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| Hiking | 7.74 Miles |
1,069 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.74 Miles | | | |
| 1,069 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | She's home, the owl that is. I wasn't able to get any good pictures as she was facing the wrong way. It was very crowded as I made my way up the Hawk's Nest Trail but after I took a right (east) at the top, the crowds thinned out quite significantly. I was glad I zipped off the bottom of my pants as the temperature was basically Tibberlocks perfect with a slight breeze.
It was green here but not quite like my Irish Lookout Mountain. It also has that same belly flower groundcover with the little white bloom. There was also the same wildflower fare and included some very large Scorpionweed, Fiddleneck and Narrow-Leaf Popcorn Flower. Once I got down to the Valley floor on the Valle Vista, I could feel the leprechauns were dancing among the cactus. Besides the grasses and green groundcover there was also smatterings of what I think is Gordon's or Arizona Bladderpod, which I would see for the rest of the hike.
I decided I would take advantage of the green desert and do extensive filming as we don't know when Ireland will touchdown again. Poppies were also starting to pop up but not in batches which is what I was hoping to find today. It always takes longer than I think to reach the Cactus Wren Trail; an interesing trail due to the history of the area. I would be by myself for the next few miles of my trek. It was really beautiful hiking through here today and the distant surroundings and clouds added to my enjoyment.
Wait, what the heck? I could see coming from the south a large aircraft... four propellers. I grabbed my ZS70 and zoomed into the very bad light. It took a bit for it to focus but I was able to get a few shots. Little did I know I would get two more stabs at filming this giant US Marines C-130 Hercules. And like I need any more distractions but then I came to a fork in the road that goes east and I've always wondered... so I followed it to the crest of the hill where you get a good view of the dam. I think a couple HAZers have taken part of this route GPS :: Sonoran Preserve to the Dam (but he didn't take any photos  ). This is the first area where I saw some nice grouping of poppies.
I got back on the Cactus Wren Trail where I had some great views up Union Peak. The old road that the trail crosses a couple times is filled with the golden white grass and it goes pretty far up. Along the way I would see patches of poppies and as I hiked on the Great Horned Owl Trail. The desert floor was very green through here which made the cholla really stand out. As you proceed upward on this great grade of a trail, you pass through a large Teddy forest and they are all fat and happy right now. This is a pretty trail; especially when you take time to look around to the north and east. Maybe that's why the climb seemed so easy; stopping to look and enjoy; oh and take photos and movies.
I encountered a hiker as I reached the junction with the UP Trail (Union Peak). I didn't even hesitate to go up. I guess my leisurely pace made this last climb up the peak even easier. I wish all peak climbs were like this one  . And per usual, when you think you're on top, it's time for the roller coaster to the south side summit. I thot I was filming the first part but I wasn't (I do that occasionally). Anyway, I still filmed some up here and didn't stop to take a break since I was already on a somewhat leisurely pace... reminds me of my old days of hiking. I headed on down and did encounter two hikers and their dog.
I got back on the Great Horned Owl Trail and started hiking west when I hear a helicopter. Alas, another distraction as it was doing some sort of practice above a hill to the north of me. After I zoomed one of my photos, it appears to be a State Trooper helicopter. I filmed it as well. Well after that I continued on and rounded a corner to a complete stop. I think I found the motherlode... of poppies,  OMG! How am I going to shoot all these poppies? and they went all the way up the side of Union Peak. Well I managed to take my fill of pictures... I lie; I could have stayed there longer. The poppies and their surrounding flora was my first for the season so I was very HAPPY!
Ya, I even got the poppy-lined trail for a little bit. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face until I finally got to the junction with the Valle Vista Trail and I returned to the green desert floor with late afternoon light making everything glow. And it was like this all the way to and including the Desert Tortoise Trail. I finally got back to the normal desert hike as I reached the crest of the hill and made my way around the side of the mountain. Here it was just the occasional wildflowers and a few more people. I did film one of my favorite areas (the conglomerate alley) with a nice grouping of Compass Barrel Cactus.
I debated going to check on the owl but decided to take a zoom shot instead. As I got to the intersection with Hawk's Nest Trail it was back to the crowds. As I got to the desert floor near the trailhead, I admired the lower sun's glow on the flora and finished off my hike with a Huckleberry Beer. It really was a fabulous day in so many ways! I was certainly feeling refreshed.
I normally don't post my trip report and way too many photos until I get the movies done but I'm making the exception to let you know this is a good time to get out there. I won't have the movies ready for a couple days.... and I'm interuppting my Sedona trip to work on them. I can't wait to see them myself. I filmed the two aircraft too. I hope I have more hikes like today .
UPDATED 2-26-2023 Here they are and I think they turned out great. I do a lot of narration too and feel free to turn on closed captioning to see what I'm saying. It's rather interesting as it considers my footsteps Applause  .
Hawks Nest and Valle Vista Trails - [ youtube video ]
Cactus Wren and Great Horned Owl Trails - [ youtube video ]
Great Horned Owl and Union Peak Trails - [ youtube video ]
Union Peak and Great Horned Owl Trails - [ youtube video ]
Valle Vista and Desert Tortoise Trails - [ youtube video ]
WATCH: 1:52-5:28PM, 7.28 miles, 3:35:48, 1635-2324 elevation. 129 avg bpm/ 175 max. 22% Zone 5 Max, 47% Zone 4 anaerobic, 28% Zone 3 aerobic burning 1390 calories. Temp 71.5, partly cloudy, 26% humidity
3 Hrs 36 Mns 2.25 mph 10 Mns Break 1,069 ft AEG |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Poppy batches are on east Cactus Wren Trail and on west side of Great Horned Owl Trail. Occasional areas of Scorpionweed, Fiddleneck and Narrowleaf Popcorn Flower. Big batches of yellow Bladderpod throughout. |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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and baby 
check up. It's still nice enough I can hang out at the house and have my coffee and do some work before heading out; so I'm taking advantage of the later start. I headed up the Hawk's Nest Trail thinking about my 6-nite backpack at Glacier in early July, hoping that I will be in good enough shape to do that. I got up to the owl nest and she was sitting up pretty tall but no evidence of a little one so I continued up. Off to the right I noticed a pretty cholla that had a Hedgehog blooming brightly right below it, made for a nice photo.
buzzed me. It was off to the right and I'm glad I didn't over react like I want to do; and yes, I snapped a picture but was only able to get part of it. Needless to say, I started paying more attention to the trail in front of me. The worst thing is I would be coming back this way but hopefully it will have continued down the hill.](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
. I gave thot to running up to Sedona but the West Fork Trail would be a zoo on a Sunday so I returned home to sulk and go back to bed after unpacking 
