Hiking – Page 13 – buettner.to blog

September 28, 2018 / 9 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Linda, Heather, and I hiked 11.3 miles for our Friday morning hike.

We saw two (Western Diamondback) rattlesnakes during our hike. The second one moved too quickly for me to get a photo. We also saw a number of lizards, rabbits, and one deer during our hike.

Heather and Linda:

Senna:

We came to a section of wash with many, many butterflies. In addition to the one below, we also saw some yellow butterflies which Linda identified as Cloudless Sulphur and a dark one with some blue accents which is a Pipevane Swallowtail. Alas, despite perhaps five minutes of effort, I was only able to get a few photos of the type shown below.

September 21, 2018 / 1 Comment

Friday Fitness Hike

I hiked 5.5 miles in the Tom’s Thumb area, doing a combination of the Hog Heaven Loop and the Lost Wall Loop. Towards the end of the hike, I added on the Feldspar and Marcus Landslide trails turning the route into more of a figure-8. Along the way, I visited Hog Heaven, the Thumbnail Pinnacle, the East End (highest point in the McDowells), and Tom’s Thumb.

September 16, 2018 / 3 Comments

Sunday Hike – Pole Hollow Canyon

Marilyn and I hiked a little over seven miles on our out-and-back hike of Pole Hollow Canyon. This hike, near Payson, starts at the City Creek Trailhead on Doll Baby Ranch Rd.

We encountered this snake early in our hike. It’s not a rattlesnake – it’s probably some type of Bull Snake.

The hike was mostly on trail, but it had significant deadfall to either cross or go around.

September 14, 2018 / 3 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Marilyn, Linda, and I did a hike in the Dixie Mine area on Friday. Linda and I hiked 10.4 miles. Marilyn joined us for the first two and a half.

We think this is a red-tailed hawk.

Wolfberries:

A view from the Prospector Trail:

A view from the Bell Pass Trail:

Looking toward the Superstitions from the Coachwhip Trail:

Arizona Poppy (I think):

September 12, 2018 / 4 Comments

Wednesday Night Hike

Bob and I hiked 6.4 miles together on Wednesday Night. We saw two pack rats, a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake and a small Coral Snake.

September 11, 2018 / 4 Comments

Monday Night Hike

8.25 miles on the Long Loop on Monday Night. I saw two tarantulas, some pack rats, and a javelina.

September 9, 2018 / 4 Comments

Sunday Hike – FS 242 & Pinto Creek Canyon

Marilyn and I set out with the intent of hiking Pinto Creek Canyon. It was billed as a creek with clear, ankle deep water. We inadvertently parked two miles away, but hiked the forest road (FS 242) to the creek. When we got there, we found that it was mostly dry with occasional slippery mud plus a few stagnant pools of water. It was very scenic from the forest service road, however; I enjoyed the views from the road.

September 7, 2018 / 3 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Bob, Marilyn, and I hiked 7.8 miles starting from the Wagner Trailhead.

Sunrise from the trailhead:

A mushroom in the desert? Apparently so…

Sacred Datura:

Look for the Javelina near the bottom of this photo, just left of center. The McDowell Mountains are in the background.

The yellow flowers in this photo are Senna:

It took us a while to spot this snake. We heard it rattling, but we thought it was on top of the bank of the channel that we were in. When we finally looked down, below an overhanging tree, we saw it.

August 31, 2018 / 10 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Linda and I hiked a 10.4 mile loop starting from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. We hiked Marcus Landslide, Boulder, Pemberton, Coachwhip, Windmill, East End, and Tom’s Thumb.