Mark's Scenic Arizona

Sierra Ancha - Horse Canyon = May 11, 2011

Started out as a drive to a remote area

Finished as a hike toward old ruins

We will follow FR 609 most of the way
FR 71 continues on east
Looking back toward Mount Ord
Great views on the climb
Overall, the road was in great shape
No baling wire so I resorted to plastic ties
Century Plant, practically in its infancy
Century Plant
Century Plant in context
Feeding Tracey's scat fascination...
One of many burned out tree skeletons we'll see
The head of Robin Hood?
First shot of hike where we can see any distance
Where we though our destination was... not
Some kind of pufff ball?
More detritus from the fire
More scat
Beauty hiding in the shade
Having fun with the macro focus
Tracey all wrapped up
Witches in the tress
Another large tree skeleton
Bleached white in the sun
The standout in a filed of skeletons
More skeletons
Can't get enough of them
Standing in mute testimony to the fire
Looks like some kind of crispy critter
Crispy critter on it's back holding the tree
The beginning of a variety of flowers
Field of Goodings Verbena
Goodings Verbena close-up
Our destination? For a while we thought so...
Now headed back on the right direction
Heading into some thicker vegetation
One of the first overlooks we encountered
Punkin Center is in the lower background
The hunter... only to leave the trophy next to the car
Looks like something was digging into it
Getting close to the end of our trek for the day
A cushion of pin-cushions
Another overlook
Jakes Corner on AZ 188
One last hill blocking view to destination
1st photo in panorama from our turn-around point
2nd photo clockwise in panorama
3rd photo in panorama
4th photo in panorama
Last photo in panorama (the rest blocked by trees)
Pincushions about to bloom
Four Peaks... errr, Brown's Peak hiding the others
If we were to continue, we'd drop down here
Gatorade bottle 'cairn' we used as a waypoint
More Goodings Verbena
'Nessie' among the skeletons
Another mute testimony of the fire
Is it a warning not to pass here?
Another line of prickly pear
Almost back. Note 'Sammy' in the background
Our Sammy waiting patiently
No, we didn't trade extra gas for the spare
View from the road on our descent

<< Go to the Change Phoenix home page >>

[ Return to the Change Phoenix 2011 hike page ]

For a detailed description of this hike/trail visit:
Visit Hike Arizona!

[ Click HERE to view my trip log on HikeArizona.com ]