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Vibrant Fall Colors Along Forest Trail 396
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, Posting from Prescott, Arizona)
Hike Date: 10/30/2010; Late afternoon south of Prescott on Trails 396, 60 and West School House Gulch Rd.
I have to admit that seeing fall colors in the southwest is a real pleasure. I was transplanted hear from another place also known as God's country, West Virginia. The following shots are from a "late in the day" trip on the western end of Forest Trail 396. You can pick up the 396 at a parking lot near the entrance to the White Spar Forest Campground, where School House Gulch Rd ties into to White Spar Rd (Hwy 89 south out of Prescott).
Wicket never misses a chance to do a little wading in this pool along the 396. It lies several hundred yards west of Lower Goldwater Lake and is truly a sweet spot along this trail. The 396 is part of the Prescott Circle Trail system so you can hike 'til you're toes are numb if you decide to.
Here's Wicket heading up the 396 in point position. This stretch basically runs south out of the drainage where the pool is. We like working our way up the trail some and then bushwhacking over to a game trail that eventually swings us back around to Forest Trail 60 and ties into School House Gulch Rd. The 60 is where we'll begin our trip back to School House Gulch and the parking lot at White Spar Rd.
One last shot of fall from trail 60 for this walk into the wild. It's a special place with a good many trail pooch teams, hikers, mountain bikers, joggers, a few equestrian enthusiasts and the occasional mule deer; oh yes, there are several areas where off road vehicles can come whizzing around the corner, so be careful when you're trekking along School House Gulch Rd. Other possible encounters of wildlife include Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Black Bear, Javelina, Coyote, an assortment of birds, friendly and not so friendly snakes. Just try to be aware of your surroundings and you should be fine.
I thought it might be of interest to some visitors to see a couple of shots taken along the 396 only eleven days later; 11/10/2010. Fall has become a faded memory of those who once sought to embrace it's full glory.
Well Trail Pooch Teams, thanks again. Wicket and I hope you've been out there living it. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and always remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
Email: Noel@Trailpooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
www.realtywebnet.com
Hike Date: 10/30/2010; Late afternoon south of Prescott on Trails 396, 60 and West School House Gulch Rd.
I have to admit that seeing fall colors in the southwest is a real pleasure. I was transplanted hear from another place also known as God's country, West Virginia. The following shots are from a "late in the day" trip on the western end of Forest Trail 396. You can pick up the 396 at a parking lot near the entrance to the White Spar Forest Campground, where School House Gulch Rd ties into to White Spar Rd (Hwy 89 south out of Prescott).
Wicket never misses a chance to do a little wading in this pool along the 396. It lies several hundred yards west of Lower Goldwater Lake and is truly a sweet spot along this trail. The 396 is part of the Prescott Circle Trail system so you can hike 'til you're toes are numb if you decide to.
Here's Wicket heading up the 396 in point position. This stretch basically runs south out of the drainage where the pool is. We like working our way up the trail some and then bushwhacking over to a game trail that eventually swings us back around to Forest Trail 60 and ties into School House Gulch Rd. The 60 is where we'll begin our trip back to School House Gulch and the parking lot at White Spar Rd.
One last shot of fall from trail 60 for this walk into the wild. It's a special place with a good many trail pooch teams, hikers, mountain bikers, joggers, a few equestrian enthusiasts and the occasional mule deer; oh yes, there are several areas where off road vehicles can come whizzing around the corner, so be careful when you're trekking along School House Gulch Rd. Other possible encounters of wildlife include Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Black Bear, Javelina, Coyote, an assortment of birds, friendly and not so friendly snakes. Just try to be aware of your surroundings and you should be fine.
I thought it might be of interest to some visitors to see a couple of shots taken along the 396 only eleven days later; 11/10/2010. Fall has become a faded memory of those who once sought to embrace it's full glory.
Well Trail Pooch Teams, thanks again. Wicket and I hope you've been out there living it. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and always remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
Email: Noel@Trailpooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
www.realtywebnet.com
Inspiration Point, Little Granite Mtn Trail, Prescott AZ
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, Posting from Prescott, Arizona)
Hike Date: 10/06/2010 and 01/15/2011; Little Granite Mtn trail (Iron Springs Road)
Here's a quick look at the first part of the Little Granite Mtn trail. It's an up hill walk for about a mile and half, but worth every deep breath of fresh air and every drop of perspiration getting to the summit. The views are incredible. The first three shots are from the October 2010 walk and the last two are from a jaunt up the hill January 2011. Wicket and I have hiked this area in the summer, but you're going to want to make it early in the day as it does tend to heat up out there during those months.
