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Category: Yarnell

28 August 2018

Introducing a friend to the Weaver Mountains

boulders Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaA friend from Tucson visited attending the memorial for Berta, stayed overnight in my camper/guestroom, and we enjoyed a morning saunter into the uninhabited Weaver Mountains in my backyard making some interesting discoveries.

Katlas_AZT_P15_04 by KMJKat is a water-colorist extraordinaire and is hiking the Arizona Trail in pieces then documenting with her Katlas.  Above is an example from just one segment.  We first met through a mutual friend online and later several times at the North Rim.  She is recently retired so should have more time for her art and hopefully a website soon.

I slept in, having stayed up later than Kat, and found her sketching and doing her morning yoga.  I do admire her discipline, which I sorely lack.  My morning routine ideally requires two hours to lounge over coffee—a quadruple espresso shot with organic dark chocolate syrup, Orgeat (almond) syrup, and organic heavy cream—get online and check email, Facebook, etc.  I picked up my pace that morning so we could get out for a walk before the temperature rose past 90°.

gravel road brush Weaver Mountains clouds Yarnell ArizonaI drove us the mile to our start where we climbed over a gate to a graded-gravel two-track road with tall weeds in the middle indicating it’s been a while since anybody has driven here. Perfect.

Horned Lizard Kat's hands Yarnell ArizonaAlmost immediately Kat sees a tiny Horned Lizard only because it moved as it blends in with the road.  Not the first time we’ve started out a walk with this lucky sighting but certainly in a different environment from pine forest on the North Rim where we last hiked together.

boulders Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaI so enjoy seeing new perspectives of the surrounding granitic boulders that often appear sculpted and stacked.  Gotta’ love geology.

We were exceedingly careful and watchful if we wandered off the road as this could definitely be rattlesnake country.  I haven’t seen one yet and am OK with that.  Usually it’s mule deer that startle and bound off a ways to stop within sight, then give the once over as if to say, “how dare you trespass here”.

driveway boulders Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona

rock & wheel at driveway Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaNot too far along we come upon some side roads or maybe proposed driveways that are even less used and sometimes gated.

boulders valley view Weaver Mountaints Yarnell ArizonaIn early July, I walked up here and followed a drive to a windmill.  This time we were on a mission for some old rusty cars Kat was particularly interested in.  I guessed wrong on the first side trip yet we thoroughly enjoyed the far view southwest.

Prickly Pear cactus skeleton Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaInside of dried Prickly Pear Cactus

I love the evidence of somebody’s dream to develop the land, yet without utilities I’m not sure the county would allow off-grid living.  It’s a land where Ravens, hawks, and vultures soar as they lift from the hot air rising from the desert below.  Wonder if you could hang-glide from here?

rusty old car Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaWe walked back down to the main road and took another driveway uphill where someone long ago arrived but didn’t leave.  Or at least the vehicle didn’t.  Abandoned cars and rural road signs often show the light of day from being shot full of holes.  I don’t understand the mentality but rather human constructs were shot than animals.

old rusty tractor & Caterpillar Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaOther relics indicate someone may have dreamed of living here.  A water stand-pipe that offers no water, PVC pipe with wires going nowhere, leveled off areas of land small but large enough for a tiny house.  We talk about solar, rain collection, and compost toilet, using gray water for gardening, and hauling some water.

Caterpillar Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona

Gaelyn in Caterpillar Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona by KatThen what the heck, a big bright yellow piece of Caterpillar equipment that has certainly sat for a while but not as long as the other rigs.  It has a solar panel on the roof presumably to charge a battery we do not see.

Cottonwood Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona

clouds reflected in pond Yarnell Arizona

flowers in pond Yarnell ArizonaOn the return walk we took another side trip with some careful tiptoeing between the plants and moist areas to wander over to the big cottonwood that survived the fire and seems to guard a human made pond that sometimes holds water.  Always a surprise in this dry arid land.  I have seen it full, and have seen it bone dry, and now in between.

birds nest Cottonwood tree sun Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona

Emerald Euphoria Scarab Beetle Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaThe sun was getting high in the sky warming the air almost beyond comfortable walking and stomachs growled for breakfast so we continued to wind our way back to the main gravel road and spotted several of these Emerald Euphoria Scarab Beetles along the way.

yard rainy mist Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaKat left soon after breakfast and by afternoon dark clouds rolled in, the rain fell, and lightning snapped followed by loud nearby thunder. Once the ground dries a bit and the temperatures drop I’ll take another walk in the Weaver Mountains.

