Hiking: Thunderbird Park

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I met my daughter and her father at Thunderbird Park today. We hiked a short 1.5 miles. It was a nice hike and nice to see my baby.


Views from the trail. The weatherman calls for rain and wind tonight.


Jessica.


One of Jessica's drawings, a bluejay.


Another of Jessica's drawings. She must have her Grandma Marie's artistic talent. It skipped a generation because I can't even write neatly.


An unfair shot. She's watching her dog, Uno, while eating a cheesy-poof at the top of the mountain -- 1,674' elevation.

Hiking: Thunderbird Park

This morning I was thinking the clouds looked unusual, then I spotted the sundog (parhelion).
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We had a couple days of light rain. But I decided enough with the lame excuses and Cierra and I went for an afternoon hike at Thunderbird Park.

Our tracks. We hiked 3 miles. Our highest elevation was 1,685 for an elevation gain of 388'. Thunderbird Park is a heavily used, mildly challenging area to hike.


Just past one of the picnic areas, up we go.


Views of the city. Too many people, too many houses.


Looking NW, towards home and Westwing Mountain.


Looking at 59th Ave.


On our way down.


More city views. The water is in the Arrowhead Lakes neighborhood.


Where we came from...


...and where we're going.


Looking up. On the top of the Palo Verde tree, using the cloud as a backdrop, there's a speck. It's a hummingbird.


Hummingbird.


As close as I could get, it's a bit grainy.

Lastly, some inspiration:


I have a lazy streak, and my lazy streak likes to eat chocolate cake and jalapeno chips (not at the same time). In honor of my mom's lifelong fight with kidney disease, I plan on being a living kidney donor in 2013. I want to use this time in 2012 to become more fit, and begin the screening process in the Fall of 2012.

Hiking: Thunderbird Park

Cierra and I hiked at Thunderbird Park today. I think the high temperature was about 77 today, the hike was very warm.

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Thunderbird Park is not my favorite place to hike. I think because it's surrounded by views of the city, and that's what I like to get away from when I hike.


See, this is what it really looks like, houses everywhere. I parked off of 67th Ave near where it says Patrick Ranch, and hiked the West end of the park.


2.8 miles.


I stood here and looked at the trails marked on the map, but I didn't retain too much of the information.


I found a little humor in "dogs and cats only". I have never seen a hiking cat.


Early in the hike we had to stop and shed some layers, it was warm.


It's flat now, but we're going up.


There was a noisy pair here, probably protecting their territory or their nest.
I don't know my birds very well, but I think this is a Gilded Flicker. AKA, a woodpecker.


My what rosy red cheeks you have.


My what a sharp beak you have.


My what lovely polkadots you have.


My house is w-a-y over there. The largest mountain just right of center is Westwing Mountain.


Views of the trail.


Cierra and her extra large chunk of concrete.


Pretty flowers.


I try to find unique places for my little poser to pose, this didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped for.


Views from the trail.


The most unique hiking buddy I've seen yet: an African Grey. He (or she) was very happy, talking and whistling.


I emptied my Camelbak today so that I could take it outside and shake out the dust and debris that were living in it.

What I carry is by no means comprehensive for all hikers, there's no first aid kit. Don't be like me.

There are a few items I carry not pictured: my ID, my revolver, my bandana, my dogs leash (that we rarely use but I carry to make you feel better) and sometimes my handheld (ham) radio. If my cell phone has no signal, my radio has a satellite.


Lastly, some humor.
"If life gives you melons you may be dyslexic"
I'm dyslexic. Not the kind you think of with letters and words, it's different. I'll spare you of the boring details.
I've heard a few dyslexic jokes, this might be the best one yet.

Hiking: Thunderbird Park

Today my friend JJ and I hiked at Thunderbird Park. Cierra had the day off. We have very warm weather the first week of January with highs in the 80's.
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A simple two mile loop with mild elevation gains.

Hiking: Thunderbird Park

I met my daughter and her father at Thunderbird Park today. I didn't have my GPS with me to map the tracks, but we hiked about four miles. It was overcast but warm-ish, it was a good day for a hike.
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Looking at Pinnacle Peak Rd/59th Avenue.


Cloudy skies.


I tried a few times to get her to stand in the Y of that tree, but she wasn't having it.


Horse and rider sharing a snack.


Jessica taking a break from hiking and sketching the scenery. My mom is a natural-born artist. I can't even write neatly. I think both of my children inherited some of my mom's talent for art and writing.


Jessica. A piece of my heart sitting there.


Jessica's dog, Uno, a Miniature Pincher. Uno is a good dog, not as spastic as this photo makes him look.


Jessica, onward and upward. She was quite the little trooper on this hike.


One of the peaks in the distance has an American flag on top. And, this was the area that Jessica was looking at while she was sketching.


Views from the trail.


At home, the clouds looked like a big fan as the sun set.


"A tired dog is a good dog." -Me.