The dead and down Juniper tree, barely visible in this photo and lying to the left of the trail in front of the monolith, used to stand to the right of that rock and cast shade on this rather level spot in the trail. It was blown over in the high winds of late 2009, exposing this great view of Thumb Butte and the Bradshaws east and south of the Prescott basin.
Wicket at point waiting for the slow guy on the up hill trek!
We're turning the corner on the downhill stretch to the parking lot at Iron Springs Rd, after a nice work out on the trail over to what I call inspiration point; an overlook on the trail about 1.75 miles out where the views to the west and northwest will inspire the dickens out of you.
Wicket accommodating me and the camera at inspiration point on our January 15th visit; under one of a couple nice alligator juniper trees at the point where hikers can soak up the views and relax.
Wicket leading us up and over the summit on our way back to the parking lot at Iron Springs Rd. We were lucky to spot some day old Mountain Lion Tracks on this walk to the point and had a nice conversation with another hiker who was heading further into the Granite Mountain Wilderness area. Over all, these two trips into the local back country were very rewarding.
Well Trail Pooch Teams, thanks for checking us out again. Wicket and I hope you've been out there living it. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and always remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
Email: Noel@Trailpooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
www.realtywebnet.com
Hike Date: 10/06/2010 and 01/15/2011; Little Granite Mtn trail (Iron Springs Road)
Here's a quick look at the first part of the Little Granite Mtn trail. It's an up hill walk for about a mile and half, but worth every deep breath of fresh air and every drop of perspiration getting to the summit. The views are incredible. The first three shots are from the October 2010 walk and the last two are from a jaunt up the hill January 2011. Wicket and I have hiked this area in the summer, but you're going to want to make it early in the day as it does tend to heat up out there during those months.
The dead and down Juniper tree, barely visible in this photo and lying to the left of the trail in front of the monolith, used to stand to the right of that rock and cast shade on this rather level spot in the trail. It was blown over in the high winds of late 2009, exposing this great view of Thumb Butte and the Bradshaws east and south of the Prescott basin.
Wicket at point waiting for the slow guy on the up hill trek!
We're turning the corner on the downhill stretch to the parking lot at Iron Springs Rd, after a nice work out on the trail over to what I call inspiration point; an overlook on the trail about 1.75 miles out where the views to the west and northwest will inspire the dickens out of you.
Wicket accommodating me and the camera at inspiration point on our January 15th visit; under one of a couple nice alligator juniper trees at the point where hikers can soak up the views and relax.
Wicket leading us up and over the summit on our way back to the parking lot at Iron Springs Rd. We were lucky to spot some day old Mountain Lion Tracks on this walk to the point and had a nice conversation with another hiker who was heading further into the Granite Mountain Wilderness area. Over all, these two trips into the local back country were very rewarding.
Well Trail Pooch Teams, thanks for checking us out again. Wicket and I hope you've been out there living it. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and always remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
Email: Noel@Trailpooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
www.realtywebnet.com
Late Summer Early Fall 2010
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, Posting from Prescott, Arizona)
Hike date 09/18/2009; White Spar Road area south of Prescott and east of the first entrance to Ponderosa Park.
Hello Trailpooch visitors. Here are three shots from a short walk into the woods south of Prescott. This trail is an easy access area off White Spar Road. You can pick it up just south of School House Gulch Rd and Trail 396.
Notice the first signs of fall draped in red across the rock.
Wicket in the thicket cruising along the trail through late summer flowers still in bloom. This is a nice narrow canyon with ample vegetation. In my opinion, the trail that runs through here ranks moderate to easy for for the first mile then it begins to test your stamina a bit more.
This day, Wicket and I decided to cut back over the hill to White Spar Road on an old and barely visible jeep road from many years back. It runs west out of the canyon we were in. Up the hill, about an 1/8 of a mile, this obscure path ties into a fairly well traveled off road vehicle road. We travel over this road for about a 1/4 of a mile south until we reach another barely visible jeep road that drops down to White Spar Road and the Ponderosa Park entrance to the west. Over all I'd guess the round trip distance to be about 2.5 miles from where we park and pick up the trail on White Spar Rd. This in the area where Wicket gave chase to bobcat kittens in 2009. He was about one and half years of age at the time. While it has been uncommon for us to see Bobcats in this area, it is quite common to see Mule Deer. Heck, one time Wicket even mixed it up with a mother Turkey a mile further up the trail. He's a sweet pooch and everybody's friend. He just doesn't know that some people and some animals out there don't care for trail pooches. He gets reminded of this on occasion.
