I spotted this guy by the side of East End Trail. His small ears identify him as an Asian elephant 🙂
Yesterday was also spent checking for trail damage due to our heavy rains. We came across very little damage all of which can probably be helped by rolling down some boulders into them. All in all, the trails held up well.
You might remember my earlier post about the Bajada Nature Trail but it occurred to me today that I haven’t posted any images of the finished trail. Here are two showing hikers enjoying the signage which is filled with photographs of the preserve. The trail is less than a mile but it can take awhile to see/read/enjoy all the information on the signs. A very worthwhile visit!
The Bajada Nature Trail is located at the Gateway Trailhead on Thompson Peak Parkway. Click here for a PDF map. Look to the center left for the Gateway Access Area (P).
Awwww…..a little Penquin rock 🙂
Spotted on Rock Knob and not so little, actually. He was about 10 feet tall.
When I saw the ears, I knew I had to try to capture this creature 🙂
Lighting was a challenge so I converted to black and white but left a little color.
Rock Knob is in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. More information on my Jan 4th post.
One of Wikipedia’s definitions for the word “knob” is “a prominent rounded hill”. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve‘s Rock Knob probably looks more rounded from the air but either way, it is one of our favorite places to explore because it’s only minutes from our house. Here’s a shot from yesterday.
Tom’s Thumb, East End and Rock Knob in the Preserve are the latest to open up and plans are underway to make these areas even more accessible to the public. It’s my understanding that construction on a new trailhead/parking area and more trails will begin this year. Exact location hasn’t been revealed. Click here for a great trail map of the Preserve. Look to the upper right for Rock Knob (PDF).
These areas are filled with huge free standing granite boulders and is where I’ve found most of my “faces” but there are so many photo ops there. The views are spectacular and the desert is especially lush so it’s great for birders and Lepidopterists.
Here are two photo ops I spotted yesterday while waiting for Chris to decend.
Phainopepla
Dragonfly (unidentified)
Spotted under an Ironwood tree yesterday along the Bajada Nature Trail in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
That’s what I call camouflage 🙂
We’ve had frost two mornings in a row and are in for a third. This shot taken at Rock Knob yesterday is not a photo of frost but I thought the backlighting made it kind of look like there is frost. Time of day wasn’t ideal for photography but we had a blast exploring the area.
Rock Knob is a huge pile of boulders with many strewn in the surrounding landscape. It offers spectacular views of the Superstition Mountains, the Four Peaks Wilderness area and the McDowell Mountains.
Four Peaks had had a little snow on them yesterday.
One of many fantastic boulder outcroppings around Rock Knob. These are looking over toward the McDowell Mountains.
Rock Knob is in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve close to the Northeast access to Toms Thumb trail.
As I was taking yesterday’s photograph of the hikers, I almost missed this shot.
It started out as a perfect whale but winds were changing the form quickly.
Winds then turned the fish into this creature.
(Bonus points if you also see a sleeping dog in the rocks).
This is for those who wonder why I have no desire to travel. I’m already at my desired destination!
I never tire of exploring and photographing the Preserve and there’s much I haven’t seen. Love it 🙂
Awesome hike this morning! Elevation gain as about 900 feet in less than 2 miles which felt really steep to me.
Our destination was East End Junction in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This is just below Toms Thumb.
