HikeArizona.COM

Bouse, which is a tiny town a few miles south of Parker, hosts Camp Bouse Days the second full weekend of February every year. This year, that would be 2/8 (Sat) and 2/9 (Sun). See http://www.bousechamberofcommerce.com/events.htm . I found out about it when looking into ghost towns ( http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/campbouse.html ). From what I've seen, apparently Patton tested some secret tank out there in 1942.

February - 2nd full weekend

Saturday - WWII Camp Bouse Dedication 11 a.m., Luncheon at noon, DTC Tank Memorial Park on Hwy 72
Sunday - WWII Camp Bouse Tour & Picnic, Camp Bouse in Butler Valley , Meet at the Bouse Assay Office 8 a.m.

Call the Bouse Chamber of Commerce if you are interested, as they have a limited number of openings: (928) 851-2509. If you get a call back from a 503 (Portland) number, that is the Chamber lady, not voice spam. ;)

While you're there, visit the Bouse Fisherman Intaglio: http://hikearizona.com/photoset=6778
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/cultur ... erman.html
Have to warn you, though, it may be a bit underwhelming when you finally find it.

Looks like you probably need elevation to get a decent perspective on it ...

kingsnake wrote:Looks like you probably need elevation to get a decent perspective on it ...

Yes, but...it isn't very big. I was imagining a really large drawing on the ground, let's say, at least 100 feet long. But this thing is probably less than 20 feet long, as I recall. I just remember being quite underwhelmed...

Yeah, that is the same impression I got from seeing the photo, that it was like one of those figures from the South American desert, Chariots of the Gods stuff ...

Think Patton was the only one who trained in the desert. Patton went on to North Africa, most of the troops went to Alaska or the jungles of the South Pacific.

It's the Army way ... ;)

@kingsnake
what is the drawing on ground made from, or how is it made, and how do they know its authentic...I didn't know there was anything like that here..mainly I think of the Nez Perez, or something in high deserts of S. America..hmmm

You got me ...

friendofThundergod wrote:@kingsnake
what is the drawing on ground made from, or how is it made, and how do they know its authentic...I didn't know there was anything like that here..mainly I think of the Nez Perez, or something in high deserts of S. America..hmmm

It's not the only one. There are some on the other side of the river, just north of Blythe. I think they know they are real because people reported about them many decades ago. It is really just a rearrangement of rocks and soil. It is pretty well known. The ones by Blythe are in a special park and have a big sign on the highway so you can find them. The one near Bouse doesn't have a sign but it is just off the paved road, and has a trail to it and a fence around it, and an interpretive sign.

One thing does bug me, and that is all this unscientific stuff about aliens. It seems that people think the Indians were so damned dumb and ignorant that they could not possibly have come up with interesting and scary-looking designs in their rock art, (which some interpret as being "aliens") on their own, so surely they must have seen some aliens. It's almost as if some people don't give the Indians credit for being human, being creative. So, surely they must have seen aliens. They couldn't possibly have had ideas of their own. If I were a Native American I would find this incredibly offensive. (I'm not saying either of you said this, I'm just making a general observation.)

There is another one east of the San Tan Mtns. on the Gila Indian Reservation.

@azbackpackr
I agree 100% I think as "modern" and "civilised" (using term very loosely and sarcastically, also British spelling just for kicks) humans we have a tendency to really underestimate the intellectual and general capacities of prehistoric peoples...

There are some good scholarly articles about how things like technology have actually probably made us a weaker version of our predecessors, in terms of things like, sense of direction, survival, ability to problem solve, etc...

I remember one of those alien theory shows and the statement was something like "modern man has not even been able to duplicate the precision of these rock structures, therefore, they must be extraterrestrial" sigh Its like well modern man has not worked every day with stone tools, modern man does not have ten generations of stone work under their belt....

I know its a little bit of a loaded and flawed comparison, but when I come across ruins, I always think...hmmm how much of my house will be left in 700-900 years, then I look at the ruins and I see a two foot wall still intact, and I think well thats more than what will be left of my house..they must have been doing something right...

People often confuse ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge; stupidity the inability to learn. Ancient people may have been ignorant, but they were stupid in no greater percentage than now.

I didn't get out to the Saturday ceremony -- too far to drive there & back twice in two days -- but I did go to my main interest, which was touring the camp itself. Quite a turn out, maybe 100 people, including two WWII vets who were actually stationed at Camp Bouse when it was active (1943-44). I'll have a triplog, and descripton, up at some point this week, but main thing is that anybody interested in military history would have a great time.

The video is not exciting, and the sound is too low -- I shot on an iPhone, not a proper camera with a boom or lavalier mic -- but if want to hear some interesting and funny stories about Camp Bouse, and are patient, it will be worth your time: https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZFNXjpGp2 ... autoplay=1 .