Well Trail Pooch Teams, thanks for checking us out again. Wicket and I hope you've been out there living it. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and always remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
Email: Noel@Trailpooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
www.realtywebnet.com
Hike date 09/18/2009; White Spar Road area south of Prescott and east of the first entrance to Ponderosa Park.
Hello Trailpooch visitors. Here are three shots from a short walk into the woods south of Prescott. This trail is an easy access area off White Spar Road. You can pick it up just south of School House Gulch Rd and Trail 396.
Notice the first signs of fall draped in red across the rock.
Wicket in the thicket cruising along the trail through late summer flowers still in bloom. This is a nice narrow canyon with ample vegetation. In my opinion, the trail that runs through here ranks moderate to easy for for the first mile then it begins to test your stamina a bit more.
This day, Wicket and I decided to cut back over the hill to White Spar Road on an old and barely visible jeep road from many years back. It runs west out of the canyon we were in. Up the hill, about an 1/8 of a mile, this obscure path ties into a fairly well traveled off road vehicle road. We travel over this road for about a 1/4 of a mile south until we reach another barely visible jeep road that drops down to White Spar Road and the Ponderosa Park entrance to the west. Over all I'd guess the round trip distance to be about 2.5 miles from where we park and pick up the trail on White Spar Rd. This in the area where Wicket gave chase to bobcat kittens in 2009. He was about one and half years of age at the time. While it has been uncommon for us to see Bobcats in this area, it is quite common to see Mule Deer. Heck, one time Wicket even mixed it up with a mother Turkey a mile further up the trail. He's a sweet pooch and everybody's friend. He just doesn't know that some people and some animals out there don't care for trail pooches. He gets reminded of this on occasion.
Well Trail Pooch Teams, thanks for checking us out again. Wicket and I hope you've been out there living it. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and always remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
Email: Noel@Trailpooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
www.realtywebnet.com
School House Gulch Rd to GoldWater Lake
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, Posting from Prescott, Arizona)
Hike Date: 08/12/2010
Here's another look at the area around Goldwater Lake. Wicket and I decided to approach the lake from Prescott Pines Road where School House Gulch Rd intersects it. You can follow School House Rd up to three different trails that will lead you into Goldwater Lake. Lately Wicket and I have been choosing the middle access point and then bushwhacking across an old road that is now nothing more than a game trail.
There are few things that equal the pleasure derived from seeing your pooch getting into it 100% when out in the wild. Wicket is full speed ahead in this shot along School House Gulch Rd. This is an easy walk all the way. It takes us about an hour to enjoy our hiking in this area.
This monument is where Wicket and I will take a right turn and head into the Goldwater lake area. Easy walking and the wild flowers right now are fabulous! I counted over twenty different varieties on this one leg of the walk.
Here's Wicket enjoying it to the max!
Did I say, Photo Opt.! I tell you there are just those special moments out in the wild that you come across that will define a memory for us.....
Well Trail Pooch Teams, thanks for checking us out yet again. Wicket and I hope you've been out there living it. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and always remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
Email: Noel@Trailpooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
Affiliated website: www.RealtyWebNet.Com />
Hike Date: 08/12/2010
Here's another look at the area around Goldwater Lake. Wicket and I decided to approach the lake from Prescott Pines Road where School House Gulch Rd intersects it. You can follow School House Rd up to three different trails that will lead you into Goldwater Lake. Lately Wicket and I have been choosing the middle access point and then bushwhacking across an old road that is now nothing more than a game trail.
There are few things that equal the pleasure derived from seeing your pooch getting into it 100% when out in the wild. Wicket is full speed ahead in this shot along School House Gulch Rd. This is an easy walk all the way. It takes us about an hour to enjoy our hiking in this area.
This monument is where Wicket and I will take a right turn and head into the Goldwater lake area. Easy walking and the wild flowers right now are fabulous! I counted over twenty different varieties on this one leg of the walk.
Here's Wicket enjoying it to the max!
Did I say, Photo Opt.! I tell you there are just those special moments out in the wild that you come across that will define a memory for us.....
