Today ranches exist along the narrow privative road through Doubtful Canyon. In the 1860’s the Butterfield Overland Stage route went through the canyon. Apache Raiders made passage through the canyon very ‘DOUBTFUL!’ In April 1861 the Giddings’ Party was ambush near Steins Peak stagecoach station. Cochise and his Apaches killed nine men, but reserved the worst torture for those captured alive.
Doubtful Canyon Ranch
In 2012, Tom, Steve, and I decided to follow the old stagecoach route through Doubtful Canyon, which we began in the small ranch town of San Simon. Once making it through the canyon, we planned to stay overnight in Lordsburg, New Mexico. The old road, now used primarily by area ranchers, is very premature. There were some places. The road was so narrow that you could not pass through without the bushes scraping the sides of the truck. Still, other places were wide-open rangeland having only an occasional gate we would have to stop and open.
Our goal was to find the Giddings Grave Marker, which was marked on our maps. We also knew the location was on the lowest northwest slope of Steins Peak. Even though we scattered out, crisscrossing the area, we were not able to find the marker. Here’s a picture of the area where the grave sits, which I found on the Internet.
Daughter Kate and her family live on 17 acres in Grantham, New Hampshire. Getting snow in the winter is not unusual; three feet of the white stuff is unusual. You can see an animal path leading down to the brook and across it if you look carefully.
These images are the morning after the winter storm. The day before, Kate texted the following video.
— kenne
In care you are wonder, the chicken are fine — all fluffy with plenty of food and water.
Magic Rocks Display in the Aria Resort and Casino, Las Vegas — Images by Kenne
One week ago, we received a call from Justin and Jerri. We learned that they were in Las Vegas on their much-delayed honeymoon. They would be spending five days there and asked if we would be interested in coming up to Vegas to have dinner with them. After giving it some thought, we decided to drive up Thursday and return on Saturday.
We had dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy on Las Vegas Boulevard that evening and drove south of Vegas Friday afternoon to see the Magic Rocks in the desert.
Chapel Dulcinea sits daringly on the edge of an ancient walking trail on the Wizard Academy campus, approximately 20 minutes southwest of downtown Austin.
The chapel was new when we first visited Wizard Academy in 2005.
This summer Jerri and Justin had scheduled their wedding at the Chapel Dulcinea,
but because of COVID, it didn’t happen, even after rescheduling a couple of times.
I had prepared this post to go out before the June wedding. The wedding
did take place in east Texas this summer, but we were not able to attend.
Too bad their wedding was not able to be at Chapel Dulcinea; it’s a beautiful place
in the Texas Hill Country.
Early Aspen Colors on Mt. Lemmon (October 8, 2020) — Images by kenne
Most trails on Mt. Lemmon remain closed after the Bighorn fire, leaving many burn-scarred areas. As a result, photographing the fall colors will be limited to Summerhaven and Ski Valley.
Until COVID-19, gentrification was the big enemy of live music venues.
Now many these of these venues have closed forever because of the pandemic.
Maybe it’s time to bring back the old fashion bandstand in public parks.
People getting together to experience live music is a necessary
part of developing and maintaining a sense of community.
— kenne
Blue Door Texas Ice House On A Sunday Afternoon In East Texas (10/26/01) — Photo-Essay by kenne
Gene Kelton at the Blue Door Texas Ice House
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Sunday at The Blue Door
Blue Door Texas Ice House
Gene Kelton at the Blue Door
Dancing to the Music of Gene Kelton and the Die Hards
(Gentrification Killed the Blue Door Years Ago.)
Usually, this time of year, when the temperatures are over 100 degrees, we start getting some monsoon rains.
So, yesterday when the dark clouds began moving in we would get some rain, and we did.
But only after some strong winds, reminding us much of a coming hurricane on the gulf coast.
Usually, wind gust in the desert doesn’t blow off the green olives on our patio tree,
but they did yesterday.
As the front moved through, we started to get some rain.
We received about one-quarter inch, the first rain in two months.
Late Wednesday, June 10th. Most of the smoke is from upper Pima Canyon, Finger Rock and Mt. Kimball.
