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dir.tours/wlv

 

Capture Arizona’s iconic images in infrared with Kerrick James. With stops in Sedona, Flagstaff, Monument...

   

A wind-polished tree viewed against a shadowed cliff face. Taken along the Barnhardt Trail near Payson, Arizona (August, 2018)

Evening view of a nice cluster of Saguaro Cacti in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. Taken March 2022

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

 

Vast, magnificent and inarguably beautiful, the Grand Canyon is easily Arizona’s most distinguishable landmark – and a natural wonder that you simply have to see to believe. Stretching 277 miles from end to end, steep, rocky walls descend more than a mile to the canyon’s floor, where the wild Colorado River traces a swift course southwest. Rock that dates back 1.8 billion years lies at the bottom. Exactly how the river formed the canyon is still unclear, but geologists generally agree that most of the cutting occurred within the last five million years.

Rehearsing onstage at The University Of Arizona's Stevie Eller Dance Theatre in Tucson, Arizona.

Rare May storms during the past 3 days have resulted in record monthly rainfall totals throughout Arizona's driest month.

 

This was the view looking in the opposite direction: www.flickr.com/photos/cloud_spirit/52909039105.

 

After sunset, I captured a number of lightning strikes: www.flickr.com/photos/cloud_spirit/52911456102.

 

Picture of the Day

One of the best natural amphitheaters for railfanning I have ever encountered is Arizona's Crozier Canyon. Early on a July 1995 morning, a westbound Santa Fe intermodal train passes through, powered by a GP50 and a pair of GP60s.

Sun-baked northern walls of Arizona's Verde Canyon silhouetted the trees that line the banks of the Verde River, deep in midafternoon shadows of winter. I took this photo on January 25, 2023 from an open-air observation car of the Verde Canyon RR.

... but not interested at this moment.

 

This greater roadrunner is certainly no birdbrain. Note how (s)he (could be either) is standing just a couple of steps in the shade, just outside the blazing sun that brought a 100°+ temperature to Arizona's Sonoran Desert.

 

Seen from the visitor center in Saguaro National Park's Rincon Mountain District.

Blossoming Palo Verde (yellow flowers) and Saguaro Cacti highlighted by the late day sun in Arizona's Ironwood Forest National Monument (May 2023)

A unique Saguaro Cactus that appears to have been decapitated at some point and then creatively regrown its top. Taken January 2017 in Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

The last rays of the setting sun shine on Arizona's Superstition Mountains. Viewed from Dutchman's Trail

Inside Arizona's remarkable Antelope Slot Canyon

One of Arizona's lesser shot operations is the Clarkdale Arizona Central, pictured here clawing up one of several roughly 2% grades along their route from Clarkdale to Drake. What seems to be their usual set of power, two former SP GP35s bracketing a Paducah rebuild GP26, is pulling 15 cars for interchange at Drake at a brisk 10 miles an hour.

Highlights from the setting sun on Arizona's Superstition Mountains. Viewed from Dutchman's Trail (Feb, 2019)

A trio of Saguaro cacti, topped with developing fruit. Taken May, 2016 in Arizona's Saguaro National Park

Arizona’s high country is a world apart from the lower deserts…

 

www.flickr.com/explore/2021/11/29

Beautiful pockets of maples are spread out in various places in Arizona's Oak Creek Canyon. I photographed these a couple of days ago which were a bit past peak, but still beautiful. High winds the next couple of days will most likely end the colorful show in this location.

On the remote Paria Plateau in Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, White Pocket is a group of swirling, multicolored formations of Navajo sandstone, including domes, hoodoos, gullies and potholes. Arriving at White Pocket inside Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, you are initially struck by the contrast of white rock in smoothly rounded mounds and cliff edges, dotted with two imperial looking spherical beehives rock cones

Beautiful late day side lighting hits the cross bedded sandstone of the White Pocket in Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

Southern Arizona is home to many species of bird, but one particular bird always makes its way into conversation; The Elegant Trogon. Also known as the "Coppery-tailed" Trogon, this species barely makes its way into Arizona's Madrean Sky Island mountain ranges. It primarily inhabits deep canyons or areas surrounding a source of water.

