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Tag: Autumn

31 October 2018

Making the most of a town run and other sundries

mountains reverse sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaBeing it’s an all day affair to shop because of the distances I try to make the most of a town run and sometimes include a nature photography fix.  And then sometimes, I get lucky with some local dramatic skies.

fall Sumac leaves Coscto Prescott ArizonaLast week I took a friend to an eye appointment in Prescott Valley and discovered Fain Lake Park.  Then on the way home we shopped at Costco.  I was excited to see the brilliant red and orange fall colors at the edge of their parking lot.

red fall Sumac leaves Coscto Prescott ArizonaI figured on getting a good look as I shop faster than my friend.  General consensus is it’s some kind of Sumac and I’m guessing it’s a landscape planting that spreads by roots and helps hold soil on the bank where it’s growing.

tunnel Cottonwood trees Skull Valley ArizonaWe’d come to Prescott on SR89, the White Spar Highway, with it’s slow twisty curves over the Bradshaw Mountains.  I wanted to return the other route, not quite so curvy, on Iron Springs Road, sort of like a loop trail/drive.  Plus this route took us through Skull Valley that has been on my radar because of the large Cottonwoods that snake along the mostly dry washes.  I wanted to see if the leaves were starting to turn yellow.  Took a little side road and had to stop for this glorious tree-tunnel driveway.  Some of these stately Cottonwoods must be over 100 feet tall.  They probably look older than they are because as Poplars they grow fast.  I hope there are saplings in the deep shade to replace them when they inevitably go.

hill trees clouds Yarnell ArizonaSince then, I haven’t been out too much but I always keep my eye on the sky.

mountains reverse sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaLiving surrounded by mountains means an early sunset in Yarnell.  That’s OK because I can often watch sunset twice a night.  Frequently I drive at least part way down the Yarnell Hill for sunset over the valley below.  If there’s no clouds to the west for more than a pale pastel sunset I look to the east for clouds and possible reverse sunset.

mountains reverse sunset clouds Yarnell Arizona

mountains reverse sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaOne night I drove a couple miles away from the house to the top of the Mina Road for the view towards Rich Hill.  Too many clouds for full moon rise.

mountains reverse sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaBut the light show was good and just kept getting better.  Love nights lights like this.

mountains reverse sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaSadly I didn’t capture any of the lightning far to the east.

grass trees sunset clouds crepuscular rays Yarnell ArizonaDid get some nice crepuscular rays to the west after the sun disappeared below the Weaver Mountains.

Antelope Peak reverse sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaI love clouds.  I’m a nepholographer.  There is so much happening in the sky.  Crazy shapes, perfect for the pareidolia in me as well.  I even started a Facebook group for us cloud watching photographers.

cattle Mina Rd Yarnell ArizonaThe next night was clear but the moon rose way past sunset and into the dark.  The downside of mountains making the moon rise later.  Getting chilly after dark.  Again drove the Mina Road, but went a little further hoping for an earlier rise.  Instead I met lots of cattle.  The dirt road is not in good shape and I was driving the Toyota car.

moon set at sunrise Weaver Mountains Yarnell ArizonaWhen it comes to shooting the moon I’m much better at its set in the morning, and not too early.  Plus there’s more light so easier to photograph.

Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaSome nights I just walk to the end of the driveway for sunset over the Weaver Mountains.

Well, all this happened last week so I suppose next week will be time for another town run.  Every two weeks shopping seems like enough, a luxury even, because I’m used to driving even further away and only once a month.

