As we look ahead to hiking for a full week in May, Patty and I have been trying to hike more often and for longer distances. On the 18th of December, we hiked with Anne on Phoenix hiking route 100 from Mountainview Park in the Sunnyslope section of Phoenix to the North Mountain Visiter Center on 7th Street.
Looking south on the way back, the smog is so thick that you can barely see the tall buildings in downtown Phoenix (just to the left of Patty's head).
We have continued to have issues with the outdoor lights at the Carlyle, so I often take photos and email the property managers with my findings. Here is a light post where the light is burning out.
As with our prior hikes, we found the trails to be easily navigated.
I usually see barrel cactus with a single main trunk, but this one has sprouted arms.
We took a break and had a snack. I carry snacks, first aid kit, extra water and a stool in my backpack to practice carrying the weight.
We came across what appears to be coyote scat - the remains of a small rodent.
Some of the chollas have pieces of arms that fall off and then take root where they land.
Still lots of smog blocking views of downtown Phoenix.
There is a designated "Fly Zone" at Mountain View Park - people come with their small drones and remote controlled planes.
As with the lights, when I find problems around our condos, I take photos and send them to the property managers - the joys of being on the board of directors for our condo association. Here, bolts that hold one side of the walk through gate were missing - they had apparently fallen out overtime (or maybe vandals had removed them).
We came across an area where the ground was covered with green growth, almost as if there was grass planted there.
As we continued on, we went through a second tunnel, this one under Cave Creek Road.
Nice colors of the fauna as we walked.
Our friend Mike is a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan. While walking the dog one morning, I came across a yellow and black (Steelers' team colors) Mini Cooper with a Steelers' license plate and seat covers.
On the 28th, I volunteered again at Luminaria and there was an amazing sunset.
Cold weather came in to end the year. In the morning, I found ice and frost on the lawn - but realized that it was from the lawn sprinklers that come on during the night. Mister Shadow cooperated in my photos.
On the 30th, Patty and I made a third trip to the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and began at the Fraesfield Trail Head - the third and final trail head for us to explore. Here is a dead cholla about four feet tall, with most off the flesh rotted off the internal skeleton.
As before, we found nicely groomed trails.
We found many bird's nests in the prickly pear cacti.
Here is a dead barrel cactus about four feet tall, with nearly all the flesh rotted away.
More coyote scat.
Lots of large saguaro.
Many saguaro skeletons.
We came across an area where APS was putting in an underground powerline and had installed sprinklers to water the plants that had been planted to remediate the landscape.
On my last Tuesday Docent Day on the 30th, I took some photos of these cacti with cephalium - the hairy growth that is in addition to the spines.
And so, 2014 has come to an end. It has been a busy year and 2015 already has much in store for us - Spain, Cayman Islands, visitors from New England and more. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Looking south on the way back, the smog is so thick that you can barely see the tall buildings in downtown Phoenix (just to the left of Patty's head).
I volunteered to light luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden - I did it five times, and Patty went with me twice. The first time, after we finished, Patty and I went to the Patio Cafe for wine and dinner and enjoying the music. Luminaria has ten different performing groups at the DBG, as well as five bars and food can be had at a buffet, at the Patio Cafe or a sit down dinner at Gertrude's Restaurant.
We have continued to have issues with the outdoor lights at the Carlyle, so I often take photos and email the property managers with my findings. Here is a light post where the light is burning out.
On the 22nd, Patty and I continued our exploration of the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve by hiking from the Brown's Ranch trail head. On the Hackamore trail, we saw several boulders which are precariously balanced.
As with our prior hikes, we found the trails to be easily navigated.
I usually see barrel cactus with a single main trunk, but this one has sprouted arms.
Lots of large, unique saguaros.
We took a break and had a snack. I carry snacks, first aid kit, extra water and a stool in my backpack to practice carrying the weight.
There are clusters of like plants in different locations. Here is a large area of teddy bar chollas.
We came across what appears to be coyote scat - the remains of a small rodent.
Some of the chollas have pieces of arms that fall off and then take root where they land.
On Christmas morning, Anne, Patty and I again hiked from Mountainview Park to the North Mountain Visitor Center and back.
Still lots of smog blocking views of downtown Phoenix.
There is a designated "Fly Zone" at Mountain View Park - people come with their small drones and remote controlled planes.
On the 28th, Patty and I drove to the North Mountain Visitor Center and hiked on route 100, but this time we went east, under 7th Street and towards Dreamy Draw. We went on a side trail that took us through Tapatio Point. As before, still lots of smog when we look south at downtown Phoenix.
We came across an area where the ground was covered with green growth, almost as if there was grass planted there.
As we continued on, we went through a second tunnel, this one under Cave Creek Road.
Nice colors of the fauna as we walked.
Our friend Mike is a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan. While walking the dog one morning, I came across a yellow and black (Steelers' team colors) Mini Cooper with a Steelers' license plate and seat covers.
On the 30th, Patty and I made a third trip to the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and began at the Fraesfield Trail Head - the third and final trail head for us to explore. Here is a dead cholla about four feet tall, with most off the flesh rotted off the internal skeleton.
As before, we found nicely groomed trails.
We found many bird's nests in the prickly pear cacti.
Here is a dead barrel cactus about four feet tall, with nearly all the flesh rotted away.
More coyote scat.
Lots of large saguaro.
Many saguaro skeletons.
We came across an area where APS was putting in an underground powerline and had installed sprinklers to water the plants that had been planted to remediate the landscape.
On my last Tuesday Docent Day on the 30th, I took some photos of these cacti with cephalium - the hairy growth that is in addition to the spines.
And so, 2014 has come to an end. It has been a busy year and 2015 already has much in store for us - Spain, Cayman Islands, visitors from New England and more. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
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