A cool fact about these birds is that they lack the ability to build their own nest cavities, so they become a secondary user of nest sites previously created by woodpeckers or other species.

Light draws poetry in so many different ways, but one of its favorite canvas it's definitely Arizona's Antelope Canyon.

--

Taken with Sony a7iii + Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8

The Saguaro cactus (center) have an average lifespan of 150-175 years and are protected under Arizona's native plant law.

 

The lower growing little "fluffy" cactus are called Jumping Cholla, also known as Teddy Bear Cholla. But there is nothing cuddly about them; the needles attach firmly to even the lightest touch...I can personally attest to this. ;-) Tweezers to the rescue.

 

The dormant tree on the left is the state tree Blue Palo Verde, a fitting reference to its distinctive green branches.

Here's another view of the colorful sycamore trees in the lower reaches of Arizona's Oak Creek Canyon. Once again, Mitten Ridge beautifully backdrops the scene.

Idaho's Snake River Canyon is a smaller scale equivalent of Arizona's Grand Canyon but none the less spectacular for that.

 

Impossible not to feel quietly awed by the thought of the millions of years it took for this to evolve.

I failed the top part, I'll upgrade it tomorrow, but I love how it's so soft and the color <3

On the remote Paria Plateau in Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, White Pocket is a group of swirling, multicolored formations of Navajo sandstone, including domes, hoodoos, gullies and potholes. Arriving at White Pocket inside Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, you are initially struck by the contrast of white rock in smoothly rounded mounds and cliff edges, dotted with two imperial looking spherical beehives rock cones

Weavers Needle (rock formation) in Arizona's Superstition Wilderness with a rare trace of snow (January 2019)

Sunrise with the cuddly but prickly "Teddy bear" chollas

at Arizona's Kofa Mountains.

A particularly jagged section of Saguaro Cactus-forested hillside in Arizona's Superstition Mountains (March 2020)

On the remote Paria Plateau in Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, White Pocket is a group of swirling, multicolored formations of Navajo sandstone, including domes, hoodoos, gullies and potholes. Arriving at White Pocket inside Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, you are initially struck by the contrast of white rock in smoothly rounded mounds and cliff edges, dotted with two imperial looking spherical beehives rock cones

I went across the Colorado River to get this shot. My navigation system said there's a building and a small parking lot in front of my camera. Do you see it? I don't either.

 

"Doctor Stone, there's been a fire, sir." This road reminds me of the road to Wildfire Lab in the film Andromeda Strain.

 

Today one-half of Arizona's land is owned by the government…

— American Automobile Association

 

Journalism grade image.

 

Source: a 8800x3800 16-bit TIF panorama file constructed from 5 raw files.

 

Please do not copy this image for any purpose.

Population of 6.

 

Tortilla Flat is a small unincorporated community in far eastern Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the central part of the state, northeast of Apache Junction. It is the last surviving stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail. According to the Gross Management Department of Arizona's main U.S. Post Office in Phoenix, Tortilla Flat is presumed to be Arizona's smallest official "community" having a U.S. Post Office and voter's precinct. The town has a population of 6. Tortilla Flat can be reached by vehicles on State Route 88, via Apache Junction.

 

Originally a camping ground for the prospectors who searched for gold in the Superstition Mountains in the mid-to-late 19th century, Tortilla Flat was later a freight camp for the construction of Theodore Roosevelt Dam. From this time (1904) on, Tortilla Flat has had a small (<100 people) but continuous population. A flood in 1942 badly damaged the town, resulting in many residents moving away. Today Tortilla Flat is owned and operated by Alvin Ross, a farmer from Indiana who purchased the town in 1998. The town is made up primarily of a small store and restaurant, which were constructed in the late 1980s after a fire consumed the existing store and restaurant on the same site. Several hiking trails into the Superstition Mountains begin near Tortilla Flat.

