Hey guys, I've really been enjoying everyone's posts, makes us all feel a bit closer. So here's my contribution, and you better appreciate it cuz it took me forever. -ss
The Biologist in action! The frontlines of the conservation effort! Sorry, but this photo makes me want to write an article for the sierra club or something. Amanda finally got my lazy ass outta bed in the wee hours of the morning to see what she does for a living now. It was pretty cool, I must admit. I even got to see some of the elusive pronghorns. And yes Steve, they did look tasty :) But they were too far away to get a picture. It was a great day, we went out afterwards looking for bighorn sheep, but alas, to no avail. We will try again though, and dammit, I'm gonna find a gila monster in this enormous desert if its the last thing I do!
Last weekend we went for a 9 mile hike in the White Tank Mountains, about 30 minutes from our house. It was awesome, but man I was feeling it the next day! Here's some highlights.
Cactus Nest
Ocotillo Cactus in bloom.
Check out how green the desert is. All that rain really livened things up.
Towards the end of our hike. Like my caballero hat? I know you want one :)
We've been camping the last couple night in the Tonto national forest. It was nice to get outta town. We also went for a beautiful hike yesterday but unfortunately the camera batteries died so we didn't get any pics of that one. Here's what we did get though.
This was the view from our campsite. It looks this nice cuz Amanda purposefully aimed away from all the trash stuck in the trees out there. This portion of the Salt River is popular with rafters, fishermen and kids coming outta town to party. We had originally planned on camping at the Lost Dutchmen State Park, but it was full. Also found out that due to budget cuts Arizona will be closing 13 state parks in June, which is a bummer man. So we'll have to try and see as many as possible before that happens.
I like the colors in this cliff..
I like the colors in this cliff..
This is Saguaro Lake in the Tonto National Forest.
The Salt River below Saguaro lake.
Flowers...
More Flowers...
And a whole bunch more. Pretty cool to see the desert bloom.
yay, hiking and camping! i have to admit that mi biologista side did not come out until grad school and so as many years as i spent in the desert previously i have never seen half of the things i see now. We got real lucky with all the late rains early in the year and it is just stunning out here! Our 9 mile hike last weekend was supposed to only be a 4 mile hike so our asses were draggin when we got up to go to work on Sunday morning and our playin around was cut short by this exhaustion..i do believe that i will (try) to talk him into working with again another weekend:) camping was camping, i was super-duper excited to get outtta town and away from work and work peeps. we have to admit it was a bit disappointing-the grounds were not up to par but i have a feeling that OR has some pristine camping and plenty of people that respect, enjoy and greatly appreciate it...i think living in a red state contributes to what people think/feel of nature-this may just be me being pessimistic but i am not trying to be. we will just have to continue to seek out the beauty in all directions. Tonto NF is east, next we will try south to Tucson and then north to Prescott! my window keeps getting earlier:( i am not getting up at 3.15am-Steve, can you beat that (its your 6.15?)
ReplyDeleteanyways, always nice to see and hear from you guys:) fingers crossed Garrett from Georgia accepts the position and gets his ass out here ASAP!!
ac
Hey all right Shyama! The pics are great! I was wondering what the desert looked like with grass. You had mentioned it, but the cacti were hard to imagine. The flowers are very well done too. I never learned how to take pictures up close like that. Every time I take a picture that is within a foot, it comes out wicked blurry.
ReplyDeleteI find that when I look at the mountains and rocks, I want to go climbing. But then I see all the spikes and needles from the plants and I think, maybe just looking at the photo is safer. :)
Love the hat. Really.
I expect Pronghorn meat in the mail.
Soon.
Good luck on finding a Gila Monster, you should check my pants. There's a monster down there.
I totally get the red state thing Amanda. There is sooo much trash blowing around here. They are still battling littering here, let alone promoting recycling.
I am probably going to purchase my tickets by the end of the week. I will call ya when I do because I will be so excited. I do worry that a potential job might interfere with the tickets, but I am getting wayyyy ahead of myself.
Take care, mad love, my meds are kickin in.
sh
Shyam is feeling the same way about the job thing...hard to plan ahead when you dont know what is ahead...? Steve-i am leaving you and your monster alone!
ReplyDeleteFor the last time- YOU CANNOT HARM, HARRASS, KILL OR EAT AN ENDANGERED SPECIES!!! there will be NO MEAT SENDING IN THE MAIL!!!
..and a post is a coming!!