JUN 22, 24 .. BEAUTIFUL NORTHERN ARIZONA.. GUEST CONTRIBUTOR.. MIKE N. 86403..

In some ways, in terms of different scenery, the State of Arizona almost "has it all". 

Some people think that the entire state is a Desert. 

The Desert Only Mindset of Arizona would not fit the amazing Arizona Grand Canyon would it?

Yes! I know! Technically the Grand Canyon is a semi-arid desert! 

Nor would the Desert Only Mindset of Arizona fit the 10,000 foot elevation of the Arizona Snow Bowl to the North of Flagstaff AZ!

Flagstaff AZ  on April 2, 2017! 

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Thank You so very much Mike N 86403, today's Guest Contributor.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again and again and again!

We so humbly thank each and every single one of you who follow us, send us photos, make comments, and support us.

 

Without all of YOUR support, we could not possibly have kept our Web Log (aka Blog) here on blogspot active since October the 22nd, 2011.

A few weeks ago Mike was visiting Flagstaff, AZ. One of his friends suggested to Mike that he visit the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Nature Preserve, just a few miles to the South and West of Flagstaff.

The below links will give you a good idea of the area.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprdb5298675.jpg

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=74369

Mike "travels in style"!

Mike sent us the below views that he took of the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Nature Preserve.

Thanks to Mike 86403, you have just seen a little glimpse of the canyons up in Northern Arizona.

Thanks so very much Mike!

Cap and Patti

JUN 11, 24 .. OUR WILD CRANES HAVE RETURNED FOR A YEAR 2024 VISIT..

One year ago, last June the 10th, 2023, Patti and I, along with all of our neighbors, were visited by migrating (sandhill) cranes.

We published two Posts about their visit. If you would like to step back a year in time, and see last years posts, you may do so by clicking onto the two below links.

https://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2023/06/jun-16-23-12-when-what-to-our-wondering.html

https://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2023/06/jun-16-23-22-when-what-to-our-wondering.html

Last year, it was June the 10th, 2023, Patti and I were sitting out in front of our condominium in our truck getting ready to back out and do some shopping, when Patti very animatedly said..

"Cap! Quick! Look at the lawn!"

I immediately looked up and Patti and I saw two, wild cranes.

For much more, please click onto the above two links.

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Below is our June 2024, migrating (sandhill) cranes visit.

Deja vu is the feeling that you have already experienced something that is actually happening for the first time.

Can one have Deja vu revisited?

A few weeks ago (May the 26th) we were sitting in our condo living room, looking out at our green strip. 

I saw something out to our right, near some utility cabinets in the far distance, and asked Patti was it a large dog that I was seeing.

Patti looked out and said .. "Cap it's a wild crane!"

I grabbed my smart phone and out running I went. 

The crane on the right below, flapped its wings and looked like it was going to fly away but then changed its mind.

The cranes that visited us last year were not at all intimidated by my presence. This pair were not "spooked" by me but were decidedly "cautious" about my presence and did not approach me as did last years two visitors.

Below is a partial photo of the front page of todays June 11th Anchorage Daily News (ADN). 

As you can see in the above and below photos, our wild cranes remain front page news.

As you can see the above parents now have two young cranes. 

So they sure are NOT migrating!

Baby sandhill cranes are called colts, because of their long strong legs. Sandhill cranes mate for life and lay two eggs that incubate for about a month.

Well, at least for now, "there you have it" for our 2024 sandhill crane visit.

Cap and Patti

Update : Late Tuesday evening, June the 18th, we had two cranes again visit us. They were "on their way through" and did not stop nor could I catch up to them to shoot more photos.

JUN 1, 24 .. GUEST CONTRIBUTORS.. ERYN AND JASON..

Last Summer, Eryn and Jason took a trip from Girdwood, South to Homer, Alaska. From Homer they flew by float plane to Taylor Bay and during the next 3 days the two of them hiked a little over 30 miles along The Tutka Backdoor Trail.

When they reached the end of the trail, they were picked up in Tutka Bay by boat and returned to Homer.

The below photos will give you a good idea where The Tutka Backdoor Trail is located.

The trail is the dark red line at the bottom of the above and below photos.

A closer look at The Tutka Backdoor Trail.

The route begins at the Taylor Bay trailhead and follows the Tutka Backdoor Trail, Tutka Falls Trail, and Tutka Lagoon Trail to finish at Jakolof Bay. Total distance is 50k+ or 31 miles, with around 9,000 feet of elevation gain spread across four major climbs. This is a trail for those who want an epic experience. There is one major river crossing and three minor ones, as well as several creeks to cross, and a tidal lagoon to skirt. Parts of the route are marked only by cairns, and the trail is both steep and rugged. Most of the distance is in alpine tundra, rocks, and subalpine meadows, with lower elevation sections in old-growth spruce forest. The views are amazing. The trail is longer than any other trail in Kachemak Bay State Park.

Below are a few photos from their trip.

Yes it was in a remote location up here in Alaska. 

Nice views.

Their campsite with their dog Vigo guarding the tent!

Smiles and thanks so very much, Eryn and Jason.

Cap and Patti

Eryn responded : 

Hi Cap! It's a great synopsis and it brings back all the memories from that trip, thank you for writing about it! We called the miles we hiked on that trip "hard earned miles" because the trail was very rugged and the miles took longer than most of the trails we hike. We enjoyed every moment though, even when we got off course a few times and had to use the GPS to find the trail. I noticed the photos look a little pixelated. Maybe the ones we sent you were reduced in size.

We did some hiking today and harvested Devil's club buds and fiddleheads. We are still finishing up the cleaning and processing of them now, it's a bit of work!