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Arizona, Places I've been, Prescott, United States, Yarnell Autumn, fall colors, sunsets 21 Comments
29 October 2018

History, Fishing, and Fall at Fain Lake Park

Lynx Creek bouders fall trees Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaKnew I had a couple hours to kill waiting for Jim at his eye doctor so googled parks in Prescott Valley and found Fain Lake Park not too far away.  A little off the beaten path, by no more than maybe two miles from SR69 at the end of 5th St.

map Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaWhite lines are my route

Not at all crowded, this small 100 acre park has a three acre reservoir stocked for fishing, offers trails, history, and during my October visit brilliant Autumn colors.

fishing dock lake trees Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaI headed straight to the lake and onto the fishing dock, where nobody was fishing.  Turned out to be a great place to scope out the lay of the park.  Definitely seeing the yellows of Autumn.

fall trees waterfall Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaPlus the dock provided a view of a waterfall which might be from human constructs of leftover mining equipment.

boulders dam fall Poplar tree hillside clouds Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaI went to the left towards an overlook beyond the actual dam.  Of course, this is a reservoir not a real lake.  More evidence of the mining down stream still high above and out of sight of Lynx Creek in the canyon below.

06 DSC_2522hdrlerw rusty pipe fall cottonwood trees downstream canyon Lynx Crk Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley AZ g-HDR-1-2Also out of sight, except for a steep pitched roof on the left, the Barlow-Massicks house also known as the “Castle”.  I learned more about this after my visit as the road to the house, and on the map, is marked private residence, and I’m not usually prone to trespass.  Thomas Gibson Barlow-Massicks built the three-story home in the 1890s and had many mining claims in the area.

bridge trees Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley Arizona

trout Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaSaw the Chapel trail disappearing uphill but wanted to walk around the lake so with my limited time turned around.  Crossed the long bridge stopping to chat with a few fishermen.  Most of the people seen here were spread along the shoreline fishing, and seemingly catching.  The Arizona Game and Fish Department stocks the lake with catfish and trout.  A fisherman told me Bass made it to the reservoir down the creek from Lynx Lake.

mining equipment Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaOn my way to the next bridge I see a collection of rusty mining equipment including a stamp mill.

stamp mill Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaEarly miners found gold in the adjacent Bradshaw Mountains and followed Lynx Creek.  Ultimately, a variety of sophisticated gold mining efforts were implemented included extensive hydraulic and dredging operations.  Records show in excess of $100 million worth of gold was removed from the immediate vicinity.  The most notable gold mining effort was made by Thomas Gibson Barlow-Massicks.

King snake Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaAs I continued towards the bridge a family picnicking nearby told me they’d seen a King snake here.  It had hidden when they tried to pet it.  What is wrong with people?  Fortunately I saw it on my return.

Lynx Creek fall trees reflection clouds Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaThe original inhabitants of the area dates as far back as 200 BC.  Known today as the “Prescott Traditional People” they lived along the south side of Lynx Creek between 1050 and 1300 AD and left behind a ruin of more than 30 rooms.  This site was discovered by the white gold seekers on property owned by G. S. Fitzmaurice and now called the Fitzmaurice Ruins.  I didn’t know this while there so have something else to return to for more explorations.

Lynx Creek bouders fall trees church on hill Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley Arizona

light & shadow water leaf Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaFinally made it onto the bridge for a long view of Fain Lake.  And a closer view straight down.

fall trees boulders Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaBut before continuing around the lake I was distracted by the sound of faster moving water upstream so backtracked and began to follow the Lynx Creek Loop trail into the boulders.

boulders waterfall Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaI could have sat here for a long time just listening to the magical flow of water.  Not something I experience often in Arizona.

Chapel of the Valley Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaTime to continue along the Shoreline trail and enjoy the Autumn colors along with this interesting building on the hillside.  I learned later, the Chapel of the Valley was built in 2002 by the Fain family who were also responsible for building Prescott Valley and Fain Park.  According to this article it’s available for special events and open for tours on Sundays.

fall tree lake clouds Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaFain Lake Park first opened to the public in 1997, the land being donated from the Fain family to the citizens of Prescott Valley.  But the park is not yet completed.  The eastern half of the park, when opened, will include a replica 1890s gold town (Massicks), the Fitzmaurice Ruin archeology site, the restored Barlow-Massicks Victorian house and a regional museum.

lake fall trees clouds Fain Lake Park Prescott Valley ArizonaWay more things to explore than I had time for with many reasons to return to Fain Lake Park.  Yet, I’d been hoping for some fall colors and the willows and poplars didn’t disappoint wearing their crowns of gold.