Around 6:00 am Thursday, June 11th. The smoke has settled in over
the Catalina Mountains and beginning to move down into the Tucson basin.
The smell from the fire is very noticeable as I leave for my morning walk in the neighborhood.
I’m now at the back of Tanuri Ridge as more of the smoke appears
to be leaving the mountains spreading over the Catalina Foothills.
I’m beginning to think I should have warned a facemask.
Now at the entrance of Tanuri Ridge and you can bearly make out
the mountains.
I used a Photoshop Dehaze filter on some of these images so in reality,
there was much more smoke and haze.
Tanuri Drive
As I continued my walk, the parts of the fire appeared to be backtracking to the west.
There’s very little wind this morning, so a lot of the news smoke
coming from downdrafts through where rain would typically
flow off the mountains.
A big plum of smoke coming from the Finger Rock area.
It is now around 8:00 am.
It is now around 10:30 am. The fire is now about a mile west of
Pima Canyon trailhead. (Because of my distance from the
mountains, I’m making an educated guess.)
The following copy is from Haidi Chewel, with the National Forest Service.
Bighorn Fire – June 11th, 2020 Morning Update
Pima County Sheriff’s Department issues “SET” notice
Acres: 4,769 Percent Containment: 10%
Start Date: June 5th, 2020 Cause: Lightning
Origin Location: Santa Catalina Mountains
Jurisdiction: Coronado National Forest, including portions of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness
Personnel: 391
Resources: 6 hotshot crews, 3 Type 2 hand crews, 7 Type 3 engines, 1 Type 4 engine, 7 Type 6 engines, 4 Type 1 helicopters, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 2 Type 3 helicopter, 10 water tenders
The Bighorn Fire remained active overnight, with flames being pushed downhill by downslope winds. Temperatures up to 106 degrees today and continued low humidity will increase fire activity. The fire will again be highly visible on the front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Crews will work to hold the fire perimeter and continue building fire lines, tying into control features such as roads and rock outcroppings. Additional aerial resources will support the crews on the ground with water and retardant drops.
Over the next several days’ communities can expect to see crews and apparatus working in an around subdivisions in the Catalina Foothills. Members of the public are advised to drive with caution and leave roadways clear for emergency vehicles and equipment to pass.
Bighorn Wildfire In the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, Santa Catalina Mountains (June 9, 2020) — Images by kenne
The bighorn wildfire that was lightning-caused June 5, 2020, has now entered the upper elevation of Pima Cayon in the
Pusch Ridge Wilderness. The fire has now burned 3,277 acres. At various times, depending on wind conditions,
the mountains and foothills are covered with a haze of smoke. — kenne
Chapel Dulcinea — Images By kenne
Blue Door Texas Ice House On A Sunday Afternoon In East Texas (10/26/01) — Photo-Essay by kenne
As the front moved through, we started to get some rain.
We received about one-quarter inch, the first rain in two months.
Images by kenne
Bighorn Fire (Sabino Canyon Smoke) — Images by Marty Horowitz
It has now burned over 32,000 acres and is only 40% contained.
Almost 1,000 personal with a lot of land and air support equipment continue to fight the fire.
Images were taken about three miles from the front ridge of the range.
Each image was captured at various times on June 18th.
Images by kenne
Late Wednesday, June 10th. Most of the smoke is from upper Pima Canyon, Finger Rock and Mt. Kimball. 
Around 6:00 am Thursday, June 11th. The smoke has settled in over
The smell from the fire is very noticeable as I leave for my
I’m now at the back of Tanuri Ridge as more of the smoke appears
Now at the entrance of Tanuri Ridge and you can bearly make out
I used a Photoshop Dehaze filter on some of these images so in reality,
Tanuri Drive
As I continued my walk, the parts of the fire appeared to be
There’s very little wind this morning, so a lot of the news smoke
A big plum of smoke coming from the Finger Rock area.
It is now around 8:00 am. 
It is now around 10:30 am. The fire is now about a mile west of
Bighorn Wildfire In the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, Santa Catalina Mountains (June 9, 2020) — Images by kenne