DSC_9043hdrleccrw Prickly Pear cactus skeleton Weaver Mts Yarnell AZ-HDR-1-6

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Arizona, Weaver Mountains, Yarnell boulders, chaparral, friend, rusty car, saunter, walk 19 Comments
20 August 2018

Making plans for nowhere

Ocotillo Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds SR89 ArizonaSadly, all the fires in the west means it’s not a particularly good time to travel so I’ve been making plans for nowhere and finding sites and sights near home.

rusty wheels grass Yarnell ArizonaI returned from my last road trip in time for monsoon storms to water the garden and everything is growing like weeds.  I wander around the yard and take random photos of things that just catch my eye.  Berta collected really cool rusty stuff for yard art.

Weaver Mountains storm clouds sunset Yarnell ArizonaStorms come to Yarnell usually in the late afternoon, winds rise, temperature drops at least a little, and only a bit of rain falls.  Not usually enough for flooding, thank goodness.  However there has been a lot of heavy rain and flash flooding all around us.

Gaelyn Weaver & Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 Arizona by Joann

Weaver & Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 Arizona

Weaver & Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 ArizonaIf the clouds look good but not too dense a friend and I have been driving part way down the Yarnell Hill to enjoy the colorful sunsets below the Weaver Mountains of home and instead look at the Date Creek Mountains.

Gaelyn wind blown sunset SR89 Yarnell Hill Arizona by JoannOne night the wind blew so hard I had to hang on tight to the tripod.

Weaver & Date Creek Mountains Yarnell Hill sunset clouds SR89 Arizona

Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds virga crepuscular rays from SR89 Arizona

Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds virga crepuscular rays from SR89 ArizonaBut it was worth every minute.

boulder fence stormy sky Yarnell Arizona

Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaSome nights the show is better than others.

buck Mule Deer Yarnell ArizonaAnd sometimes we are greeted by neighbors.

lightning clouds Yarnell ArizonaOne night I parked in the local dollar store lot and actually caught lightning, through the windshield with the dash as tripod.

trees boulders sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaIn preparation for an overnight guest staying in the camper I ran an extension cord over to the 5th-wheel on the lot next door where Berta’s house was before the big fire.  I am once again not sleeping in the house due to nighttime creepy crawly visitors (scorpions).

trees rainbow gray sky Yarnell ArizonaThe next afternoon dark menacing clouds formed to the east moving quickly from north to south.  To the west the sun shone below a layer of clouds through a steady yet gentle rain and I looked for the rainbow.

Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 ArizonaLater I drove part way down the hill as the sky looked good for light and color.  Was just OK.  I didn’t quite make it back home before the sky opened and it poured.  And it just kept raining.  In fact there was flooding on the main street in town to the point the county brought in the big machines to clear off all the mud and rocks.  It was just sloppy mud at home so I actually drove the car next door when time to go to bed.  A bed I hadn’t slept in for almost 10 months.

Berta painting by Joann CWednesday was the memorial service for Berta and I will post about that separately.  Thursday morning, my friend and I took a walk into the Weaver Mountains which I will also post about soon.

Obi Fire at 8000 acres Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI had hoped to return to the North Rim this week to visit some photog friends and maybe get some shots of the full moon rise.  But with all the smoke I’ve pretty much canceled those plans.  I do understand the importance of forest fire for the health of the landscape, yet smoke is never good and these fires seem so extreme and almost violent with loss of human lives, homes, and wildlife making it hard to bear.  Fortunately, Yarnell is still, knock on wood, smoke free.  So I better stay put for now and enjoy my local sights.  Can you tell I have itchy feet?

Sierra cat in bed Yarnell ArizonaIn addition, I’m not sure Sierra is in travel mode right now.  She got into a cat fight and has a wound that will take time to heal.  I think she’ll be indoors for a while.  OMGosh, I’ve become one of those #shareapictureofmycat people.

 

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Arizona, life, Yarnell dramatic sky, fire, smoke, stay home, sunsets, travel 37 Comments
10 July 2018

Getting un stuck in a rut

ART sign storm clouds Yarnell ArizonaI’ve felt stuck in a rut for several months, even before Berta left for Portland (more on that).  Same thing everyday.  Feels like the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day; wake up, coffee, cat, computer, eat, eat, eat, goodnight.  It’s been extremely hard to get excited about anything with my best friend dying, no job, and generally feeling like I lost my identity.  But I’m finally working on getting un-stuck.

hummingbird on feeder Yarnell ArizonaI wrote about the local wildlife last month and am still seeing them around.  Cottontail bunny shows up about an hour before sunset.  Hung a second hummingbird feeder that I can see from the door.  While out watering I saw a coyote climb out of the wash to the opposite side.

