This week’s hike started at the Wagner Trailhead, though we never actually got around to hiking the Wagner Trail. Even so, we hiked 8.7 miles.
I got this photo of the sunrise before the hike started. Part of the Wagner Trail is visible in this photo.
Another pre-hike photo; A good view of Red Mountain off in the distance with some interesting foliage in the foreground.
We hiked the Tortoise Trail to the Pemberton and then hiked Pemberton to Stoneman Wash. We hiked up the wash, stopping to take photos at this rusted convertible.
From left to right are Kevin, Bob, Amy, Janet, and Teresa.
Bob took this photo of me while I was photographing the car.
A large palo verde tree in Stoneman Wash:
We hiked up one of the feeder washes for Stoneman Wash. It eventually lead us back to the Pemberton, somewhat south of the Bluff Trail.
We saw this rattlesnake along the way. Ranger Amy has confirmed that it’s a Mohave rattlesnake. We saw one on last week’s hike too.
I was suprised to see a blooming barrel cactus in the area.
Ranger Amy examines the skull of a small animal.
A view from the Pemberton Trail. There is a small bench just below and left of the Palo Verde on the hill. Just below and beyond the tree and bench lies the Bluff Trail. The yellow sign visible in this photo warns of a sharp turn on the Pemberton Trail.
Teresa and Bob hike down the Bluff Trail.
A view of Weaver’s Needle and the Flatiron far off in the distance:
We came across a number of healthy looking ocotillos while hiking back on the Bluff Trail.
Ranger Amy spotted this horseshoe on a granite boulder.
A view of the nine o’clock fountain with Red Mountain behind it.
Jennifer morigi says:
Excuse my ignorance ,but is that a Mohave ?it looks different to the rattlers that we saw when I joined you all in march.
August 10, 2013 — 12:06 am
Kevin says:
Hi Jen, Ranger Amy thought that it was a Mohave rattlesnake too, but was not certain. She said that she’d wait for my photos before making a final determination.
August 10, 2013 — 8:11 am
Linda says:
Love the sunrise photo!!! And the group sitting in the old Chevy. Are the rattlers getting emails of where we are going to hike??lol, lol
Sorry I missed this one….see ya all next week!
Linda
August 10, 2013 — 7:37 am
Rangeramy says:
Hi Guys,
Yes, this is definitely a Mojave– I looked at the pics and compared, then sent it to a Herping facebook group for confirmation. They confirmed it was. No wonder it started buzzing from a good 20 feet away! 🙂
Hi Guys,
Yes, this is definitely a Mojave– I looked at the pics and compared, then sent it to a Herping facebook group for confirmation. They confirmed it was. Not sure why I second guessed myself…but just wanted to be 100%. No wonder it started buzzing from a good 20 feet away! 🙂
August 10, 2013 — 9:05 am
Kevin says:
Thanks Amy!
I’ve updated the post with your identification.
August 10, 2013 — 9:44 am
Susan says:
Again, just wonderful pics!!! Looks like great comrade-ship, great flora and fauna:).
August 10, 2013 — 8:10 am