Scouting For Summer 2010

Ahh the summer vacation season is soon upon us and since I last posted, I have married which means going from a house of one to a family of five. This means that simple adventures aren't coming to an end but rather I am setting off on major expeditions! Not unlike Columbus, Powell, or even Clark Griswold I have a lot of new places to see this year.


My loving and wonderful wife has presented me with our Summer House. It is worthy

So with my Hun Tent ready, Michael and I decide to head North for the day to scout out places to make summer camp. Mom is at school, and the two little minions are with the grandparents so Michael and I are getting to spend to time together. It is a joy to have him as a companion since he is at that age where the woods still hold much wonder.

After Coffee in Camp Verde we turn off at Stoneman Lake Road and head East.


The Lake is full but also full of people so we don't spend a ton of time there.

One of the advantages of this area is that it is easy to escape to out of Phoenix. One of the disadvantages is that others have realized this advantage. Until I have final control of the Universe, I have to share so we decide to press on into the back country.


We pass a few rustic ranches that have been around since the 1800's and I think what would it have been like back in the day of Zane Grey?

After finding a turn off to another Forest Service Road we head South. After about 15 minutes we start seeing very few people and discover some amazing spots that will work for base camp.


While the Jeep is the vehicle of choice today, we are going to need to be able to get the Tundra back to where ever we are going to camp.

With this in mind we decide that it is safe to press on a little bit more. This is an area that I have not explored so I find it fun to just sort of go with the flow for a while.


We come to a butte with a fire tower on top. At the top we discover that there is a sign. I love signs explaining things. Oh and once again SCIENCE ROCKS!

As we spin our way down you can see all over central AZ.

A cool view of Sedona from a far.


There is a goofy line about seeing the forest from the trees or something...but let me tell you. There is a lot of value in looking at trees. Each of them have such amazing personalities of there own. This one catches my eye.

We stop for a bit to soak it all in and have a quick bite. I am amazed that there are so few people back here even with temps hitting the high 90's in Phoenix. Michael sees some carcass of a dead Elk out in a meadow and heads out to see what got it. Was it a cougar? A Bear? (fat chance with me in the area).....

DANGER!!! WE HAVE DANGER!!!!!!!!

There is almost nothing in all of the known wilderness as dangerous as a Ferrel Amazon.com Box!! Michael makes a dash to the Jeep while I scamble for......


one of the most important tools of the Old West. It is times like this where I really feel better being an Armed Socialist. At about 75 yards out I manage to unleash a fury of Lead partner. I won't be surprised if someone like Louis Lam our writes about it someday.


Looks like this one is tagged. Whew that was close!

We go ahead and eat a sandwich and then head out looking for some more fun.

We make our way out to old Highway 87 and head up towards Winslow a bit. We turn off and look at some camp ground near my favorite swimming hole. We then go look for some places to go fishing this summer.


Another Sign

I love signs


Well most of them. Some I tend to ignore

I do find a little guy to share some time with

We wander down the service road and see the back side of the dam ahead.


The Damn is really pretty impressive. Paid for by copper mines who needed to find a way to repay the local water companies for using water in the mines down by Morenci.


Ok here is a question for you Junior Civil Engineers. Why did they make the spill way look like this?

After this we head back to the Jeep and make our way home in time to take Mom to Pizza Dinner after her day at Moto School. Life is worthy.

Son #1 takes great pride in cleaning the 30/30. I have a feeling we are going to like heading North this summer just as much as I did last summer by myself.

Tommy

Heading West of Phoenix

As my vacation comes to a close, it is time to get out and do a little exploring. As I look at the maps, I realize that I have never bothered to explore the area of the Sonoran between here and California. Most of it is off limits because of use by the US AirForce as a bomber range. But North of the 10 there are a few places worth exploring.

As luck would have it, Jan and Sharon are here from Utah spending time with Jan's Mom and they agree to go with me. The kids are in school, and Laura has to study as well.

We set off and head off out of town. Past Tonopah we find the exit and look out to see our objective.





About 20 more miles and we find the area we are going to go explore.


Some interesting reading


After a quick stop for lunch and use of the very nice facilities, we strike off up the road to climb the mountain. There are about 5 cars with trailers so I know there will be ATV's on the road.


The Saguaro's are thick out here and really pretty. Jan and Sharon are having a good time too.




