A10 aircraft at Caballo Loco a few years back.

 

[twomountainlions]

In the 2000s there were a few incidents of campers literally having to get their vehicle back by pointing a gun as it was about to be driven off. Used to be entire gangs of robbers attacking smugglers and illegas on US soil, to rob them, on public land in Arizona within 40-50 miles from the border, not sure if this is still happening and all of this is documented in official reports. A lot of those problem spots had gotten much better over the years but increased BP operations is what's keeping it relatively safe. Otherwise its a beeline to Phoenix, for smugglers too, smugglers I think would be more inclined to do crazy stuff if they get spotted by a civilian,because people call them in and report

 

[wayne49]

Persons crossing the border illegally, get as far from the border as they can to areas that already have a similar immigrant population to blend in with, and churches that love to assist them.

They are not going to hang out around Ajo or Why. On the south side of Ajo, there is a sign cautioning about immigrants on a certain road. Like migratory wildlife crossing warnings.

Ajo has an IGA supermarket. I hadn't seen an IGA since northern Minnesota way back when in Cloquet, now has a Wal-Mart and no IGA.

As for Pilot Knob, the border includes the All American canal, lots of water moving swiftly, and on the north side a dry desert, if one survives the canal.

 

[maki2]

The getting away from the border quickly pertains to some of the immigrants. But in recent years there have been quite a few coming in from many countries around the world who want to get immediately caught to claim asylum. But 2025 will not be the same. It will be a wait and see what is going to happen time. It is just speculation for now as to how different things will be in the border areas other than it will be different. But the actual camping experiences on BLM areas might not change all that much.

 

[twomountainlions]

Illegals and smugglers arent going to hang around Ajo or other snowbird packed places, too many eyes to call BP and report. Its Phoenix and border towns they are after. But that Ajo safety is thanks to BP activity. Otherwise would be robberies. When BP used to be more lax there were more crimnal activities in some of these areas. NPS employee was nearly murdered and left disabled as she was beaten by illegal who was also a drug smuggler, to take her government truck, in Chricahua monument in 2013. Her truck was found in-town loaded with drugs. Same area where ranger went missing snd never found and where rancher was murdered/unsolved. A solo hunter was killed too in his camp, unsolved. Then they ramped up BP operations. I just camped in notorious smuggling corridor, it used to be scary after dark, but a few RVs now , BP patrols too, felt safe, they do still find dumped backpacks and catch smugglers, just not like it used to be when you could be hit by cartel fire a bit further out and they almost closed the entire area for camping and offroading because of that. They put up warning signs instead of closure and the state of Arizona forced them to move the signs out of freeway and into the blm road not to "offend" anyone, though I think business interests were involved too, god forbids out of state tourists that stick to cities and hwys find out what lurks out there

 

[bullfrog !]

Illegals and smugglers arent going to hang around Ajo or other snowbird packed places, too many eyes to call BP and report. But that is thanks to BP activity. Otherwise would be robberies. When BP used to be more lax there were more crimnal activities in some of these areas. NPS employee was nearly murdered and left disabled as she was beaten by illegal who was also a drug smuggler, to take her government truck, in Chricahua monument in 2013. Same area where ranger went missing snd never found and where rancher was murdered/unsolved. A solo hunter was killed too in his camp, unsolved. Then they ramped up BP operations. I just camped in notorious smuggling corridor, it used to be scary after dark, but a few RVs now , BP patrols too, felt safe, they do still find dumped backpacks and catch smugglers, just not like it used to be when you could be hit by cartel fire a bit further out and they almost closed the entire area for camping and offroading because of that. They put up warning signs instead of closure and the state of Arizona forced them to move the signs out of freeway and into the blm road not to "offend" anyone, though I think business interests were involved too, god forbids out of state tourists that stick to cities and hwys find out what lurks out there

To be fair the muderer was on the run from Mexican Police but the border afforded him an escape. He wasn’t targeting anyone in particular. Back then bike gangs and vigilante type militia groups as well in the area moving drugs and playing soldier that increased Border Patrol presence ran off. Cartels are much more organized now and mainly avoid contact with anyone if possible in my opinion. Hunting season is probably the most dangerous time to be there now! Lol!!!

 

[twomountainlions]

To be fair the muderer was on the run from Mexican Police but the border afforded him an escape. He wasn’t targeting anyone in particular. Back then bike gangs and vigilante type militia groups as well in the area moving drugs and playing soldier that increased Border Patrol presence ran off. Cartels are much more organized now and mainly avoid contact with anyone if possible in my opinion. Hunting season is probably the most dangerous time to be there now! Lol!!!

Like those Aussie surfer dudes plus one American or Canadian who were murdered or their tires in Baja...
I got an orange vest for the hunters...but this makes cartel members see me from far away lol.
I grew up around cartel world myself.
Would rather deal with all the militia (thankful for them), BP and the army than any of those.

 

[bullfrog !]

Like those Aussie surfer dudes plus one American or Canadian who were murdered or their tires in Baja...
I got an orange vest for the hunters...but this makes cartel members see me from far away lol.
I grew up around cartel world myself.
Would rather deal with all the militia (thankful for them), BP and the army than any of those.

Got news for you, the Cartel with drones and observation posts know exactly where you are in these areas as well as the Border Patrol and NPS Rangers with military style sensors in areas they can afford them and be effective.

 

[twomountainlions]

Got news for you, the Cartel with drones and observation posts know exactly where you are in these areas as well as the Border Patrol and NPS Rangers with military style sensors in areas they can afford them and be effective.

I mean when Im walking the desert which I do daily, not my camp. The surveillance isnt there yet to know where every one is in the desert

 

[towboater]

We spent a month in S. TX. last January a mile from the bridge and felt completely safe. Of course our area joined the BP headquarters. But as was stated by twomountainlions they want to get to a city and blend in, not stick around.
Best Wishes