I was originally scheduled to lead the SCVN Turkey Run Trail hike tomorrow. However, because of some nagging leg problems, I had to bow out. Instead, I did hike Turkey Run with two friends (Tom and John) last Friday. Usually, by this time of year, there are plenty of wildflowers, but not this year. The gallery contains cow parsnip, New Mexico Locust, and silverpuff.
Although Madrid still likes to consider itself a ghost town, it represents a unique example of resurrection. In the 1920s and 30s, Madrid was as famous for its Christmas lights as for its coal, and airlines used to reroute traffic during the holidays to show passengers the sight. Coal became important in the 1880s, but when the demand for coal diminished after World War II, long forlorn rows of identical company houses stood empty. By the 1970s, the sound of hammers could be heard throughout the town from renovations to these houses.
Early Blooming Wildflowers on Mt. Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains (May 17, 2021) — Images by kenne Click on any image to see the flowers with descriptions in a slideshow formate.
Tanque Verde Wash Tail — Photo Essay by kenne (Click On Any Image To See In A Slideshow Format
I have been walking the trails along the Tanque Verde Wash for over ten years, taking many photos of the art and still have no idea who is the artist(s) — for me, it’s a mystery.
The spring weather in the Sonoran Desert is alluring, with beautiful blue skies and temperatures in the upper 70s. However, many drought-resistant plants are dying, very few if any wildflowers are blooming due to a troubling draught in the Sonoran Desert. What makes the Sonoran Desert so diverse and beautiful are two rainy seasons, summer monsoon storms and steady winter rains. The two seasons still exist, but half the normal amount of rain.
— kenne
Loma Alta and Coyote Wash Trails (March 19, 2021) — Photo Essay by kenne
In August of 2019, we spent some time in La Paz, Bolivia, before flying over the Andes to the Madidi National Forest in the Amazon. While in La Paz, we went to the Gustu Resterarent. Opened by Dane and co-founder of four-time World’s Best Restaurant, Claus Meyer, in 2013 with grand ambitions to boost investment and training in Bolivia while also propelling the country on to the world’s gastronomic map. We choose one of the tasting menus. The food was artistically presented, each providing a memorable tasting experience.
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.