Another Ten Days of Mostly at Home due to Covid 19, Sept. 13 - 22

But for our day trip to Phoenix on the 20th (I did a separate post for that day), we continue to stay at home.  We did go to Aspen Corner, then hiked out to the Arizona Trail and Aspen Loop on Mount Humphreys.  This included passing through the Hart Prairie Meadow Restoration project.

This video shows some of the panoramic views we had looking south and west.

The signs on the Arizona Trail let you know how far it was to Mexico and Utah.

The Doney Fire north of Flagstaff on the 14th and 15th caused smoke and haze for a couple of days; this was in addition to the smoke coming from the forest fires in California.  It made for interesting sunrises.

Our next door neighbors have four young boys and when relatives visited, they installed these inflatable decorations, all of which also have lights at night.

There is still a lot of color when out hiking, as the wildflowers are still hanging on.

And the fall foliage is starting to add color as well.  Among the many evergreen trees, many of the bushes are turning.

Arizona covid numbers have stayed low but with the opening of schools and universities, numbers are starting to rise again.  And the fall flu season should be hitting soon as well.

A Quick Visit to the Desert Botanical Garden, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020

When I first created this post, something was wrong and it would not let me post any photos, so it appeared that the post was empty.  This led to some comments below from family members, but now I have completed the post.

 

We had a quick trip to Phoenix Sunday and that allowed me to spend about an hour at the Garden.  The first thing that surprised me was that there was hardly anyone there - maybe the fact that it was just hitting 100 degrees when I arrived caused this.  After seeing the prior email updates where attendance this year exceeded last year, I expected to see a lot of people.  Don't get me wrong, there were visitors and staff there, but just not very many people.  I also expected that everything would be one way - while the cross trails were closed, there really wasn't much done to make the side trails or the main DDT one way.  Everyone was wearing their masks, except when eating and drinking at one the eight tables at the patio cafe.  And there were signs still up from two different weddings on Saturday.

In any event, the entrance gardens are looking good.

One of my favorite boojum trees greeted me.

Except for the fish hanging from the roof of the succulent gallery, it appeared that most of the Cracking Art plastic sculptures were there, including the snails in the entry portal.

Lots of fruit on some of the prickly pear cactus.

The Center for Desert Living Trail had some nice color.

The "Elephant in the Room" is no longer inside at the Ottosen Gallery - it has moved outside and is now "Conserve the Memory."

The Sonoran Desert Nature Loop is open, except for the area with the two telescopes. 

The compass barrel cacti there were looking good.

When I was on the People and Plants of the Sonoran Desert trail, I got to play docent near the saguaro station.  The solar powered cameras from the BBC are still there taking photos every hour and some visitors were about to walk off the trail to get a closer look of them.  While wearing my mask and keeping my distance, I explained to them what the cameras were doing.

After passing the ponds, I saw that the dry gardens on PPSD have been overtaken by sunflowers.

The Mesquite Bosquet has been trimmed back more than I have ever seen.

In the distance, I could see that there were visitors to the "Hole in the Wall" next door at Papago Park.

Another barrel cactus looking good, near the fire pit.

There is not a lot to see on the wildflower trail.

After a pleasant hour and about two miles walking, I walked the two miles to the light rail at Washington and Priest, rode the light rail to Central and Camelback and walked the mile to our condo on 7th Street.  Then it was pizza for late afternoon lunch, and then the two and a half hour drive back to Flagstaff.

Red Mountain Trail, Coconino National Forest, Saturday, Sept 12, 2020

We had a delightful visit to Red Mountain Trail.  We could see the Red Mountain as we approached on Highway 180.  Here is the US Forest Service description.

Red Mountain, located in the Coconino National Forest of northern Arizona, 25 miles northwest of Flagstaff, is a volcanic cinder cone that rises 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. It is unusual in having the shape of a "U," and in lacking the symmetrical shape of most cinder cones. In addition, a large natural amphitheater cuts into the cone's northeast flank. Erosional pillars called "hoodoos" decorate the amphitheater, and many dark mineral crystals erode out of its walls. Studies by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Northern Arizona University scientists suggest that Red Mountain formed in eruptions about 740,000 years ago.

It is a pleasant hiking trail, a little under 1.5 miles each way with only minimal elevation gain.

Patty had her own natural picnic table for our lunch break.

We followed one side wash that got progressively narrow as we went back into the hoodoos.

The one unusual spot on the trail is where they have this stairway/ladder with nine stairs.

This was a most pleasant trail to hike and I am sure we will be back again.

Another week of mostly at home due to Covid-19, September 6 - 11, 2020

On Sunday Sept. 6, we drove to the FUTS parking lot at the intersection of Lone Tree Road and J.W. Powell Boulevard.  There is concern about the loss of the lot due to some of the proposed construction projects.

Our hike from there through the woods to the Bow and Arrow Trail had some nice views of Mount Humphries and nearby mountains.

There were also plenty of pretty wildflowers including these Mexican Hats.

By the middle of the week, smoke from the epic wildfires in California had moved into our area and caused the morning sun to be viewed by the naked eye as just an orange ball.

On Wednesday, while on the Sinclair Wash Trail, we came across this deer who was not at all concerned about our proximity - in the video you can hear me talking to her and she could care less.

I continue to be surprised by the many colorful wildflowers still in bloom from the rains in August.

On Tuesday afternoon, we had a drink to celebrate Ben and Martha signing documents for their new home.

On Wednesday the 9th, Paulie got evaluated for some rehab.  This included being fitted with a life preserver that had a shark's fin, and then walking on a treadmill while she was in water up to her neck.

 

 

 

We had freezing temps Wednesday night, killing off our tomato plants.  It was 27 degrees when I walked the dog and the frost turned the tops of black cars to white - an early season frost.

On Thursday the 10th, we explored Wupatki National Monument.  We walked four of the five short trails they have.

 

The main remains include this large building that had about 100 rooms, with two nearby ball courts.

And I also visited the nearby blowhole - the sound of the rushing air is quite loud, as can be heard in the video.

Another quiet week around the house.  Covid-19 numbers are decreasing in Arizona and things are slowly starting to open up at limited capacity with people wearing face masks and maintaining appropriate distance.