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02 October 2017

The golds of Fall on the Kaibab Plateau

September 18-20, 2017

fall aspen SR67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaFall on the Kaibab Plateau brings on many shades of gold and just a touch of red too.

yellow & green aspen 2000 Outlet burn along Cape Royal Road North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWith three days off work I started with a drive on the Cape Royal Road where the fall colors were taking off.  The show was particularly brilliant in the 2000 Outlet burn with a carpet of young aspen among the few remaining standing dead pine trunks.  The neon colors were so bright they almost hurt my eyes.

yellow aspen against green along Cape Royal Road North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWhile in some places only a few select branches or individual trees had turned to gold.  I thought fall was earlier than usual but as I looked back in my fall photo files it seems about right time wise.

Ravens Vista Encantada Cape Royal Road North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaA quick stop at Vista Encantada overlook to check on a particular clump of aspen along the rim which had not turned yet.  I did enjoy a pair of Ravens sharing secrets overhead.  Golden needles on the Ponderosa Pine  drop about every 5-7 years.

late light Angels Window Cape Royal Road North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

late light Wotans Throne Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI timed the drive for late light and sunset at Cape Royal where more gold showed itself on the walls of the canyon at Angels Window and Wotans Throne.

sunrise rays Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

DSC_0559 first light Wotans Throne Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaEven woke up in time for the gold of sunrise on the horizon to light up Wotans Throne.

sunrise over canyon Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaFollowed by a pale gold on the horizon over the South Rim.

early light Wotans Throne Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd patches of light on the far walls as Wotans continued to glow.

early light on temples & South Rim walls Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAs the sun breaks free the canyon jumps to life slowly filling with brilliant light that chases away deep shadows.

Clarks Nutcracker Cape Royal Trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAlong Cape Royal trail golden pinyon pine nuts entice the Clarks Nutcrackers by the dozens.

canyon Little Colorado River from Roosevelt Point Cape Royal Road North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaShades of red and gold fill the canyon from Walhalla overlook.  A cold wind blows foretelling the approach of winter.

foliage freeze aspen 2016 Fuller burn Cape Royal Road North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaOne year old aspen stand three feet tall among their frozen families from last year’s Fuller Fire near the Point Imperial turn.  (Foliage freeze is a unusual phenomenon during a fire that cooks the moisture from the tree and leaves without actually burning them.)

fall aspen 2000 Outlet burn Cape Royal Road North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd the 2000 Outlet burn looked like a patchwork quilt as I neared the main highway from the Cape Royal Road.

bison meadow North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAn hour before noon I headed out of the park and into the national forest seeing the bison-hybrids along the way.

fall aspen FR22 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI love driving forest roads, slowly with frequent stops for the array of color show.  Began on FR22 for a few miles then north on FR462.

fall aspen FR462 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

looking up fall aspen FR462 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

fall aspen leaves on ground FR462 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI paused to look into the forest.  I paused to look up in the air.  I paused to look close.  And I paused to look down on the forest floor.

fall aspen FR429 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThen I drove on through the forest admiring the variety of colors.

fall aspen 2006 Warm burn FR429 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaMore gold in the Outlet burn along 429 and still the chill wind blew.

Back on pavement I headed to Jacob Lake for a late lunch and because I planned to shop in Kanab the next day found a place not far from Jacob Lake with a good internet signal and hunkered in out of the wind.

fall aspen SR67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaOf course I had to stop for more fall colors on the way back home with so many wonderful groves of aspen to choose from.

fall aspen SR67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaTruly think there were more aspens of gold and red in just two days.

looking up fall aspen SR67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

fall aspen SR67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThe wind shook the leaves of the quaking aspen causing them to glitter and rattle like gold but also made it difficult to photograph so the foliage is blurry.

fall aspen SR67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaRed-tail hawks soared overhead as I drove through the golden meadows.

fall maple Oza Butte North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd just over the rim of Grand Canyon can also be seen patches of deep to brilliant red from the scattered maples.

fall maple leaves North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaTwo lonely maples grow along the road almost to the Lodge.

Seems gold with a little red are the colors of this season.

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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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