Sierra cat glass over lizard Yarnell ArizonaSierra caught a lizard and brought it into the house.  Then of course she lost it because she really just wants to play with them. Oh boy, now we have another new roommate. It’s tail broke off and was laying on the floor with just a little movement before I threw it away. Hope the poor thing isn’t looking for that and thank goodness they grow back.  About an hour later Sierra re-caught the poor tailless lizard but wouldn’t take it outside.  So, I trapped it with my handy dandy glass and cardboard and managed to spare its life.  Ants, scorpions, spiders, flies, and cockroaches. I would so rather be in my own house on wheels.

cement slab Weaver Mountains sunset SR89 Yarnell Hill ArizonaI’ve taken a lot of sunset and moonrise shots this past winter from the yard and just down the street in Yarnell.  For something different I drove part way down SR89, the Yarnell Hill, to a turn-around near the original overlook to the valley below.  According to a local friend, the cement slab I walked across used to be a tourist shop for the view, snacks and such.  Another piece of Yarnell history.

valley Date Mountains sunset clouds SR89 Yarnell Hill Arizona

towers mountain for Yarnell Arizona

moon rise Rich Hill towers Augmented Reality Yarnell Hill Arizona

full moon rise Rich Hill from SR89 Yarnell Hill ArizonaFrom here I enjoyed a colorful sunset.  And according to PhotoPills the full moon would rise behind a couple of towers on Rich Hill.  Sadly, the app needed recalibration so instead it was vegetation on the ridge-line in front of the moon.  But at least I was un-stuck from my usual shooting location, for that night.

boulders trees sunset sunburst Yarnell ArizonaMy 4th of July excitement included the glow by blacklight of a ½” scorpion hiding in a crack by the AC unit.  I sprayed it with the Terro scorpion killer.  The next morning in the kitchen I killed two more cockroaches on the floor, and a ¼” scorpion in the sink.  The later death by hot coffee.  This is getting very old.  Later, I took the Terro scorpion spray outside and sprayed cracks along the house where I killed another ¼”er.

boulders Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Arizonaboulders tree sunset clouds Yarnell Arizona

That night, after a colorful sunset, I started sleeping in my bug and scorpion free camper.  Too difficult to move Sierra, she’s doesn’t like to picked up, so she sleeps in the house for now and greets me at the door in the morning when I come in to start coffee, computer and fresh cat food and water.  Slept good and am un-stuck from the creepy bed.

I made the mistake of stepping on the scale and weigh in at 148 pounds.  I’ve never weighed that much in my life.  No wonder my clothes don’t fit.  Between quitting smoking a year ago and inactivity the pounds just stuck around.  I’m not happy about this, so…

Cottomwood tree Weaver Mts Yarnell ArizonaTime to start walking.  I forgot how nice and peaceful it is in the Weaver Mountains outside my door.

boulders deer Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona

bushes boulders trees moon set Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaThe only tracks I saw on the dry hard-packed dirt road belonged to deer, javelina, coyote or dog.  Felt like no person had passed in a while.  I made noise occasionally so not to startle anyone.

windmill cow head Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona

rusty wreck Country Squire station wagon Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaI wandered to a place I’d never been before because I saw a windmill, and it had a cow skull hanging on it.  How weird.  This area I walk in is behind a gate.  Lots of 4-9 acres are plotted out but there’s no utilities and no one living out here.  However it did look like someone at least tried where the windmill is along with some rusty wrecks and a small uninhabited building.  Sadly, 7:30 is already too late to go walking with our summer temperatures in the 90s.  Not sure I’m ready to be out any earlier, yet.

houses yard storm clouds Yarnell Arizona

bushes fence boulder storm clouds Yarnell ArizonaFinally rain is coming into the country.  Friday afternoon wind driven clouds brought a cool caress, thunder, lightning, a refreshing aroma, and maybe three drops of rain.  This followed by a clear day with a few teaser clouds at sunset.

wind blown flag bushes rain Yarnell Arizona

mammatus clouds Yarnell ArizonaSunday afternoon the storm returned and I drove north to shoot it.  Never got out of the car because it came down hard with very high winds. Turned around in only three miles at Peeples Valley then parked for a while at the Yarnell Dollar Store lot and watched the storm approach.  The wind and rain came hard and quick only lasting about 30 minutes.

After dark began a gentler rain pushed by wind with thunder and lightning. I felt the rumbles throughout my body. Cool breezes wafted through the open windows. The fresh smell opened my mind. Light shows in the three directions I could see.  Right then, glad for a dry place to be and not have to drive anywhere because I could get stuck in the mud.  Hope no fires start.

The biggest rut I’m currently stuck in is not traveling.  Four months of going nowhere is just not like me.  That’s the next thing I need to work on.

Sierra cat Yarnell ArizonaUpdate on Berta:  Since saying goodbye as she boarded the airport shuttle May 15th, life for Berta is slip sliding away.  At first she still felt good although sleeping more and even thought about returning to Arizona.  We all knew that wouldn’t happen.  A month passed with little change.  Hospice visits four days a week for about an hour to help out Berta’s daughter.  But that’s not enough, she needs more help and is exhausted mentally and physically.  Berta and I spoke briefly towards the end of June, mostly to reassure each other of our love.  She’s still here physically but doesn’t know what is going on around her.  We all pray she will soon leave this world peacefully.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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