Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
10/18/14
1/5/13
9/11/12
4/5/12
11/23/11
Walking Suspended Over Water
Waterfall washing wall of Whitewalk Canyon...
Catwalk clinging to canyon walls built in mining era for water pipeline.
Catwalk clinging to canyon walls built in mining era for water pipeline.
9/19/11
City of Rocks
Boulders crafted by nature 35 million years ago...
There are only six places in the world with rock formations like these boulders and one is in New Mexico. Created by a huge explosion named after what it formed, the Kneeling Nun monolith, the volcanic ash was roughcast by wind, water and time leaving these stone monuments to sit in a grassland plain. They rise up in chimera as if ancient secrets are hidden in recesses with passages that wind around to wander and wonder if they hold some answer to an unknown question.
Over centuries people have sought shelter and protection among these geologic pinnacles from weather and animals of prey. Among them were the Mimbres Indians who left behind arrowheads, pottery shards and
mortars ground into the stone formations by pestling seeds into flour. The mortars are called "Indian Wells" since water collects in them after it rains. Apaches later came to the area. During the 1500s Spanish conquistadors passing by left carved crosses in the lava and soon after Spaniard settlers arrived. In the early 19th century mining began in nearby Santa Rita.
The area is rich in flora and fauna occupied by eagles and hawks, horned owls, roadrunners and cactus wrens. Squirrels, jackrabbits, packrats, mule deer, javelinas and coyotes call the area home where many types of snakes are also found alongside a wide variety of lizards. Yucca and ocotillo, barrel and hedgehog cacti, century plants and desert willow surround the rocks among the grama grass. Within the passageways of the rocks emory and gray oaks grow. A trail goes to a desert botanical garden.
The City of Rocks has been a New Mexico State Park since 1952. Located in the Mimbres Valley near Bayard. It is in the far reaches of the Chihuahuan desert at an elevation of 5200 feet with mild winters and warm
summers. The unique geography makes for imaginative exploration of the volcanic ash formations thrusting up into the air and trailing the surrounding area. Clear night sky star gazing chances an "ah ha!" moment on ancient pathways.
There are only six places in the world with rock formations like these boulders and one is in New Mexico. Created by a huge explosion named after what it formed, the Kneeling Nun monolith, the volcanic ash was roughcast by wind, water and time leaving these stone monuments to sit in a grassland plain. They rise up in chimera as if ancient secrets are hidden in recesses with passages that wind around to wander and wonder if they hold some answer to an unknown question.
Over centuries people have sought shelter and protection among these geologic pinnacles from weather and animals of prey. Among them were the Mimbres Indians who left behind arrowheads, pottery shards and
The City of Rocks has been a New Mexico State Park since 1952. Located in the Mimbres Valley near Bayard. It is in the far reaches of the Chihuahuan desert at an elevation of 5200 feet with mild winters and warm
9/10/11
Road Trip
I am on a road trip through Arizona and New Mexico through next week. Follow me on Google+ as I post pictures along the way.
In the mean time consider following this blog in one of two ways. On the left center on my blog under Follow either choose to click the RSS button for your RSS Reader of choice or right below enter your email for email updates. Look forward to posts of Arizona and New Mexico in the Great Southwest of the United States on my return! See you then.
8/23/11
9/15/10
Quote of the Day: Arizona Trail Association
What can be accomplished without government funds...
Citizen involvement
Thanks to the nearly 27,000 people who went online to vote, the Arizona Trail Association has won a $50,000 grant for trail improvements in Pinal County.
"[The] trail there now runs down along an old pipeline road. It's very straight, it's not very scenic," said Dave Hicks, executive director of the Arizona Trail Association.
Government funds for trail maintenance has been non-existent since the economic downturn, Hicks said. "This boost from a private source is a nice shot in the arm," he said.
azcentral.com Travel and Explore section 09/14/10
Mountain Biking Arizona Trails
Flagstaff Trails...
http://www.vimeo.com/14722269
Flagstaff Trails 8/29/10 from Gnome on Vimeo.
Just a basic vid of some of the local trails in Flagstaff, Arizona
http://www.vimeo.com/14722269
Flagstaff Trails 8/29/10 from Gnome on Vimeo.
Just a basic vid of some of the local trails in Flagstaff, Arizona
6/17/10
Yuma Territorial State Prison
Country Club or Hell Hole?...
To say that Yuma is an arid climate would be an understatement, it is one of the hottest cities in the US. It does have redeeming features since, unlike Phoenix, it doesn't have the Urban Heat Island effect. Actually for most of the year, the weather in Yuma is about the same as Phoenix. Yuma has several advantages also, it's the confluence of the Colorado River and the Gila River with water still running in them, the deserts cool at night as well as it has has very mild, pleasant winters.
Detailed forecast: The Weather Channel - Weather Underground - AccuWeather
All of that was moot to the residents of Yuma between 1876 and 1909 when the Yuma Territorial Prison was in operation. Originally built when Arizona was still a territory and county jails were inadequate to keep prisoners, the prison was built mainly for that purpose. Construction was done by the prisoners.