Well Trail Pooch Teams, thanks for checking us out yet again. Wicket and I hope you've been out there living it. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and always remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
Email: Noel@Trailpooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
Affiliated website: www.RealtyWebNet.Com
Trail 9854; Lynx Lake Area
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, posting from God's Country, Prescott Arizona)
Hike Date: 08/11/2010
Hi fellow Trail Pooch Teams,
Here are a few shots taken during a pleasant stroll on Trail 9854 out Lynx Lake way.
Wicket meeting a couple of beautiful Trail Pooches on our walk into the Free and the Wild. I refer to this trail as the Quarry Loop. If you want to, you can hike into next month from this trail head, but Wicket and I prefer to keep this one set aside for one of the 45 minute walks we like to take.
There's Wicket standing broadside to the trail. We had just past one of the Yavapai Schist quarry sites on this loop. Yavapai Schist, in case you didn't know it, is the oldest geological rock in this part of the southwest. In this photo you can see the old road littered with small pieces of it.
Here's a couple of hard working carpenter ants I photographed along the west side of the quarry loop trail.
Maybe we'll see you and your pooch out on the trail sometime. Until then "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free and Live Wild".
Wicket and Noel
noel@traipooch.com
or
noel@realtywebnet.com
www.RealtyWebNet.Com
Trail 308, Williamson Valley, Prescott, AZ
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, Posting from Prescott, Arizona)
Hike Date: 08/10/10, Trail 308 into Mint Wash.
Wicket and I decided we needed to mix it up a bit so we headed out Williamson Valley way to Trail 308. The parking lot is just south of the Yavapai County Fire Department; I'd say about 6 miles out, plus or minus a few feet, from Iron Springs Road. From the parking lot you'll be able to access Trail 308 and 347. The area serves the equestrian community, mountain bikers, hikers with and without a trail pooch and joggers. Parking is free and you can jump on either of these trails and work your way into the north side of the Granite Mountain Wilderness area. While Trail 347 is more of a straight shot into the Granite Basin area, trail 308 hooks up with trail 345 which basically parallels the 347 in the mint wash drainage. If you're in the mood for a nice long moderately strenuous hike, you can head out west across Mint Wash on the 345 and work your way over to the northwest side of Granite Mountain and the Tonto Road area.
Wicket hiking in the point position as we begin our short journey over to Mint Wash. I was hoping to see some water running in the wash when we arrived, but alas, all we found was a couple of puddles for Wicket to wade in. There's a spot out there when the water is running that I like to pull my hiking boots and socks off and let the cascading water massage and cool my feet. I was a bit disappointed to see that this spot was dry. Oh well, I guess the area hasn't received as much rain as I thought it had. This is a trail system that should be worked early in the day during this time of the year, just to avoid the warmer temperatures. We of course didn't make it out there on this trip until about 7:30; it wasn't Wicket's fault, he's always coaxing me out of bed at day break.
When it rains in the area, this trail not only stays rocky, but it gets muddy too. When we arrived here, the trail was completely dry, but I could tell that not too many days before it was a muddy mess. This photo is looking west toward the northern end of Granite Mountain on our decent into Mint Wash over Trail 345. Had we taken a left about 200 feet back we would have been heading along the 345 toward Granite Mt and tying into the 347 about 1.25 miles south.
It was heating up fairly fast by the time Wicket and I arrived at the foot soaking spot that is dry, except for those couple of puddles left over from the last rain. We opted for a quick turnaround and jumped back on the 345 and hoofed it on up the hill to the 308 and back to the parking lot. This is a nice area to hike in if you're looking for easy topography, lots of granite boulders and nice scenery.
Thanks again for visiting our Blog. "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild". See you out there on a trail some time,
Wicket and Noel.
email: noel@trailpooch.com.....
Affiliated Website:
www.RealtyWebNet.Com. . .
Hike Date: 08/10/10, Trail 308 into Mint Wash.
Wicket and I decided we needed to mix it up a bit so we headed out Williamson Valley way to Trail 308. The parking lot is just south of the Yavapai County Fire Department; I'd say about 6 miles out, plus or minus a few feet, from Iron Springs Road. From the parking lot you'll be able to access Trail 308 and 347. The area serves the equestrian community, mountain bikers, hikers with and without a trail pooch and joggers. Parking is free and you can jump on either of these trails and work your way into the north side of the Granite Mountain Wilderness area. While Trail 347 is more of a straight shot into the Granite Basin area, trail 308 hooks up with trail 345 which basically parallels the 347 in the mint wash drainage. If you're in the mood for a nice long moderately strenuous hike, you can head out west across Mint Wash on the 345 and work your way over to the northwest side of Granite Mountain and the Tonto Road area.
