The Great Basin

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. Suzanne, the doggies and I head out to western Utah near the Nevada border where we will spend the next three days camping and hiking in the Great Basin. The Great Basin is 209,162 square miles of land that covers western Utah, almost all of Nevada and small portions of California and Oregon. It is distinct in that all water and precipitation either evaporates or sinks down into the ground. None of it flows west into the Pacific ocean or south into the Gulf of Mexico. Most people would describe it as barren but Suzanne and I find it to be beautiful and full of life if you look closely.

After setting up camp I take a picture looking back east from where we came.

About 30 feet south of our camp I find this solitary tree to be picture worthy. The ground is white because of a high salt content. We are very close to the Bonneville Salt Flats.

It is Friday and Suzanne's birthday. She reminds me that it is also National Boss's Day. She wants to hike to a high rocky area we see to the north. Along the way we see lots of these succulents.

We come to a saddle were Suzanne and Dooley enjoy the view.

To me, even the black rocks and desert can be striking.

As we continue on our hike we come across this leg bone. It's probably from a mountain goat or a Big Horn Sheep that was dinner for a Mountain Lion.

Later in the afternoon we go exploring in my SUV. We want to drive west on the dirt road to see if there was a better area to set up a base camp. It doesn't take long before we see lots of runners. We ask this man what is going on. It turns out that we have stumbled into the annual Pony Express Trail 100. An ultra marathon through the Great Basin. I can't imagine running a hundred miles let alone through this shadeless unforgiving area.

Later that night the sunset was even more spectacular than this picture conveys.

The next morning back at camp Suzanne prepares fried potatoes and bacon for breakfast.

Later we head out for another hike with great views.

We spot this wild horse all alone. A herd is about a mile away. You can see scars on his back which probably means he was kicked out of the herd for picking a fight with the leader.

Clouds are moving in and the barometer on my GPS is falling which means a storm is approaching. Since we have about a hundred mile drive on a dirt road we pack up camp and head back. About 2 minutes after we reach a paved road the rain starts. All in all it was a very fun camping trip.

Madera Canyon, Arizona

Thursday, May 21, 2015. Dad, Mom, Ted, Rock and I arrive at Madera Canyon near the Arizona and Mexico border.  This will not be about hiking but is still worthy of this blog.  Madera Canyon is in the Santa Rita Mountains and is a Sky Island that is in the Sonoran desert yet is a lush green forest with streams and lots of wildlife. It is considered the third best premier birding site in the USA which is what brought us here for the third time.  There are many birds from Mexico and Central and South America that come to this area and nowhere else in the US for the summer.  We have rented a cabin and will spend the next 4 days bird watching and relaxing.  A small stream flows by about 15 feet from the back porch where we spend most of our time.

Right off the front porch this Plumbeous Vireo is climbing into it's nest.

We had never seen a Yellow-eyed Junco before and this one built it's nest nearby.

There are many different species of Hummingbirds in Madera Canyon. This Magnificent Hummingbird seems to be posing for the camera.

This Broad-billed Hummingbird was constantly fighting for a drink and seems to have an angry look on it's face.

This wild Turkey is known to have a fondness for Dad.

This pair of Acorn Woodpeckers built their nest in a hole in a Sycamore tree.

This Greater Pewee made for a striking picture.

I'm not positive but I think this is a Western Wood-Pewee.

The Birders.

All in all we saw 32 or 33 different species of birds and 7 or 8 were first timers. My favorites were the Elegant Trogon (very rare) and the Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher. We also saw a Plumbeous Vireo, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Blue Grossbeak, Bronzed Cowbird, Arizona Woodpecker, Greater Pewee, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-headed Grossbeak, White-winged Dove, Morning Dove, Flicker, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Turkey Vulture, Wild Turkey, Gray-breasted Jay, Cowbird, Robin, House Finch, House Wren, Pine Sisken, Painted Redstart, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bridled Titmouse, Yellow-eyed Junco, Acorn Woodpecker, Hepatic Tanager, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Magnificent Hummingbird and a Broad-billed Hummingbird.

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Saturday, February 14, 2015. Suzanne, Dooley, Hazel and I head over to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Northern Utah for a 6 mile hike and bird watching.  The refuge is 80,000 acres of marshes created by Bear River which is the largest freshwater component of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. As we begin our hike the view is spectacular.

Most of the marsh land looks like this.

It doesn't take long before we see some Tundra Swans.

Tundra Swans summer in the Artic and winter in Northern Utah.

After about 3 miles Suzanne is helping Dooley get ready for a swim.

You can see how much Dooley enjoys the water.

Back on the hike we spot some Canada Geese.

I even manage to get a picture of a flock of Canada geese in flight.

This one was just taking off to join the flock.

This Tundra Swan was just lifting off the water when I snapped this picture.

This picture is a little faded but you can see the swan in flight with the Wasatch Mountains in the background.

Later we drive out to Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake where this Horned Lark pays us a visit.

As we finish the hike I take one final picture of the Wasatch Mountains behind Ogden, Utah.