Starbuck's Exploring

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Guy Starbuck

Guy has explored the deserts and mountains of the southwestern US for more than thirty-five years. In that time, he has found a couple of hidden and remote locations that don't see many visitors.

503 posts

December 2023 News

December 2023 News

It's the end of another interesting year. I've been going out on shorter trips for the last two months since the last newsletter in October. I've been posting backcountry cabins lately for some reason. As usual, I've tried to post all my

Riley's Camp

Riley's Camp

Possibly one of the most well-known backcountry cabins in the Mojave National Preserve is Riley's Camp. John Riley Bembry was born on February 5, 1899, in Arapaho, Oklahoma. He preferred to be called Riley instead of John because he found it more distinctive. After serving in World War

Geer Camp

Geer Camp

Geer Camp is one of my favorite places in the Mojave National Preserve. It is a small and cozy cabin with a great view and makes for an ideal place to camp if you are in the area. Robert R. Geer built the small, one-room cabin in 1940 as a

Roger's Camp

Roger's Camp

A restored mining cabin known as Roger's Camp sits a little ways inside the Mojave National Preserve, with minor abandoned mine workings located just uphill. Maurice Mulcahy of Dagget first stumbled upon traces of silver, lead, and tungsten deposits in the early 1900s. Later, three shafts were sunk

Wilbanks Cabin

Wilbanks Cabin

The Wilbanks cabin in Arizona's remote Kofa Mountains was homesteaded in the early 1930s by a young cowboy named Jack Wilbanks. He dreamed of having his own cattle ranch. In 1931, the abundant grass, perfect for grazing cattle, attracted him to the area. He acquired some existing equipment

Kofa Cabin

Kofa Cabin

The Kofa Cabin is a rustic stone cabin located close to the northern border of Arizona's Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. It was built in the 1930s to serve as a camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crews, who were tasked with building and improving roads, trails, and

Sacramento Wash Petroglyphs

Sacramento Wash Petroglyphs

Nestled in the far eastern reaches of the Mojave National Preserve and near the Mojave Road lies a hidden gem: the Sacramento Wash Petroglyphs. This easy sandy hike leads to two large rocky outcrops where a hundred ancient rock carvings await. The petroglyphs are primarily abstract symbols and are likely