Wicket hiking in the point position as we begin our short journey over to Mint Wash. I was hoping to see some water running in the wash when we arrived, but alas, all we found was a couple of puddles for Wicket to wade in. There's a spot out there when the water is running that I like to pull my hiking boots and socks off and let the cascading water massage and cool my feet. I was a bit disappointed to see that this spot was dry. Oh well, I guess the area hasn't received as much rain as I thought it had. This is a trail system that should be worked early in the day during this time of the year, just to avoid the warmer temperatures. We of course didn't make it out there on this trip until about 7:30; it wasn't Wicket's fault, he's always coaxing me out of bed at day break.
When it rains in the area, this trail not only stays rocky, but it gets muddy too. When we arrived here, the trail was completely dry, but I could tell that not too many days before it was a muddy mess. This photo is looking west toward the northern end of Granite Mountain on our decent into Mint Wash over Trail 345. Had we taken a left about 200 feet back we would have been heading along the 345 toward Granite Mt and tying into the 347 about 1.25 miles south.
It was heating up fairly fast by the time Wicket and I arrived at the foot soaking spot that is dry, except for those couple of puddles left over from the last rain. We opted for a quick turnaround and jumped back on the 345 and hoofed it on up the hill to the 308 and back to the parking lot. This is a nice area to hike in if you're looking for easy topography, lots of granite boulders and nice scenery.
Thanks again for visiting our Blog. "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild". See you out there on a trail some time,
Wicket and Noel.
email: noel@trailpooch.com.....
Affiliated Website:
www.RealtyWebNet.Com. . .
Goldwater Lake; East end of Trail 396, Prescott, AZ
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, posting from mile high Prescott, Arizona)
Hike date: 08/09/10; Trail 396, Senator Hwy to Goldwater Lake.
Wicket and I love this short walk into the civilized, manicured, regulated part of the back country known as Goldwater Lake. Heck, if it weren't for all the regulatory signs, clearing of the forest and under brush, you might think you were in God's country.
Check out these photos. I've said it before and I'll reiterate, you can hike the same trail every day of your life and see something new and different every time you do.
Wow! Check out all of the blue in this shot! Clear down to the gray of the Blue Heron. What a photo opt.
What's the point of this shot? If you look closely, you'll notice the Blue Heron in flight, just off the water and to left of the Ponderosa Pine.
Here's a posie that caught my eye on our stroll around the lake. I love the color yellow... It lives, it's vibrant and shouts out to all! and that's what draws me to it. Yellow; bold, lively, happy, cheery...
And what post on this blog would be complete without the shot of the biggest lawbreaker of them all? I submit one more photo as evidence that Wicket does not read regulatory signs!
Thanks again for checking us out on the our blog. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and remember to always, "Live Free, Live Wild"
Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel.
email: noel@trailpooch.com... enjoy!
affilated website: www.RealtyWebNet.com
Hike date: 08/09/10; Trail 396, Senator Hwy to Goldwater Lake.
Wicket and I love this short walk into the civilized, manicured, regulated part of the back country known as Goldwater Lake. Heck, if it weren't for all the regulatory signs, clearing of the forest and under brush, you might think you were in God's country.
Check out these photos. I've said it before and I'll reiterate, you can hike the same trail every day of your life and see something new and different every time you do.
Wow! Check out all of the blue in this shot! Clear down to the gray of the Blue Heron. What a photo opt.
What's the point of this shot? If you look closely, you'll notice the Blue Heron in flight, just off the water and to left of the Ponderosa Pine.
Here's a posie that caught my eye on our stroll around the lake. I love the color yellow... It lives, it's vibrant and shouts out to all! and that's what draws me to it. Yellow; bold, lively, happy, cheery...
And what post on this blog would be complete without the shot of the biggest lawbreaker of them all? I submit one more photo as evidence that Wicket does not read regulatory signs!
Thanks again for checking us out on the our blog. Until next time, "Happy Trails" and remember to always, "Live Free, Live Wild"
Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel.
email: noel@trailpooch.com... enjoy!
affilated website: www.RealtyWebNet.com
Wolf Creek, Hassayampa River, Prescott, AZ
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, Posting from Mile High Prescott, Arizona)
Hike Date: Sunday, 08/08/10; Trail 384, Prescott Basin.