Saturday 06-June-2020, Bighorn Fire. Day one. 10 Tanker Air Carrier McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 (ER) VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker) with it's old livery. "TNKR910" “Southern Belle” N612AX /MSN: 48290 LN:435 based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. TNKR910 had just finished a second slurry drop pass with Lead plane Beech B200GT Super King Air N24HD/CNBY over Catalina State Park.

Mule Deer on Arizona's North Kaibab National Forest. This isn't tack sharp, but I still like it.

Continuing my Southern Arizona Adventure 2024 with a stop in Tubac, AZ. This is stage 3 of 9. This is a place I plan on revisiting.

This is a Hudson Hornet displayed outside the Old Presidio Traders store on Tubac Road.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Hornet

The Hudson Hornet is a full-size car manufactured by Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan from 1951 until 1954, when Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson merged to form American Motors Corporation (AMC). Hudson automobiles continued to be marketed under the Hudson brand name through the 1957 model year.

The first-generation Hudson Hornets featured a functional "step-down" design with dropped floor pan and a chassis with a lower center of gravity than contemporary vehicles that helped the car handle well as an advantage for racing.[1] The Hornet's lower and sleeker look was accentuated by streamlined styling, sometimes called "ponton" styling.

Hudson was the first automobile manufacturer to get involved in stock car racing.[12] The Hornet "dominated stock car racing in the early-1950s, when stock car racers actually raced stock cars."[7]

 

ChatGPT says:

Tubac, Arizona, is a charming town rich in history and culture. Founded in the 18th century, it began as a Spanish presidio and later became a hub for artists and artisans. Today, Tubac is known for its vibrant arts scene, featuring galleries, studios, and shops showcasing local artwork and crafts.

The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park offers a glimpse into the area's past, with preserved ruins and exhibits that highlight its significance in Arizona's history. Visitors can explore the beautiful desert landscape, enjoy outdoor activities, and participate in various festivals and events throughout the year.

The town's blend of history, art, and natural beauty makes it a unique destination for those looking to experience the spirit of the Southwest. Whether you're interested in exploring its historical sites or indulging in the local arts, Tubac offers something for everyone.

 

Haiku thoughts:

Old adobe walls stand,

Artists' dreams in sunlight bloom,

Tubac's heart beats on.

 

Southern Arizona Adventure 2024,

Petroglyphs on a rocky knob in Arizona's Sawtooth Mountains south of Casa Grand

The scenery surrounding Arizona's West Fork of Oak Creek has many similarities to the more famous hike found along Zion National Park's Left Fork of North Creek. That hike leads up to the iconic Subway. Well, the West Fork of Oak Creek has its own Subway section...maybe not as dramatic as its counterpart, but scenic nonetheless. This image captures that section of creek. This was shot in the early summer when the monkeyflower blooms can be found all along the walls adjacent to the creek.

Backpacking with my granddaughter and son in March 2025 in Arizona’s Superstition Wilderness

An unusually-segmented Saguaro Cactus (left) and a Cholla Cactus in Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Taken in January, 2017 while seated uncomfortably amid fallen cactus spines...

Arizona Woodpeckers are aptly named (at least in this country) because their United States range is limited to Arizona’s southeastern corner and, perhaps, a tiny area in southwestern New Mexico. Their range extends southward through Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountain range. Within their range they inhabit only forested mountain slopes. They are unique in appearance in that they are the only predominately brown woodpecker in this country.

The Superstition Mountains of central Arizona with a rare covering of snow. Viewed from the Bluff Springs Trail.

Arizona's Superstition Mountains after a rare snowstorm

 

Viewed from Dutchman’s Trail on January 1, 2019. (Wonderful way to spend a winter holiday...)

