Month: September 2014 (page 2 of 2)

Spider and Tortoises on the Tech Loop

Photos from Monday morning’s hike of the Tech Loop in McDowell Mountain Park…

I saw a large spider web with a medium size spider between the arms of an ocotillo. The spider has plenty to eat. Even though there are a lot of bugs in the web, there were still plenty out to bother me as I hiked.

20140915-_DSC0758-Edit-medium 20140915-_DSC0764-Edit-medium 20140915-_DSC0767-Edit-medium 20140915-_DSC0788-Edit-Edit-medium-2 I came across this young tortoise in the “Dan’s Delight” portion of the Tech Loop.  It was moving surprisingly fast.  I didn’t get much time to get a shot before it hid in a bush.

20140915-_DSC0800-Edit-medium Perhaps 200 yards later, I came across a larger tortoise, perhaps the young one’s mother.20140915-_DSC0845-Edit-medium

Friday Fitness Hike

Lisa, Linda, Ranger Amy, and I hiked the Scenic Trail on Friday.  When we reached the Cinch Trail, Linda and I branched off to get in 8 miles for the day.

I arrived early again to take some sunrise photos.  This one was just before sunrise.  I used Topaz ReStyle on this first one.

20140912-_DSC0317-Edit-Edit-medium-2 Sunrise from the Hilltop Trail:

20140912-_DSC0377-Edit-2-medium Hiking into the sun on the Scenic Trail.

20140912-_DSC0424-Edit-medium Looking towards Four Peaks once we had gained the ridge of the Scenic Trail:

20140912-_DSC0428-Edit-medium This is the petroglyph rock on the Scenic Trail.

20140912-_DSC0464-Edit-medium Red Mountain, framed by saguaros:

20140912-_DSC0467-Edit-medium Descending the big hill on the Scenic Trail:

20140912-_DSC0488-Edit-medium Lisa, Amy, and Linda:

20140912-_DSC0509-Edit-medium Saguaros along Shallmo Wash:

20140912-_DSC0521-Edit-medium Linda spotted this tortoise on the Tech Loop.  I had walked right by it thinking it was a rock.

20140912-_DSC0548-Edit-medium Me and the tortoise:

20140912-_DSC0554-Edit-medium A view from near the top of the big hill on the Tech Loop:

20140912-_DSC0557-Edit-2-medium-2 Linda descending the hill on the other side.  There’s a sizable rut just behind her.  I used to use that line when riding my bike down this hill.

20140912-_DSC0563-Edit-medium Another tire grabbing rut just a bit further on.  As I recall, this is just before the tunnel.

20140912-_DSC0572-Edit-medium A saguaro in Stoneman Wash.  I used Topaz B&W Effects on this one.

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Happy (Belated) Birthday to Grandma

GMABdayCard2014

 

Hope you had a lovely birthday, Grandma.

-AZ Buettners

Sunset at the Fountain Lake

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Big Blue and a Nighttime Fountain

The bird sculpture in the Fountain Lake is named Big Blue.  It was created by sculptor Don Kenworthy and was donated by Mayor Jerry & Jackie Miles and Councilman Dennis & Judy Brown.

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Bird of Paradise Flowers with Butterflies

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Friday Fitness Hike

Friday’s hike started at the Wagner Trailhead.  Ranger Amy (Roberts), Allen, Janet, and I hiked the Tortoise Trail to the Pemberton.  We then took the Pemberton over to Stoneman Wash and hiked up Stoneman Wash to the Bluff Trail.  Amy left us at that point and returned via the Bluff, Granite, and Wagner Trails.  Allen, Janet, and I continued up the wash paralleling the Bluff Trail.  That eventually intersected with the Granite Trail which we took back to Wagner and then back to the trailhead.

I arrived at the trailhead early to take some sunrise photos.  I blended two exposures for this photo.  It worked out surprisingly well even though I had to manually set the exposure compensation between shots – without the aid of a tripod to keep the camera in the same location for each exposure.  (The Sony RX100 II has limited bracketing capabilities.)20140905-_DSC6321-Edit-medium We visited the old car on our way up Stoneman Wash.

20140905-_DSC6339-Edit-medium Ranger Amy posed for this shot in the car.

20140905-_DSC6351-Edit-medium A small hill along Stoneman Wash:

20140905-_DSC6360-Edit-medium Another hill.  This one offered some welcome shade…

20140905-_DSC6385-Edit-medium Saguaros on a bank of Stoneman Wash:

20140905-_DSC6390-Edit-medium Another view from Stoneman Wash:

20140905-_DSC6401-Edit-medium Palo Verde seed pods:

20140905-_DSC6409-Edit-medium Senna:

20140905-_DSC6414-Edit-medium We encountered this rattlesnake shortly after turning onto the wash paralleling the Bluff Trail.  It was asleep when we found it.  I almost stepped on it.  After a time, it became aware of me snapping photos.  It slithered off to a nearby bush where it hid from us.

20140905-_DSC6441-Edit-medium20140905-_DSC6459-Edit-medium We saw this large white flower in the wash.  Linda and Susan have identified it as Datura. It is poisonous, but has hallucinogenic properties.

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We saw a flowering bush in the wash too.

20140905-_DSC6531-Edit-medium We saw a large rabbit just off the Granite Trail.

20140905-_DSC6548-Edit-mediumI composited several exposures to show the rabbit scampering off.

20140905-_DSC6551-Edit-medium A view of the Granite Trail, somewhat before turning off onto Wagner:

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Gooseneck / Delsie Trails

On Monday, Marilyn and I hiked from the Fraesfield Trailhead in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve to the Wagner Trailhead in McDowell Mountain Park, for a total distance of about nine miles.  The (new) Gooseneck Trail connects Fraesfield Trailhead with McDowell Mountain Park at Granite Tank.

Shortly after starting our hike, we encountered this view from the Gooseneck Trail:

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We saw a metal tank low on the side of a hill as we hiked westward on the Gooseneck Trail.

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After crossing to the south side of Dynamite Blvd, we saw a number of small rock outcroppings near the trail.

20140901-DSC06128-Edit-medium We encountered a water filled tank as we proceeded further south.

20140901-DSC06134-Edit-medium Two views as we neared the boundary with McDowell Mountain Park:

20140901-DSC06147-Edit-medium 20140901-DSC06159-Edit-medium A view from the Delsie Trail:

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Ballantine / Pine Creek Loop

On Saturday, Marilyn and I hiked about four miles on the Pine Creek Loop and Ballantine Trails.

Midway up the steep part of the Pine Creek Loop, we encountered this saguaro.  Most of it is clearly dead, but one arm still seems to be living.

20140830-DSC06011-Edit-medium Morning views…

20140830-DSC06032-Edit-medium 20140830-DSC06041-Edit-medium 20140830-DSC06056-Edit-medium Marilyn spotted this caterpillar.

20140830-DSC06083-Edit-mediumWe saw this large multi-armed saguaro when we were nearly back.

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