Even after the arrival, the Arizona desert remained pretty much the same. It was a vast arid place that seemed to be empty, but all it took was a glimpse for Sam to notice that wasn't the case. Contrary to appearances, the desert was throbbing with life in the most unsuspecting and beautiful ways.
Small lizards, rodents and bugs made of the desert their home. The presence of cryptids was also a given, but because of Sam's amazing trait, it was unlikely they would be taken by surprise. That was precisely the reason why they decided to land near flagstaff, where the vegetation was scarse and Sam was able to see as far as the horizon to one side and to the mountains on the other.