Hippies In The Cave And Beale Near The San Francisco Peaks

 January 25, 2026

   I have long heard rumors that real live hippies were at one time living in the cave across the way from us and now The Arizona Republic has featured actual photos of the Free Love, trespassing bastards.

   

   I thought perhaps this was our cave, but my neighbor Tom Augherton tells me these Hippies lived farther north up the creek, near Harmony Hollow. Wonder where they are now?

Westside Phoenix Bumper Sticker

Beale's Camel Corp Crossing The Colorado

   Here's some additional detail about the Beale camel crossing.

Haj Allah aka Hi Jolly

would know but he's been dead for 124 years

   Here is a quote from Beale that Vince Murray just found about the initial crossing of the Colorado River in October of 1857: "The first camel brought down to the river’s edge refused to take the water. Anxious, but not discouraged, I ordered another one to be brought, one of our largest and finest; and only those who have felt so much anxiety for the experiment can imagine my relief on seeing it take to the water, and swim boldly across the rapidly flowing river. We then tied them, each one to the saddle of another, and without the slightest difficulty, in a short time swam them all to the opposite side in gangs, five in a gang; to my delight, they not only swam with ease, but with apparently [more] strength than horses or mules. One of them, heading up stream, swam against the current, and all landed in safety on the other side."

   Thanks Vince! You also have earned a post byline for "added reporting" on the Beale sidebar in the next issue.

1920s postcard of San Francisco Peaks

"Could any amount of writing say more for a road."

—Ed Beale, writing in his journal at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks near present day Flagstaff, Arizona