Tonto National Monument

Last week our Photo Club took a trip out to Roosevelt Dam and also stopped at the Tonto National Monument on our way home.  The monument showcases cliff dwellings from a long long time ago.  I have been there before and the views are fantastic however this time round we were treated to an extra special treat.  The hills were alive with bright green growth and hillsides filled with colourful flowers.  Apparently the area was subject to the fire this past summer and the resulting ash promoted the regrowth of the foliage and an early and abundant flower bloom.  

Take a look for yourself. 

The trail up to the cliff dwellings is wide, flat and paved however it is still a heart thumper.  A lot of elevation gain in no time at all but provides a great view.

The fire burned fast and hot but regrowth was evident everywhere. 

The remnants of the cliff dwellings

Would pay a lot of money for a view like this now a days. 

   

Next up I may finally get to my rodeo pictures.  

Wedding Cake Hike

So what did you do today.  Today Lori and I plus a few friends went on a hike up the Wedding Cake trail.  Its a relatively short hike.  4.2 miles in total.  But the last bit is pretty much straight up with loose gravel and shale on the trail.  Not good footing when a stumble can mean a visit to the hospital.

It was a great day for a hike with temps at 8:30 this morning around 50F, clear skies and no wind.  It warmed up to mid 60's by the time we got back at noon.  We didn't quite make it all the way to the top as I was pretty tired and the knees were screaming at me to stop, go back to the park model and crack a beer.  My knees won out.

This Javelina came trotting along the wash behind us.
Looks like a pig but actually not part of the pig family. 

A beautiful day.  Snakes are out so have to keep an eye out.

Flowers are starting to bloom.
We are headed to the top of that rock outcropping in the middle of the picture. 

We made it to a plateau just below the peak.
Quite the view. 

A shot of the Superstitions behind us.  

A shot to the south.
Tucson is out there somewhere beyond those mountains

Looking back towards Phoenix.
Hard to make out through the pollution induced haze.

Our neighbour, Sue, and her 4 legged companion, Chewbacca.
Chewie to his friends. 

My blue backpack and the top of Wedding Cake.
We stopped at this point.  So close. 

The centre of attention. 

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I haven't died and gone to heaven.

Roosevelt Dam

Our Photo Club took a trip out to Roosevelt Dam which is about an hours drive southeast of Gold Canyon.  It is at one end of the Apache Trail which has to be one of the most beautiful drives in the area.  Unfortunately due to heavy rains and flooding this past summer part of the road has been washed away and what is left is even rougher than the washboard excuse for a road that we went down 5 years ago.  Approaching the Dam from Globe is all on paved roads so no problem getting there.  

Construction on the Dam started in around 1895 and was originally of stone and mortar construction. It has been upgraded over the years and it is now concrete.  It dams up the Salt River and creates Roosevelt Lake which is quite large and a water sports attraction during the summer months.  The salt river continues and 2 more lakes are created downstream thanks to 2 more dams.  All generate much needed hydro electric power for the area in addition to recreational opportunities for locals and tourists.  

The real appeal for us wasn't so much taking pictures of the dam but the bridge that spans the Salt river at the entrance of the dam. 

On the other side of the bridge is Roosevelt Lake.
Big bodies of water like this are hard to come by in the desert. 

My wide angle lens can create a lot of distortion in my shots.
In this case I like it.

The Roosevelt Dam holding back the Salt river.

Well worn graffiti

A major fire went through here last summer.
It burnt so fast a lot of the plants survived almost unscathed.
With all the high nitrogen ash on the ground the regrowth is
well under way with the hills a very vibrant green

Marina on Roosevelt Lake

Our next stop on our days outing was Tonto National Monument which was just down the road few miles.  

Tune in a little later for those pictures.