Pipe Springs National Monument, An Oasis in the Desert
This was my third visit to Pipe Springs National Monument. This place is truly an oasis in the desert. Pipe Springs is in the middle of nowhere. The Grand Canyon has isolated this area from the rest of Arizona and it has been that way for hundreds of years. The Mormons liked this area because it was hard for the federal government to interfere with their lives.
This whole community was sustained by a spring. Today the flow is about seven gallons per minute but back in the late 1800's the flow was around fifty gallons per minute. The Mormons built a fort over the spring. They cut groves in the sandstone under one of the floors to direct the water flow to to a single point. The water enabled the Mormons to meet most of their needs. They grew grain for large herds of cattle. They grew vegetables, orchards and even grape vines. The water ran through a "cold" room where they made cheese and butter which was shipped to St George every two weeks. They also had the first telegraph in Arizona. This was a very busy place in its time and water made it all happen.
We had a very nice chat with the park ranger who was originally from West Virginia I think. The park service thinks the spring will run dry within 10 years because of wells being drilled in the area that is diverting part of the flow.
After leaving the "cold" room, the water exits the fort and runs into outside pools. Back in the day, the road ran between the pools and the fort. I just find it fascinating that this one source of clean water sustained a large community of people. An oasis in the desert.
As long as we agreed to eat them we were allowed to pick a couple of vegetables from the garden being irrigated by the spring. Laurie and Greg picked an onion and a beet. There is still an orchard and 10 of the original grape vines.
Pipe Springs National Monument. This cup is for someone with a large mustache.
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Laurie
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Laurie, Donna
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Laurie
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Laurie, Donna, Greg
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Donna, Greg
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Donna
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Greg
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Greg, Donna
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Donna, Greg
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Greg, Donna, Laurie
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Greg, Laurie, Donna
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Laurie
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Laurie
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Laurie, Greg
Pipe Springs National Monument.
Laurie