Caterpillar mining trucks at work in the Freeport McMoRan Copper Mine in Morenci Arizona, USA

 

THIS OPEN PIT MINE IN southeast Arizona is so large that it swallows up U.S. Route 191. Travelers driving south along the highway will be surprised to emerge from upland pine forests into a desolate, Martian-like landscape. This is the Morenci Mine, one of the largest copper mines in the world.

 

With an annual production of between 700 and 850 million pounds of copper, the Morenci Mine is the largest copper mine in Arizona. It was first explored in the 1860s by gold prospectors, but wilier miners smelt a better opportunity in the mountainous atmosphere. By 1881, the Phelps Dodge Company began operations that would rapidly expand and make Arizona famous as the Copper State.

 

For over 100 years, the copper mining industry weathered geological challenges and wild market fluctuations, but in the early 1980s, the Morenci mine was the center of a desperate human drama. As the worldwide recession deepened, Phelps Dodge invalidated collective bargaining with the mining unions and thus began the Great Arizona Copper Strike, lasting from 1983 to 1986. At one point, the Arizona governor called up 350 National Guard troops, 450 state troopers, and 160 SWAT sharpshooters to protect the gates to the mine. The political, economic, and social damage done to the surrounding communities continues to be felt today, and are recounted by Anna Ochoa O’Leary in a new book, Mexican Workers and the Making of Arizona.

 

Today, the mine employs more than 3,000 people and continues to define Arizona’s identity in addition to being loaded with history.

The Santa Catalina Mountains—one of southern Arizona’s sky islands—rise like a forested island

out of a sea of desert. From around 3,000 feet at the base of the mountain to over 9,000 feet at the top of Mount Lemmon, varied biotic communities, stacked in life zones or layers of habitat, harbor diverse species of plants and animals, from stands of saguaro and other cacti at the lower elevations

to mixed-conifer forest near the top. Springs, snowmelt, and seasonal rains feed creeks that provide water for wildlife, as well as a refreshing delight for desert dwellers. The temperature decreases around 5 degrees with every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, causing up to a 30-degree difference between Tucson and Mount Lemmon. Precipitation increases with

elevation. While Tucson might receive 12 inches of rain per year, Summerhaven averages nearly 30 inches. Be prepared for cooler temperatures and quickly

changing weather when visiting Mount Lemmon.

 

About Mount Lemmon

Known as Babad Do’ag (or Frog Mountain) to the Tohono O’odham, Mount Lemmon has been home to Indigenous people for thousands of years. Evidence of villages near the base of the mountain tells of communities that thrived here utilizing the natural resources of the area. Many tribes maintain connections to the landscape today and continue traditions, including gathering plants and holding ceremonies, like the annual saguaro fruit harvest.

By the late 1800s, settlers were ranching and prospecting in the area. In 1881, before any roads reached the top, a rancher guided botanists John and Sara Lemmon, for whom the mountain is named, up the north side of the mountain by horseback following a route near what would become the Control Road in the 1920s.

The Santa Catalinas became a National Forest in 1902. Sawmills on the mountain provided lumber for early structures, including a hotel in what is now Summerhaven.

 

By the 1930s, more people wanted to visit the mountain, but the Control Road was too long of a trip from Tucson. Frank Hitchcock, then publisher of the Tucson Citizen, promoted the idea of a route up the south side of the mountain.

He coordinated prison labor and housed them at Prison Camp, which was built in 1937. By 1939, the highway was paved to Molino Basin.

 

During WWII, due to Executive Order 9066, Gordon Hirabayashi and other Japanese-Americans were interned at the site, now named in his honor.

 

The 1940s saw the growth of Summerhaven as a community and tourist destination, with local lumber still being used to build cabins, restaurants, and hotels. In 1951, the Hitchcock Highway was paved all the way to the top of the mountain.

 

Today, the route — more commonly called the Catalina Highway —provides access to unlimited opportunities for recreation.

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