Well it has been a very long time since I had visited the Wolf Creek Falls area and what is now Trail 384. It is a place that I hold dear, as I have many memories of that entire area from my teens and twenties. Of course when I was out exploring during those years, I did it mostly in a 1964 Jeep CJ that my father let me barrow. Thanks Dad for making my memories of the Bradshaw Mountains and the Prescott Basin possible. Those were days when this area was remote and four wheeling was OK. In fact, sleeping bags, ice chest and a good jeep, was all a group of teenaged Prescott boys required for the weekend. Little did we understand that we were living a freedom that would soon be but a memory of the way it used to be.
Just a few hundred feet from here, this creek water will cascade over polished granite into the Hassayampa River, over the Wolf Creek Falls. Wicket and I made the walk that I used to drive in the 64 Jeep. I recommend this walk to those who love to see running water in Arizona. It's not easy to find. I don't recall ever seeing it completely dry in this area, but I am sure there have been times that it has been.
Wicket is on his way down the old jeep trail to the pool of water I used to cool off in, in my youth. He's looking back at me as if to say, "Hey man, you going to put it in gear and follow me down to the water?"
Hey, is that Wicket in the Thicket, or just another ghost of a memory from a previous era? You can tell he's in frolic mode on this trip. His floppy teddy bear ears are standing straight up! That means he's on the run and really gettin' into it!
Check it out. Is this just not a great shot of an Arizona mountain stream? Crystal clear water, granite boulders and green everywhere.
View From near the Trail Head of 384. This part of the 384 is about half way between Ponderosa Park and Senator Hwy. If you're ever out that way, you should check out the place. It is a very special area and it's only a 25 minute drive or so from downtown Prescott. Enjoy! Don't forget to take that pooch with you. There's lots of free range out here, if you don't get caught!
Thank you for visiting our blog and until next time, from Wicket and Noel, "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild"
noel@trailpooch.com shoot us an email, or feel free to post a comment on the blog.
Affiliated website:
www.RealtyWebNet.Com.
See you on the trail sometime!
Wicket in the thicket.
Shadow camera man
Hike Date: Sunday, 08/08/10; Trail 384, Prescott Basin.
Well it has been a very long time since I had visited the Wolf Creek Falls area and what is now Trail 384. It is a place that I hold dear, as I have many memories of that entire area from my teens and twenties. Of course when I was out exploring during those years, I did it mostly in a 1964 Jeep CJ that my father let me barrow. Thanks Dad for making my memories of the Bradshaw Mountains and the Prescott Basin possible. Those were days when this area was remote and four wheeling was OK. In fact, sleeping bags, ice chest and a good jeep, was all a group of teenaged Prescott boys required for the weekend. Little did we understand that we were living a freedom that would soon be but a memory of the way it used to be.
Just a few hundred feet from here, this creek water will cascade over polished granite into the Hassayampa River, over the Wolf Creek Falls. Wicket and I made the walk that I used to drive in the 64 Jeep. I recommend this walk to those who love to see running water in Arizona. It's not easy to find. I don't recall ever seeing it completely dry in this area, but I am sure there have been times that it has been.
Wicket is on his way down the old jeep trail to the pool of water I used to cool off in, in my youth. He's looking back at me as if to say, "Hey man, you going to put it in gear and follow me down to the water?"
Hey, is that Wicket in the Thicket, or just another ghost of a memory from a previous era? You can tell he's in frolic mode on this trip. His floppy teddy bear ears are standing straight up! That means he's on the run and really gettin' into it!
Check it out. Is this just not a great shot of an Arizona mountain stream? Crystal clear water, granite boulders and green everywhere.
View From near the Trail Head of 384. This part of the 384 is about half way between Ponderosa Park and Senator Hwy. If you're ever out that way, you should check out the place. It is a very special area and it's only a 25 minute drive or so from downtown Prescott. Enjoy! Don't forget to take that pooch with you. There's lots of free range out here, if you don't get caught!
Thank you for visiting our blog and until next time, from Wicket and Noel, "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild"
noel@trailpooch.com shoot us an email, or feel free to post a comment on the blog.
Affiliated website:
www.RealtyWebNet.Com.
See you on the trail sometime!
Wicket in the thicket.
