Monday, February 11, 2019

Climbing around the hills....



Our Location: Near Tonopah, Arizona
 
A restless sort of  night but morning found me wanting to sleep, however my feet were on the floor around 7 AM. A better night last night but still not feeling wonderful. A hot drink and some breakfast before my morning hike, I thought all of this might make me feel better.
 
I love this picture, three states of a Saguaro's life back dropped by a wonderful mountain view.

That's the Igloo down there, a small white dot. I have the regular zoom on the camera.

That is the area toward Tonopah, Wintersburg and points further east.
 
I headed out around 9:30 AM for a hike thinking that a slow pace and some exercise might make me feel better, and I didn't plan on going far. I headed off once again back to the area behind us. It was a nice stroll, no hurries and  a quiet stroll as well. I did however have a bit of a surprise when I noticed a truck at the bottom of the hillside. He was tucked up against the foot and hard to see until you were close by. 
 
I was already a good way into the upward part of the hike at this point.
 
My favourite mountain over there. The trail I followed a few days ago as well.

With my zoom lens I picked us out way, way over there.
 
I spent some time climbing up, up and more up. I rested a while, taking in the view and then heading up and up and more up again. I will admit I was feeling better with just a little nausea lingering, but not enough to make me go home. I took some time to sit down and take some photos, enjoying the view and watching the fella at the bottom walk his dog. I switched lenses on the camera and so the first shots are far away but the second batch are much closer due to the lens change, and then again far away as I once more did a switcharoo. 
 
Lens change brings things much closer. This is looking mostly north toward I-10, which is way off in the distance.

I spent some time down there on that outcropping, resting, snapping photos and just enjoying the view.

We were parked way over there among those white dots on the left before we moved a few days ago.

I climbed and clamoured and basically went as far as I felt comfortable going before coming half way back down and taking a detour back the way I'd just come around the edge of the hillside but at a lower level. It looks much easier from farther away. 
 
I would like to climb over there but it's much steeper and more treacherous than it looks from here.

This the view around the side of the hill I climbed today.

I told you he was right at the foot of the hill. He's sitting in his chair and the black lab is laying behind the truck.
 
Back down to the desert floor once more I headed off home taking a route I've never taken before. I limited myself today to very few Saguaro shots and concentrated on the views. 
 
That's my goal to reach that hole. I made it to the big rocks you see below the opening.
 
That mountain range is beyond I-10, which is the line you can see crossing the middle of the photo.

Can you see us way off there in the distance?
 
Back home it was just pushing the straight up hour of noon. Not bad for a nice morning of playing in the hills. Still not feeling the best, I decided I needed a little something to try to settle my innards. So a snack type of lunch helped a bit but even with my sugar back down to where it should be I was still out of balance some how. Looking out the window made me realize that we haven't cleaned the windows for a while and so I took some time to polish the inside of the glass and in the next day or so I'll get some ambition to polish the outside of the glass. Then maybe we can see out! 
 
I made it to the big rocks just outside the opening but decided against climbing any higher. Too rough.

That Saguaro down there is probably 15 to 20 feet tall. That gives you an idea of how far down that actually is.

Nothing like the lovely green to catch your eye.

After that it was pretty much a lazy kind of day, I simply slumped in my chair and read my book between dozing off and on for a few minutes at a time. While I'm tired I can't seem to have a real nap, just bits and pieces of one. My stomach feels settled for a a few minutes only to start feeling unsettled again a few minutes later. I have no fever, although yesterday I was very warm. I've hugged the throne a time or two yesterday and yet today I feel unsettled but not to that point. Oh well, hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. I wonder if a missed weekly dose of arthritis meds may be the issue? 

 
That's us way off in the distance and better view of the fence.

I was sitting in a wind carved hollow  way up on the hillside. WE are the small white dot off toward the top left of the photo.

This is where I was sitting when taking the above photo.

 So that was our day here in the warm, sunny southwest of Arizona. I hope you had a wonderful day, full of warmth, happiness, sunshine and good things. Thanks for stopping by. 

 
These wind carved hollows are numerous along the cliff side.

I was up on top of those hollows, it's rough and narrow up there.
 
Until next time... take care, be safe, 
 
 
I was basically to the bottom of the large stone outcropping at the top of the hill.
 
Deb
 
 

10 comments:

  1. Nice walk. Everything sure looks green for a desert. Great eh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Bob. I sure is green, a nice collection of greens in fact.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

      Delete
  2. Another wonderful walk and glad you feeling a but better, maybe even brand new today !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks George. I'd like to feel brand new any day. Haha

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

      Delete
  3. Deb, you amaze us with your climbing skills! I wouldn't enjoy as I'd always be looking for snakes, just the way I am! Hope you're feeling better today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shirley but just putting my feet down in a solid place and moving the next one. It's pretty cold for snakes here even in the day time, we aren't getting the hot temp required for them. I try to avoid large piles of loose rocks and big rock piles that would attract them with the heat. However I also listen carefully for any noise that would indicate a snake. So far I've been fortunate.
      I hope whatever this is goes away soon too.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

      Delete
  4. That was some hike you accomplished today. I have a picture of Yuma framed by that wind hollowed hole. I liked it so much I had it framed and put it on my wall. Hope you feel better soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Doug. I think you and Yuma would have enjoyed today's hike. It was a scramble in places but it was worth the effort. I hope you're enjoying the photos and they are bringing back some good memories.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

      Delete
  5. Great pictures as always.
    You could start having dust problems with your camera from constantly changing your lenses. Consider getting a Zoom Lens instead. It will also lighten the amount of equipment you carry.
    Doctors will tell you if you are trying to get your sugar down try having more smaller meals throughout the day rather then starving yourself. It could be the build up of Stomach Acids that are causing your illness.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rick.

      You are mistaken about lightening the load I would carry regarding cameras. I already have a zoom lens but I don't have a second camera body to put it on. It would be cost prohibitive for me to purchase a second camera body for the second lens as I wouldn't carry the second camera anyway. It would be too heavy to carry two cameras for the length of time I'm out as it would bother my arthritis more than just carrying one does. I can simply attach the extra lens to a belt loop and take it out as needed. I'm willing to risk the dust since I very seldom use the zoom lens. As it is I carry the camera in my hand not on my shoulders or around my neck due to arthritis issues.

      I've been diabetic for years and manage it quite well. Stomach acids isn't the problem, I take medication for that. I'm pretty certain I know the culprit and it will reduce itself back to just being semi nauseating tomorrow.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

      Delete