Tag: Gov Canyon

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).

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]

 

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)).

 

At Government Canyon today I captured this photo of Ivy-leaved morning-glory. Also known as Ivylear morning glory, Ivyleaf morning-glory, Woolly morning-glory (PictureThis App).

Government Canyon is bursting with flowering cactus (yellow and red). I had a bit of excitement on the trail as I was photographing some yellow blooms—I had my left knee unknowingly pressed against some tiny cactus spines (called glochids) and my right foot squarely planted in a fire ant nest. About 10 yards down the trail I noticed an itching sensation and that’s when I spotted my right foot swarming with ants, a few had reached my knee. In the process of brushing them off I noticed the spines. Quite a mess there for about 10 minutes but then was back on the trail, none the worse for wear.

At Government Canyon I was able to capture a couple of photos of Rain Lilies that I really liked. They were in abundance today. Here is my favorite—

Today I managed a short hike in Government Canyon, about 6.6 miles (Parking D > Recharge > Far Reaches > Wildcat > and back to Recharge). I am a bit pressed for time because of the upcoming hike with Sophi. We leave for the Grand Canyon this Thursday in the AM. I am using the weekend to gather supplies from my pack inventory list and prepare the GPS systems and camera with the correct time and date so everything will be in synch. I hope Sophi and I have some great photos to share and a few adventures as well. We are both looking forward to it.

Government Canyon had a few more blooms of Mountain Laurel. I captured about 10 photos and this was the best by far.