January Hikes

Hi Everyone!

It has been a little hectic, we have taken three hikes since we last reported. Unfortunately or maybe for you fortunately, we forgot to take the camera on the last one.

This mountain formation was visible for the entire hike we took 3 weeks ago. We thought the hike would be about 3 miles, turned out to be over 5. We were all pretty tuckered when we finished. Thankfully we had deposited a car at the end so we only had to do one way.

The next picture looked like a sombrero on top, then looking further it looked like a little person with his knees bent and his boots sticking out, looks like he is napping. I hope you have an imagination too!










Below is the rest of the crew. I didn't get a picture of them at the end of the hike but we were all dragging.

On the left is the river bank along the Salt River. The guys were quite a ways ahead of us and almost missed seeing the eagles. When Peggy & I first saw one it was just above the guys heads, they never saw it. Before we could get his picture he flew away. We watched it and it landed in a tree on the other side of the river. Then we spotten the nest, just under it. It appeared the other eagle was sitting on the nest, you can just see the head sticking up. We caught up with the guys in time for them to see it too.

There are also wild horses in the area. Below is the stallion and the last picture is the mare with the young one. We love this country and all the wildlife.

Our last hike, the one when we forgot to take the camera was the Hieroglyphic Trail. At the end of the hike were lots of hieroglyphics as well as some polluted water pools. Along the way were saguaros, jumping cholla, paloverde, creosote bush. We think there must have been a skunk bush too. If not there must have been a real one around nearby. After the hike was completed and we were trying to find our way back to the main road we saw 3 deer crossing the road. There were birds along the hike but that was the first large animals for the day.

Tomorrow is our hiking day again. Maybe there will be something we can share with you.

Happy Trails

Eloise & Gary

Dec 08 and Jan 09

The first picture is one I took from our front door one evening in December. You just can't beat the Arizona sunsets.



















This is our friends Peggy & Jim Opperud and Gary as we started on our Jan 1 hike. Those of you that are snowed in somewhere up north will hardly be able to relate. It was a beautiful day.

This is almost to the top of the hill showing the car parked at the trail start.

This is just a picture looking out across the desert. It was a beautiful day.

The fountain is Fountain Hills. It is visible for many miles. We took a couple of pictures, the first one gives you an idea of what you could see with the naked eye. The second shows the 10X optical zoom of the fountain.

This is a wild grouping of Saguaros. Nature can really do some interesting things.

Gary & Our hiking buddies, maybe they are enjoying the view or maybe they are just resting. Actually I think they were looking at the next photo. This huge saguaro had fallen in both directions.

This old tree was a beauty. If you click on it and view it enlarged you will understand.

Peggy supplied Gary with something to quench his thirst at the end of our hike. Later a wonderful steak dinner from the grill and a wonderful Cheese Cake to celebrate Peggy's birthday were enjoyed by everyone. Jim did a great job, not only grilling the steaks but also making the Cheesecake.

We are planning another hike next week and if all goes well we will take you along.