Mt Wassen hike, Tucson,AZ

Howdee all,

Last week, while still camped at Gilbert Ray, we hiked to the top of Mt. Wassen.

We started at the Kings Canyon Trailhead, which is on the right, just beyond the Sonoran Desert Museum.

Distance Round Trip
7 miles

Trailhead Elevation
2850 feet

Elevation Gain
1785 feet

Avg Time Round Trip
5 - 6 hours

   We didn't intend to hike to the peak since we will be doing a sunset hike there this week.

So we started our hike thru the wash..listening for birds.

Cactus

Wrens, Gila woodpeckers, Curve bill thrashers, Black throated sparrows were the predominate birds.

A spider web sparkling in the morning sun

Hiking the wash..…Cactus nestled into a rock creviceSaguaro Cactus forestBarrel type Cactus growing out of Rock..

How the heck do they do that?As we approach this dryed up water fall area..we see small seeps of water..

where a lone Junco goes to sip..       We find Petroglyphs

And this Jasmine scented plant in the same area.Another Cactus growing out of Petroglyph rockA Costas hummingbird hangs out nearby     The view behind us…

As we climb higherAnd higher..

and finally in front of us the path looks as though its at a peak…maybe we will see Tucson views from there.And we do…

Tucson from the crest of the trail   From here we decided to take a different trail back …and since it pasts the short trail to Wassen Peak.

We went to the Peak..

for more Tucson Views

And views to the West We hike down another trail..passing lichen covered rock

We watch White throated swifts fly around us…As we take the trail back down…we see distant views of the Sonoran Desert museum.

And we dream of the Ice tea we will get there when we finish the hike..Another Barrel type cactus..growing on rock..

We see many Ladderback woodpeckers on this trail..

this ones head glistens in the afternoon sun..The final approach to the car..

and refreshments..Another beautiful Hike in Sonoran National Park West..

Sonoran Desert Museum, Birds, Animals

Howdee all,

Jeff and I have spent allot of time at the Desert Museum lately.

And I take way to many photos..

Here are a few of the many..

Cactus wren Cardinal…much brighter that the east coast cardinal

Someone told us once that the Cardinal was a PHD bird…because it was Brilliant..

yes it is…Female Cardinal…much buffier in color than the east coast bird   Curve bill thrasher Curve Bill Thrasher

Cactus Wren making a nest

People waiting for Raptor in flight event

Featuring this Great Horned Owl

I love this Owl…

Very photogenic     Roadrunner  awesome Harris Hawk..

And The rugged  Ferruginous Hawk

The do have Coyotes there

And Bear

Turkey

And many other Animals..whose photos I will probably get in the future..

 

Jeff and I enjoy going into the Hummingbird Aviary

To see the hummers fly over our heads… Rufus Broad billed

This Barn Owl is usually greeting guests at the entrance…

If you go to Arizona..this is a must see place….

My favorite museum!