Shadow camera man
A collage for July 31 through Aug 6, 2010
(Trail Team, Wicket and Noel, Posting from Prescott, Arizona; post date 8/7/2010)
I thought I would set up a collage of this last week's hikes since time seemed to get away from me.
Here's Wicket and two new trail pooch pups he met along School House Gulch Road Friday, 8/6/10. Apparently these two pups have just recently moved into the Prescott Area and were having a great time out there hiking with their human. We were on our way to Trail 396 and the water hole just west of Lower Goldwater Lake, via School House Gulch Rd and Trail 61.
Wicket on an old trail that cuts off trail 61 and ties into the 396 about a quarter of a mile east.
On trail 396, a few hundred feet north of our destination.
Next Photo is from a short hike, 8/5/10, in the Thumb Butte area west of Prescott.
Here's a short trail off the Thumb Butte Loop Road. This trail runs out of a "dispersed camp sight" west of the road and will tie into the road which leads into Deering Park area. Notice the devastation caused by drought and bark beetles.
08/04/10: Looking at Bean Mt. from another hill top to the northeast.
This shot was taken from near the top of a hill that has recently burned. Wicket and I hiked in from Prescott Pines Road that ties in with Senator Hwy, just past where trail 396 begins. It's an easy drive and a good dirt road to the east end of the School House Gulch Rd. School House Gulch is gated at both ends now, so Wicket and I hoofed it over to an unmarked trail that will take you back into the woods and up some pretty steep topography where this shot was taken.
Here's Wicket cresting the hill, just after the steepest part of the trail. It's a good trail, but it's a "huffer and a puffer" for this hiker. By the time I caught up with the pooch I was thinking about life support!.. Just over the top, you'll be able to see the Groom Creek area, Ponderosa Park, and fabulous views to the east, south, west and to the north you'll have a great view of Prescott.
Taken at Goldwater Lake, 8/3/10.
The Goldwater Lake trails are among my favorite when I am in the mood for a shorter hike with fabulous photo opts.
Here's one of a moth I was lucky enough to notice while heading along the 396 from Senator Hwy.
Not all photographers are nimble enough to capture a close up of a moth of this caliber, let alone, the shadow of the dude taking the picture!... You never know what surprises you'll encounter along any trail, at any time, no matter how often you hike it.
How about this Blue Heron and the mirror finish to the lake...
07/31/2010; In the following photos, Wicket and I are checking the trails north of Willow Lake. Here are a few shots of our adventure.
I thought this map was really a great help while back in the rocks.
A rather ingenious idea some creative soul came up with; white paint dots to lead hikers along an otherwise difficult trail to follow. It's so easy to figure out, even I could have done it by myself without the help of Wicket showing me first! That pooch is a real smarty!
Your trail pooch is going discover a lot of sniffing spots along this trail system.
Be prepared for some great photo opportunities.
Thanks again for checking us out. From Wicket and Noel, "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
email: noel@trailpooch.com
affiliated website:
www.RealtyWebNet.Com
I thought I would set up a collage of this last week's hikes since time seemed to get away from me.
Here's Wicket and two new trail pooch pups he met along School House Gulch Road Friday, 8/6/10. Apparently these two pups have just recently moved into the Prescott Area and were having a great time out there hiking with their human. We were on our way to Trail 396 and the water hole just west of Lower Goldwater Lake, via School House Gulch Rd and Trail 61.
Wicket on an old trail that cuts off trail 61 and ties into the 396 about a quarter of a mile east.
On trail 396, a few hundred feet north of our destination.
Next Photo is from a short hike, 8/5/10, in the Thumb Butte area west of Prescott.
Here's a short trail off the Thumb Butte Loop Road. This trail runs out of a "dispersed camp sight" west of the road and will tie into the road which leads into Deering Park area. Notice the devastation caused by drought and bark beetles.
08/04/10: Looking at Bean Mt. from another hill top to the northeast.
This shot was taken from near the top of a hill that has recently burned. Wicket and I hiked in from Prescott Pines Road that ties in with Senator Hwy, just past where trail 396 begins. It's an easy drive and a good dirt road to the east end of the School House Gulch Rd. School House Gulch is gated at both ends now, so Wicket and I hoofed it over to an unmarked trail that will take you back into the woods and up some pretty steep topography where this shot was taken.
Here's Wicket cresting the hill, just after the steepest part of the trail. It's a good trail, but it's a "huffer and a puffer" for this hiker. By the time I caught up with the pooch I was thinking about life support!.. Just over the top, you'll be able to see the Groom Creek area, Ponderosa Park, and fabulous views to the east, south, west and to the north you'll have a great view of Prescott.
