John – Page 11 – Vapor Trail

Posted on November 26, 2008 July 22, 2009

Cheyava Falls

Today I am attempting to concretize the hiking permits for Vivian and I to go to the Grand Canyon over the upcoming Spring break. The process has not been a smooth one as the original hiking permits, approved, no longer worked for us. We have different spring breaks this year and I mistakenly organized a trip under the assumption we would be off at the same time. In one sense it is a good thing because for some reason my trip itinerary was ridiculous. I had us starting down the Grandview Trail and then heading over to the Kaibob and across to Phantom Ranch. I only allowed one overnight for this but if I had a closer look at the map I would have realized that we would need two overnights just to get to the Phantom Ranch area from the Grandview. That would be a trip in itself and there is no need to mix it up with a Cheyava Falls trip. The new request has a problem with the dates so I am going to phone them right now and see if I can nail down the dates. Hopefully we can do this Cheyava Falls trek.

OK, just now got off the phone with the Grand Canyon park ranger and we are set with our permits. We will be hiking into the Clear Creek area (down Bright Angel early morning of the 12th) and stay somewhere outside of Phantom Ranch where we can. Day two we will hike to Clear Creek and set up camp. Day three we will hike to Cheyava Falls and hope that the falls are running. Day four we will begin the trek back and Day five we will exit by way of the South Kaibob Trail.

Posted on October 26, 2008 October 23, 2022

Porcupine

This weekend on the Cave Creek trail I spotted a porcupine. It was near the #2 marker Just off the trail and was slowly climbing a tree. By the time I got my camera out it was near the top and had hunkered down. It would be difficult to notice that this was not part of the tree.

At Soto Vista I captured another shot of Senna.

Velvet leaf senna is also known as Lindheimer’s senna, Velvet leaf wild sensitive plant, Velvetleaf senna, Puppy-dog Ears (PictureThis app).

Sunday I took Colter out to see how he would like the Canyon. It was quite difficult because he is very curious and just wants to sniff. It was agonizing to go around the Savanah Loop. I think he is just as happy to go to Connally and avoid the car ride out to the Canyon.

Posted on September 27, 2008 October 23, 2022

Government Canyon Update

It’s been some time since I last posted to my blog. Blame college football season for that. I have not been negligent in going to Government Canyon though and am hitting the back country trails each week. This involves some variation with Cave Creek Trail. For example, today’s hike was Far Reaches > Twin Oaks > Black Hill Loop (8 to 32) and then Cave Creek back to Parking D. It is about 12.5 miles. Check the map for GPS tracks.

I captured several nice photos of Morning Glory and Lindheimer Senna. Also, I have seen a few feral hogs this past month. Coming down Cave Creek I could hear them rooting along the pathway and carefully came upon one. But, by the time I had my camera out it had scooted up the trail.

I plan to add to the Grand Canyon pages a bit today, where I left off. I believe I am on Hedy’s trip over Spring Break in 2004.

Velvet leaf senna is also known as Lindheimer’s senna, Velvet leaf wild sensitive plant, Velvetleaf senna, Puppy-dog Ears (PictureThis app).

Ivy-leaved morning glory is also known as Ivyleaf morning glory, Ivyleaf morning-glory, Woolly morning-glory (PictureThis app).

Posted on August 23, 2008 October 23, 2022

Rained in

Well, no Government Canyon today. We had a steady drizzle this morning and the canyon gets quite sticky when it is wet. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to make a perimeter walk.

Last week I captured a photo of a Rio grande copper lilly. I don’t recall ever seeing this plant before. It was mixed in with a sprinkling of Rain Lillies.

Also known as Copper lily (PictureThis App]

Posted on August 10, 2008 October 23, 2022

Gov Canyon

Since returning from the Appalachian Trail I have made it out to Government Canyon the past two weekends. Both days have been exceedingly hot. I did the perimeter route which is my usual hike for this time of year. Next month, when the back trails open, I will be able to hike the Cave Creek and Black Hill Trails, my favorites. Here is a Google map of the GPS tracks of the perimeter route.

During the hike yesterday (August 9, 2008) I was able to capture a nice photo of White mouth dayflower (also known as Erect dayflower, Slender dayflower, Widow’s tears, Sand dayflower) and Violet wild petunia (also known as Wild petunia, Violet ruella, Common wild petunia (PictureThis app)).

Posted on August 10, 2008 October 23, 2022

Singer and Colter

Colter, me, Singer — Colter looks as if I’m going to drown him!

Hedy snapped a few photos of Singer, Colter and myself in the swimming pool. I posed them with bandanas. They weren’t very cooperative but we liked the idea and will try to get a better shot for a Christmas Card.

Poor Colter! He was never comfortable having his picture taken.

Posted on July 21, 2008 October 23, 2022

Appalachia 2008

Well, I just returned from my annual Appalachian Trail section hike and wanted to document a bit about it. I completed 173.8 miles (929.9 to date) over the two weeks and felt pretty good about the progress and the many photos I was able to take. My intention, once again, is to have the hike documented on its own page. I did see seven black bears and that was big. They are difficult to photograph. I was able to get a 4 second video of a cub before it disappeared into the woods…

https://gravelboy.edublogs.org/files/2022/10/bear.mov

A more interesting video would be one of me seeing a cub bear and reacting quickly to take a video of it. Hat flying off my head, glasses askew, panic as I attempt to catch the last remants of the little bear’s rump before it disappears.

Posted on June 21, 2008 October 23, 2022

Government Canyon Revisited

Government Canyon Sunflower — Common sunflower, Helianthus annuus

Well, after a 2 week layoff due to Bronchitis I managed the perimeter OK. Not too many wildflowers. I was able to capture some sunflowers. It was quite hot but still a beautiful day-first day of summer. Blue sky, white cumulus clouds.

Next major trip is the Appalachian Trail. This will be my fifth year now, doing section hiking. I will be in central Virginia and begin at the exact spot where Sophie and I finished last year. Eventually I will have an Appalachian Trail page that will describe this particular adventure.

The Common sunflower is also known as Annual sunflower (PictureThis app).

Posted on May 4, 2008 October 23, 2022

Texas Thistle

Had a short walk in Government Canyon, Saturday—Far Reaches and return by Sendero Balcones for about 5.5 miles. Probably next weekend will be a short one as well as I am in the middle of a diet. Dieting and hiking are not a good mix.

I did capture several photos on the walk. Here is one of a young Texas thistle on the Recharge Trail. Also known as Texas purple thistle, Southern thistle (PictureThis app).

Posted on April 27, 2008 October 23, 2022

Silverleaf nightshade

Yesterday I walked the reverse perimeter of Government Canyon. This would be the Johnstone Trail > Carline’s Loop > a bit more of the Johnstone Trail and then Sendero Balcones to Far Reaches. From Far Reaches I walked along the Recharge Trail to Parking Lot D. On the way were a bunch of Silverleaf nightshades. Hence, the photo.

Also known as Silver-leaved nightshade, Silverleaf nettle, Prairie berry, Silver nightshade, White horsenettle, Silver-leaf bitter-apple, Satansbos, Bull-nettle, Horsenettle (PictureThis app)