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| | | Esplanade Owl Check Up - Apache Trails, AZ | | | |
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Esplanade Owl Check Up - Apache Trails, AZ
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| Hiking | 8.47 Miles |
433 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.47 Miles | 3 Hrs 11 Mns | | 2.76 mph |
| 433 ft AEG | 7 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Had intended on getting out a couple days earlier but the wind was blowing too much for my hiking enjoyment. As I drove in, the hills were alive with glowing Brittlebush enmasse; such a pretty site I started taking pictures before I even parked.
I headed out on the Esplanade Trail. No movies today since I took so much on March 7th (my first owl check up), a report I still haven't posted as I'm quite far behind. I headed east over to the Apache Wash Trail. This is where I encountered several hikers. I also noted some Owl Clover which I was surprised to see. I had vowed not to take pictures of the evil Stinknet but I had to give in as it did create for some bright color throughout the hike. It apparently is replacing all the Combseed and Smallflower Stock.
On the Esplanade Trail now, the fabulous Christmas Cholla from early March doesn't have the bright red bulbs anymore, but I wasn't going to walk over there anyway as it's snake season. I was on the lookout for rattlesnakes and did see a cute little fella (Patch-Nosed? snake) half on the trail that I got some pictures of. I tried to keep a good pace but the Owl Clover was putting on such a show along with some other co-stars, I found myself stopping much more than I intended.
I finally got to the two mile mark where the South Owl was. She only has one baby though. I did get some decent photos of baby and momma  being careful going off trail which I would do again checking for the North Owl. However, I ended up walking past her area and had to backtrack once I saw the power poles. Here I had to walk over much more ground to only find she wasn't there and it doesn't look like she hasn't been in residence as there are no markings on the nest. I still took some more photos of the Owl Clover, even with one less owl.
I also noticed on my way back that they had replaced the signs on the posts from the phone friendly to just Esplanade Trail with an arrow??? And the posts are every 1/4 mile; guess I never realized that before. It was a nice hike back to Apache Wash Trail and I was curious to see what it looked like from last month. Well there is a ton of Cheat/Foxtail Grass and a substantial amount of Stinknet. But thankfully, there was some more Owl Clover in patches and scattered as has been the case off and on through this whole hike.
This time I took the Apache Wash South Connector and kept my eye out for the little dam I had seen the last time from above. I did see it and still would like to take a closer look but not during rattlesnake season. I headed up the Sidewinder Trail which I actually enjoyed the slight incline as I had been on flat trail for the previous five miles. Here again I would see lots of Owl Clover but this time big smatterings but littler patches. My views to the north over the valley was pretty impressive because of the yellow color. It's an impressive show.
I headed up Apache Vista Trail where a lot of Lupine and brightly blooming Brittlebush greeted me along the sides of the trail and above/below. It's just hard to photograph. I also notice some poppies still blooming here and there. I always like this little peak. The views all around are covered in yellow, this time including hillsides full of Brittlebush. Once I got down and back to the Sidewinder I had hoped just to get back to the Trailhead but noooooooo, there were still more flowers and scenes to photograph. But I just decided that this is an abnormal season so taking more pictures is par for the course at this point  and thus, why so many pictures... again. I would also see a lot more people.
It was a great hike with a very nice temperature for me. Hiking on the east side of the Preserve there almost no hiker traffic but there are a few bike riders. I was a little sore as I was from my Monday workout from an almost 5 day break. They say muscles remember but for decades I think that is a farce. All mine remember is how sore or tired they are after short layoffs   .
WATCH 1:42-4:53PM, 8.21 miles, 1737-2123 elevation. 128 avg bpm/164 max. 12% Zone 5 max, 61% Zone 4 anaerobic, 27% Zone 3 aerobic burning 1225 calories. Temp was a lovely 62.5, sunny and 10% humidity. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
substantial Owl Clover and Brittlebush, still quite a lot of Lupine and Desert Hyacinth, some poppies, and way too much Stinknet. The bushes are starting to leaf out more fully. |
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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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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
! I did narrate a lot; I never know if that's good or bad 
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and did a reverse loop at the top.
and arrived at a pretty busy trailhead parking lot. Started walking about 6:45AM (RS said 11:43PM) without my water so had to go back for that.