Taken at Goldwater Lake, 8/3/10.
The Goldwater Lake trails are among my favorite when I am in the mood for a shorter hike with fabulous photo opts.
Here's one of a moth I was lucky enough to notice while heading along the 396 from Senator Hwy.
Not all photographers are nimble enough to capture a close up of a moth of this caliber, let alone, the shadow of the dude taking the picture!... You never know what surprises you'll encounter along any trail, at any time, no matter how often you hike it.
How about this Blue Heron and the mirror finish to the lake...
07/31/2010; In the following photos, Wicket and I are checking the trails north of Willow Lake. Here are a few shots of our adventure.
I thought this map was really a great help while back in the rocks.
A rather ingenious idea some creative soul came up with; white paint dots to lead hikers along an otherwise difficult trail to follow. It's so easy to figure out, even I could have done it by myself without the help of Wicket showing me first! That pooch is a real smarty!
Your trail pooch is going discover a lot of sniffing spots along this trail system.
Be prepared for some great photo opportunities.
Thanks again for checking us out. From Wicket and Noel, "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild".
email: noel@trailpooch.com
affiliated website:
www.RealtyWebNet.Com
Pioneer Park; Legacy Trail
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, posting from Prescott, Arizona)
Hike Date: 7/30/2010; Friday.
If you're into some long range views and a relatively less traveled trail in the Brownlow Trail/Pioneer Park area of Prescott, I recommend the trails which lie north of the main corridor trails. The Legacy Trail is a nice trail which loops around from Keebler Field and back again. To access the trail, Wicket and I typically will park at the west end of Keebler Field and hike up the power line road, pick up the Brownlow Trail and head a few hundred feet to the west where we'll cross under Pioneer Parkway through tunnel number two, one of three tunnels that allow access to the northern trails in the area. Then it's only a short distance to the Legacy Trail which is marked by signage.
Wicket and I met four hikers and three pooches right where the Legacy Trail begins. Wicket had a great time meeting these three pups and saying hi to their four humans. I jawboned for a good while and found out that we know a few of the same people in the area. In this photo are: Wicket on the far left, Sammy the Springer Spaniel, Daisy the Miniature Australian Shepard and Wally the Jack Russell Terrier. They were all nicely behaved and friendly as were their humans! It was a fun encounter.
Wild Flowers are doing well in the area this year, thanks to all the rain.
Granite Mountain to the west of this Alligator Juniper where some thoughtful soul has placed one of two park benches which are nicely situated along the Legacy Trail.
View from one of the ridge tops along the Legacy Trail looking east at Glasford Hill, shrouded in a white vail of fog. There are some great view sites along this trail.
Thanks for visiting our blog. "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild"
Wicket and Noel
noel@trailpooch.com
noel@realtywebent.com
Hike Date: 7/30/2010; Friday.
If you're into some long range views and a relatively less traveled trail in the Brownlow Trail/Pioneer Park area of Prescott, I recommend the trails which lie north of the main corridor trails. The Legacy Trail is a nice trail which loops around from Keebler Field and back again. To access the trail, Wicket and I typically will park at the west end of Keebler Field and hike up the power line road, pick up the Brownlow Trail and head a few hundred feet to the west where we'll cross under Pioneer Parkway through tunnel number two, one of three tunnels that allow access to the northern trails in the area. Then it's only a short distance to the Legacy Trail which is marked by signage.
Wicket and I met four hikers and three pooches right where the Legacy Trail begins. Wicket had a great time meeting these three pups and saying hi to their four humans. I jawboned for a good while and found out that we know a few of the same people in the area. In this photo are: Wicket on the far left, Sammy the Springer Spaniel, Daisy the Miniature Australian Shepard and Wally the Jack Russell Terrier. They were all nicely behaved and friendly as were their humans! It was a fun encounter.
Wild Flowers are doing well in the area this year, thanks to all the rain.
Granite Mountain to the west of this Alligator Juniper where some thoughtful soul has placed one of two park benches which are nicely situated along the Legacy Trail.
View from one of the ridge tops along the Legacy Trail looking east at Glasford Hill, shrouded in a white vail of fog. There are some great view sites along this trail.
Thanks for visiting our blog. "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild"
Wicket and Noel
noel@trailpooch.com
noel@realtywebent.com
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