We stop off a few times as the road starts to climb. What I thought would be a short climb is actually a bit more challenging than I thought. You can also see the road ahead is getting more steep. Good thing I am in a Jeep! We also are conscious of the time since we need to be back for dinner. It is so cool to see my friend Jan walking again after breaking his leg in Torrey this past Fall(See Torrey tales from 2009)


A few more miles up the road and we find the ATV's. There is one big group of about 10 of them and they tell me that the road up is tough but it is a wonderful view.


It already is pretty worthy.

Going is pretty slow at under 10mph now and it is getting pretty rocky too. Sharon spots something up on a hill. Amazing eye Sharon!!


A set of Petroglyph that is amazing! We climb up and have a closer look.


It is awesome to be in pretty good shape again. Climbing up hills is so much easier. Plus I can check the Jeep's Roof.


Wonder what they mean??


Desert Tortoise?

We head up a little further but the light is fading some and we still need to get down. With no other car on the mountain, we decide to turn around rather than risk it. I will be back!


The road down


I explain to Sharon that unlike Wii, you can't take these for a bonus point shortcut. It is tempting though


What looks almost boring from the interstate is actually amazing if you take the time to really look at it.

See you next time.


Tommy

LAST POST OF 2009 Birds and Blizzards

As 2009 comes to a close here we are doing a few more trips to spend some time with the Kids. We want to go to Flagstaff but determine that Jackson has Football practice tonight. So I decide to go over to Tres Rios to take a few bird pictures. Within minutes all the clan has decided to go with me! Whoo Hoo!!

Tres Rios is a city park in Phoenix that sits next to one of the big waste water treatment plants here in the valley of the Sun. Phoenix had for many years a Riparian Habitat along the Salt River. Where it meets the Agua Fria River and the Gila Rivers the area is known as Tres Rios. It is only about 15 minutes from the house so is an easy


As we pull down into the parking lot, I spy this guy sitting across the road with about 20 of his cousins in the trees.
.
His buddies

PICTURE BY ACTION JACKSON
Laura and I enjoying some quality time

The Kids checking out one of the man made ponds that is cleaning waste water and providing a home to water fowl again after many years of little water in the basin.

You can see the waste water tanks in the background

By total chance I see Diane walking around the park and she is right when she says that it is like two totally different worlds right next to each other.

Everywhere you look there are birds.

A Yellow Rumped Warbler

Michael beats the bushes looking for more birds.

While Laura and Jackson spend some quality time together.

Cinnamon Teals and Mallards on the Lake

And the gate keeper is still there as we leave.

The next morning it is up early and we are off to the snow again. We have a few houses we want to check out and have decided to let the kids go sledding one more time.

It is actually snowing pretty good by the time we get up to Munds Park.

The first house we see is really nice with a nice small dog run, and a nice layout. It is a bit far out of town, but the upside is it is about 20 miles closer to Phoenix which is good if I am going to commute for a while.

After looking at a few more areas I make good on the promise to take the minions out sledding some more. You can see they are ready to go.

I have decided that in order to really enjoy the day, I need to get out of character and act like the biggest kid on the playground. Unlike last trip, it is about 24 degrees out, snowing and cold.

I bust out the cold gear! With this and a Sherpa, I could take K2.

I declare myself Head Hun of the Hill and declare all should fear me!

The other sledders flee as best they can!

As I dance my way up to the sled run!

This will be an amazing run!

My Faithful assistant stand ready to give me that needed push!


I am the blur in the middle of this picture

NOTE ALL OF THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN BY MY LOYAL SHERPA LAURA

I so rock!

The Worlds Greatest Sherpa!

I love her!!

After sledding we go and get our standard hot drinks and homemade lunch at Late For the Train Coffee House on 180. I love them so much more than Starbucks. It is really snowing now. Laura gets all stoked because a nearly perfect snowflake falls on her.

Said snowflake.

Colyn amazingly makes a decision here in under 20 seconds opting for a Hot Chocolate! I love it when she does it!

I love Hippy Logic. The older I get the more it makes sense to me.

We set off to get some more house hunting done. Now we head into older parts of the city that we have not looked at.


I like this cool sign.

We find a really cool house, but it has almost no yard and no garage. Still it is one we will go back and look at again.

The ride home is goofy with the amount of snow piling up and desert people not knowing how to drive all that well. Still it a great day!

See you all in 2010!