Gila Monster — Image by kenne
Archive for the ‘Saguaro National Park’ Tag
Our First Gila Monster Of The Season Leave a comment
Cold Blooded and Warm Blooded Animals Are On The Move 2 comments
Desert Spiny Lizard in the Saguaro National Park (April 2, 2018) — Image by kenne
Most days here in the Sonoran Desert are averaging in the 80’s causing reptiles to be on the move and our “snowbird” friends to start packing for their journey north.
With morning lows around 50 degrees, this Desert Spiny (Sceloporus magister) was more interested in sunning than our nearby presence. This native of the Sonoran Desert is a large (up to about 142 mm or 5.6″ from snout to vent), stocky lizard with large, pointed, keeled, overlapping scales. The Desert Spiny can live up to six years, which explains the one that has been a patio friend for several years now, which I visit with each day.
— kenne
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Sunrise On Wildhorse Trail Leave a comment
Sunrise On Wildhorse Trail — Image by kenne
No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have
no capacity for living now.
— Alan Watts
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Carillo Trail 1 comment
Carillo Trail — Image by kenne
The Carillo Trail will be part of the Douglas Springs Trail, Garwood Trail and Carillo Trail Loop we will be hiking on December 18th.
kenne
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Hiking the Douglas Springs, Carillo, Garwood Loop 2 comments
(CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO SEE LARGER VIEW IN A SLIDESHOW FORMAT.)
Hiking the Douglas Spring, Carillo, Garwood Loop In The Saguaro National Park (December 19, 2014)
— Images by kenne
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity”
― John Muir, Our National Parks
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Sendero Esperanza Trail View North Leave a comment
Panther Peak and Sombrero Peak, Saguaro National Park – West in the Tucson Mountains northeast of Tucson, Arizona. —
View from the Sendero Esperanza Trail Hiking To Wasson Peak Images by kenne (March 14, 2014)
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Kitt Peak National Observatory 5 comments
Kitt Peak National Observatory taken from Saguaro National Park (west), which is about 45 miles way. Image by kenne
Located in he Schuk Toak District on the Tohono O’odham Nation, Kitt Peak National Observatory supports the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories on Earth. Founded in 1958, the observatory operates three major nighttime telescopes and hosts the facilities of consortia which operate 22 optical telescopes and two radio telescopes.
kenne
Live view at the time of this posting. Source: KPNO
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Cholla Forest In The Sonoran Desert 4 comments
Cholla Forest at the Base of Panther Peak in the Tucson Mountains — Panorama Image by kenne
Sonoran Desert
by Tara Trewinnard-Boyle
How lucky am I? I have found my home!
In the place of dust and rock where the lizards run,
Where hot winds whip and the sun sears through a lapis colored sky.
Where Saguaros march uninhibited across the arid land.
Miles and miles of emptiness: freedom.
This is the place where Mother Nature still shows her true beauty.
Wild and uncompromising, she cuts me down to my rightful size.
Teaching me to live without; demand less; appreciate more.
Silently reminding me that the race is of my own making.
I can be free.
I have found my home. Not the home I was born to but where I belong.
The ache of leaving weighs heavy in my heart.
But today I can carry with me a gift, humbly offered to all who seek.
The desert is more than a place; it is a state of mind.
It is life and death, land and sky, struggle and freedom.
Slow! Your frantic pace does not matter here.
Breathe and be grounded in your humanness.
Be still and find your small place in this vast world.
You belong, just as you are. In the silence you can find peace.
This is the gift of the desert; for which I am eternally grateful.
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Capturing The Moment — White-Winged Dove Perched On Saguaro Cactus Fruit 7 comments
White-Winged Dove Perched On Saguaro Cactus Fruit — Image by kenne
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Hiking Green Mountain Trail To Guthrie Peak 4 comments
A Panoramic View of the San Pedro Valley from the Green Mountain Trail in the Santa Catalina Mountain (north).
View from the Green Mountain Trail south toward Tucson with Thimble Peak in the crosshairs. Thimble Peak is the Highest Point in Sabino Canyon. — Images by kenne
Click here to see a slideshow of photos taken on this SCVN lead hike last week.
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Wildflowers On The King Canyon Trail To Wasson Peak 8 comments
Kings Canyon Trail — Images by kenne
Wildflower Slideshow by kenne
Panorama of Wasson Peak Near The Top
SCVN guided hike to Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon trail, which is about a seven mile (roundtrip) hike and elevation gain of 1,900 ft.
Some of our hikers made only the Kings Canyon trail to the first saddle since we were experiencing unusually warm record-setting temperatures (the mid-90’s).
kenne
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people
are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home;
that wilderness is a necessity…”
― John Muir
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- Desert Flower (kenneturner.com)
- Hiking Sweetwater Trail To Wasson Peak (kenneturner.com)
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Capturing The Moment — Panorama Views Along The Turkey Creek Trail 6 comments
Panorama made from three images, looking south along the eastern rim of The Rincon Mountains
Panorama of the Rincon Mountains made from three images. Each panorama was taken along the Turkey Creek Trail In Happy Valley, East of The Rincon’s. Turkey Creek Trail is a section of The Arizona Trail, east of Tucson. The trail leads into the Saguaro National Park, home of North America’s largest cacti, the giant saguaro. However, as these images show, the rolling hills and canyons of the east-side of the Rincon’s are in stark contrast to the saguaro forest location at the lower elevation of the west-side of the mountains.— Images by kenne
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Panther Peak And Sombrero Peaks — Panorama Views Leave a comment
L-R: Panther Peak and Sombrero Peak as Viewed from the Cam-Boh Trail — Images by kenne
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Early Morning Hike In Saguaro National Park 10 comments
With the sun rising over the Rincon Mountains, east of Tucson in the Saguaro National Park,
The Monday Morning Milers begin hiking the Wildhorse Trail in a chilly 32 degree fall morning.
The Wildhorse Trail is very dusty from no rain in several months.
The desert grasses glow from the morning sun.
The trail leads toward one of the canyons along the Wildhorse Trail.
The park, named after the beautiful giant saguaro cactus, is occasionally graced by the rear crested saguaro cactus.
The saguaro cactus are rarely found in groups, such as this group of twelve 20 to 70-year-old saguaros.
Images by kenne
Long after death, the ribs of saguaro remain standing, a shadow of its live self.
kenne
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Capturing The Moment — Wasson Peak, Saguaro National Park – West 1 comment
View South From Atop Wasson Peak in Saguaro National Park – West, January 30, 2012 — Image by kenne
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