In that era electricity, much less fans and blowers, were not available to the population of the town of Yuma. Not so on the hill where the prison was into a hard rock cliff. The prison had electricity and primitive blowers, a library and hospital and townspeople referred to it as "The Country Club." The prison in reality was an awful place but depending on how hot the day, how deep it was into summer, the view of it depended on which side of The Wall you were on. Inside, prisoners referred to it as The Hell Hole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pS7BloOA1U
http://www.youtube.com/AZStateParks
To say that Yuma is an arid climate would be an understatement, it is one of the hottest cities in the US. It does have redeeming features since, unlike Phoenix, it doesn't have the Urban Heat Island effect. Actually for most of the year, the weather in Yuma is about the same as Phoenix. Yuma has several advantages also, it's the confluence of the Colorado River and the Gila River with water still running in them, the deserts cool at night as well as it has has very mild, pleasant winters.
86°F | °C
Current: Clear
Wind: SW at 9 mph
Humidity: 14%
Wind: SW at 9 mph
Humidity: 14%
Wed
103°F | 71°F
Thu
103°F | 72°F
Fri
104°F | 73°F
All of that was moot to the residents of Yuma between 1876 and 1909 when the Yuma Territorial Prison was in operation. Originally built when Arizona was still a territory and county jails were inadequate to keep prisoners, the prison was built mainly for that purpose. Construction was done by the prisoners.
In that era electricity, much less fans and blowers, were not available to the population of the town of Yuma. Not so on the hill where the prison was into a hard rock cliff. The prison had electricity and primitive blowers, a library and hospital and townspeople referred to it as "The Country Club." The prison in reality was an awful place but depending on how hot the day, how deep it was into summer, the view of it depended on which side of The Wall you were on. Inside, prisoners referred to it as The Hell Hole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pS7BloOA1U
http://www.youtube.com/AZStateParks
Video produced by John Booth for AZStateParks.com
5/1/10
There Is An Arizona
The Burning Man for Snowbirds...
"You go follow the Sun"
Every winter in the middle of the desert, 20 miles east of the Colorado River, millions of snowbirds trek to the usually desolate Town of Quartzite. The town becomes a haven of unique older snowbirds living in anything that could be called an RV.
Quartzite hosts multiple activities called "shows," that cover a wide variety of gatherings from November through April, with the real kickoff in early December with the Christmas Light Parade. The Main Event is in January when there are dozens of rock, gem, mineral, arts, crafts, sports, vacation, classic car and RV shows during the month of January. This is followed in February by continued swapmeeting, Pow Wow and an ATV Parade and Bluegrass Festival. These seniors are rock and rollers who are a fun and animated crowd.
Quartzite.com calls it "the ideal place for anyone who drives an RV." As you view it from I-10 if you're just driving through, it appears to be a parched desert but on closer inspection, you would find off the highway it is a unique scenic desert. Palm Canyon, in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, is a unique canyon where naturally occurring California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) trees, that have survived since the last glacial period, are in the cleft. The Palm Canyon Trail is a great hike to see the only known native palm trees in Arizona.
The winter migration began in 1965 with the Pow Wow Rock, Gem and Mineral show and the rockhounders have been coming annually in the millions since then.
View Larger Map
This video is by Ackerman Gruber Images and depicts the lively activity of the bustling older visitors.
Migrating South: Snowbirds in Quartzsite from Ackerman Gruber Images on Vimeo.
http://www.vimeo.com/9433820
"You go follow the Sun"
Every winter in the middle of the desert, 20 miles east of the Colorado River, millions of snowbirds trek to the usually desolate Town of Quartzite. The town becomes a haven of unique older snowbirds living in anything that could be called an RV.
Quartzite hosts multiple activities called "shows," that cover a wide variety of gatherings from November through April, with the real kickoff in early December with the Christmas Light Parade. The Main Event is in January when there are dozens of rock, gem, mineral, arts, crafts, sports, vacation, classic car and RV shows during the month of January. This is followed in February by continued swapmeeting, Pow Wow and an ATV Parade and Bluegrass Festival. These seniors are rock and rollers who are a fun and animated crowd.
Quartzite.com calls it "the ideal place for anyone who drives an RV." As you view it from I-10 if you're just driving through, it appears to be a parched desert but on closer inspection, you would find off the highway it is a unique scenic desert. Palm Canyon, in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, is a unique canyon where naturally occurring California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) trees, that have survived since the last glacial period, are in the cleft. The Palm Canyon Trail is a great hike to see the only known native palm trees in Arizona.
The winter migration began in 1965 with the Pow Wow Rock, Gem and Mineral show and the rockhounders have been coming annually in the millions since then.
View Larger Map
This video is by Ackerman Gruber Images and depicts the lively activity of the bustling older visitors.
Migrating South: Snowbirds in Quartzsite from Ackerman Gruber Images on Vimeo.
http://www.vimeo.com/9433820
4/17/10
Phoenix
From Squaw Peak...
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4/14/10
4/13/10
Picture of Me
Hiking Squaw Peak Nature Trail 304 to 8B...
My mother was co-leader and founder of the volunteer organization that built the early trails in this part of the park before the city started developing the park beyond the original Piestewa Peak trail. There are more trails now maintained by the city, I'm very proud of her volunteer work in the groundwork of the outlying trails.
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My mother was co-leader and founder of the volunteer organization that built the early trails in this part of the park before the city started developing the park beyond the original Piestewa Peak trail. There are more trails now maintained by the city, I'm very proud of her volunteer work in the groundwork of the outlying trails.
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