We see some asses at Senator Wash

January 31^st

Adjacent to the Imperial Dam on the Colorado is the Senator Wash BLM Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA). This is dry camping with water and sewer dump available. Pretty rough terrain with the natural state on the mesa being rubble strewn mostly with blackish rocks.

About the only way you can get lost here is to stay down in one of the many smaller washes. We set out for the foothills today and ended up going up and down about 10 washes each way. Of course it was further than we expected.

And steeper when we got there.

And the “ruins” turned out to be a half built stone hut. Certainly worth the 3 hour round trip.

The dam forms Squaw Lake upstream. In addition there is a holding area at the bottom of Senator Wash that forms a small lake. This is that area on a good day (it can get pretty low if more water is needed for the All American Canal):

BLMer’s self organize a fair bit with a golf course (don’t use your best clubs – there’s no grass), hikes, and even a regular Sunday afternoon concert.

Near the beginning of Imperial Dam Road at I-95 is a collection of military pieces including some tanks and guns. Doesn’t fit today’s story but I’m throwing them in anyway.

Attention beginning to flag? Thinking the title that got you here was a bit of a con?

Well here they are –

Yep - they are wild burros or donkeys. Members of the Ass family. Not exactly wild since they came right up to us. Seems like they’re well treated here and have very little fear of humans. Apparently this population started when the mines petered out and the remaining donkeys were released. Only saw these two but there must be more because there is donkey dookey everywhere in the washes.