September 2014 – Page 2 – buettner.to blog

September 15, 2014 / 0 Comments

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.

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.

Perhaps 200 yards later, I came across a larger tortoise, perhaps the young one’s mother.

September 13, 2014 / 3 Comments

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.

Sunrise from the Hilltop Trail:

Hiking into the sun on the Scenic Trail.

Looking towards Four Peaks once we had gained the ridge of the Scenic Trail:

This is the petroglyph rock on the Scenic Trail.

Red Mountain, framed by saguaros:

Descending the big hill on the Scenic Trail:

Lisa, Amy, and Linda:

Saguaros along Shallmo Wash:

Linda spotted this tortoise on the Tech Loop. I had walked right by it thinking it was a rock.

Me and the tortoise:

A view from near the top of the big hill on the Tech Loop:

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.

Another tire grabbing rut just a bit further on. As I recall, this is just before the tunnel.

A saguaro in Stoneman Wash. I used Topaz B&W Effects on this one.

September 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

Happy (Belated) Birthday to Grandma

Hope you had a lovely birthday, Grandma.

-AZ Buettners

September 11, 2014 / 3 Comments

Sunset at the Fountain Lake

September 9, 2014 / 0 Comments

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.

September 9, 2014 / 0 Comments

Bird of Paradise Flowers with Butterflies

September 7, 2014 / 4 Comments

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.) We visited the old car on our way up Stoneman Wash.

Ranger Amy posed for this shot in the car.

A small hill along Stoneman Wash:

Another hill. This one offered some welcome shade…

Saguaros on a bank of Stoneman Wash:

Another view from Stoneman Wash:

Palo Verde seed pods:

Senna:

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.

We saw this large white flower in the wash. Linda and Susan have identified it as Datura. It is poisonous, but has hallucinogenic properties.

We saw a flowering bush in the wash too.

We saw a large rabbit just off the Granite Trail.

I composited several exposures to show the rabbit scampering off.

A view of the Granite Trail, somewhat before turning off onto Wagner:

September 2, 2014 / 0 Comments

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: