Modern Cave men found in AZ

A few days back The Commander set off on a hike by herself to explore a new route we have been developing.  The route will ultimately go up a canyon and come down somewhere in Bull Dog Canyon.  Yesterday with our Canadian friends we set off up the canyon to explore the route.  When The Commander came back from her initial conquest she was excited that she had come across a cave deep in the canyon where suspect people were living.  The canyon by local standards is remote and rarely visited.  You cannot get to the canyon unless you wade across the Salt River. Most hikers are unwilling to wade across the river.

After we crossed the river we went up the part of the trail we had used many times.  Strangely someone has been changing the trail signs we use.   After continual bolder hopping for two miles our troop reached the cave.  Remnants of modern humans were strewn about the cave, but the place did not seem to show signs of recent activity.  When The Commander observed the cave on her first jaunt into the canyon she only observed the cave from a distance with binoculars.  Her fear was dastardly people were using the cave for refuge and she dare not encounter them.

The contents of the cave were a bit strange.  For some reason whomever occupied the cave placed various bottles and cans on strings and dangled the cans from sticks that protruded from the cave wall.  The cave had tarps and air mattresses on the floor and a variety of cans strewn about.  Most peculiar of all was a first class letter addressed to Dan Pettris.  The letter contained toothpicks.  Now the question is who is Dan Pettris?  The letter came from Oregon and was delivered via a Pettris in Lakeside AZ.

This was not a cave easy to get to.  There were some little pools of water nearby, but the water was of poor quality and life in the cave would have been difficult.  Carrying supplies to the cave would not be an easy task.  There was absolutely no source of natural food in the area.   Perhaps we will have to search for Dan Pettris and find out why he was living in a cave and people were sending him toothpicks.