2020 Apache Junction, AZ

After leaving CA we headed east to the Apache Junction area of AZ. We had a few days before checking into Lost Dutchman SP so we headed up the mountains to Tortilla Flats NFS campground. What a nice campground in a spectacular setting. Great views all around. One day we drove down into town, stopping at nearly every pullout to see the views. The mountains are home to some Desert Bighorn Sheep and we got to see a few of them.

From Tortilla Flats we moved down to Lost Dutchman SP. The mountains are visible from everywhere in the park. Looking out a window of the trailer and seeing them was a never-ending delight. Several friends were camping in the park and we managed a few get togethers before we all headed out. Other treats included lots of good places to shop and the huge flea market in Mesa.

One day a few of us went out into the desert to see some wild horses. This particular area has some pretty impressive Saguaro cactus, too. We spotted at least 3 bands and were able to watch one for a while. Watching the horses interact a bit was interesting. There were 3 stallions grazing a ways off from the band we were closest to (which included some foals). When the boys started moving closer one of the mares trotted out and greeted each of them, with a bit of a squeal and sniff. She seemed to make it clear they were not to come too close and she left satisfied she had done her job.

 

 

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2019 Tetons Final

Fall colors in the Tetons are not the same as in NH but they offer their own special touches.   Add in a bit of snow on the mountains and it’s really special.  

Not only are there moose around but if you get up very early and can locate some elk you my be treated to watching a bull elk taking care of his harem (this means watching over the cows and driving away rivals) and bugling.

As the moose rut progressed the bulls were getting more active. One morning we got to watch this bull drive away a younger one then chase the early cow first i n one direction then in another. They were moving at good speed and sent some photographers running. They can turn on a dime and are as agile as a lot of horses.

Down by the river the willows grow very tall and thick. This provides food for the moose and also hides them very well. I tend to not go into the willows, you never know what may be in there with you!

 

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2019 Teton Moose, week one

Handsome bull
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Another September in the Tetons watching moose. I’ve been here a week and had some great opportunities so far. When I arrived it was very warm but that ended with a few rainy days and now it is clear and cold. Frost on the van windows the last two mornings. The rain down her bright new snow to the mountain tops.

 

The three bulls
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The moose count has varied, one day 4 bulls and 4 cows, but mostly we’ve seen 3 bulls and a couple of cows. This morning it’s down to 1 bull and 2 cows. Not sure if he’s driven the other bulls off or what.

When the 3 bulls were here they were all sparring together with one exception, see the photos for more info.

The cows seem more active, watching people and chasing each other at times. We have to be very aware of where the animals are because they are big and fast and can get pretty darn frustrated this time of year. Watching a bull

Early morning
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thrash away at a bush then jumping around and trotting away can give you an glimpse of that. They are surprisingly agile given their size. Watching a cow chase another one away or a bull chase a cow brings home the fact these are not sedate harmless critters they are big and fast and not much will stop them.

All three bulls
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2018 Valdez, AK

My stay at Valdez was timed with the salmon run and the first night I was there they were in the weir with the seal lions catching them. As the days went and the run got stronger the sheer number of fish was amazing. Instead of filling maybe 1/3 of the area in front of the weir they totally filled it and you could look outside it and see them.

There were also seals and sea otters in the area but none of them came into the weirs and they seemed to stay away from the sea lions. The sea gulls were everywhere, trying to grab bits of fish.

Every day started out foggy but then it burned off by around lunch time. Early one evening I headed back up the highway to see if the light would be right on Bridal Veil Falls, sure enough it was and I even saw a rainbow in the falls.

I found a good camping spot (no hookups) right across the road from the water and a very short drive to the weir. I made a few trips a day, sort of timed by the tides. High tide the sea lions would come in very close for the salmon, low tide I went further down the road to the large mud flats. That’s where the eagles hang out for the scraps.

 

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2018 Denali Assorted

Denali National Park has spectacular scenery and a variety of wildlife. After spending 6 nights at Riley campground at the entrance to the park I moved inside the park 30 miles to Teklanika campground. Wow! I’m so glad I did. Once at Tek you are not permitted to drive your vehicle anywhere, you must make use of the shuttle buses by purchasing a TEK pass. The pass allows you to get on any bus headed further into the park, distance determined when you purchase the pass. I got a pass that would get me to the Eielson VC, at about mm 66 or so. This was plenty distance for me and it meant a round trip of 6 hours. About the max I’d be comfortable leaving the dogs in the trailer. I used the pass each of the 4 days I was at the campground and it paid off.

This post will be about the scenery,  I’ll admit I do not take enough images of that and some of the wildlife.

There were plenty of Caribou, from the cows and calves to some bulls. Dahl sheep were high up on the mountains, tiny white specks when viewed with your eyes.

I was fortunate to see quite a few bears and will follow this post with one about them once all my images are processed. 

 

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2018 Alaska, near Denali

After a rather long stop in Fairbanks, staying at Chena Lakes Rec. Area except for 2 nights at Walmart I went down the Parks Hwy. to the Anderson Riverside campground. We were literally on the riverside and it was a nice change from Fairbanks. This is the Zenana River. I stayed there 3 nights, several friends with Casitas joined me and left before I did.

Next stop is just south of Cantwell. As I was heading south to one of the state parks that claim views of Denali I passed a huge gravel turnout next to a river. That looked very good to me so I turned around and headed back to it. What a great spot! I can look out the rear window of the trailer to a
beaver dam and mountains. Mountains on all sides, really, but I also have very fast cell signal so I can stay in touch with folks, etc. Good area for walking the dogs and playing fetch with Concho.

I’ve been spending time watching the beavers when they come around to work on the dam. Yesterday morning there were two of them. This morning only one. They travel upstream when they leave so they may have a lodge or another dam up there.

This morning was a really good one. Not long after the beaver left I saw something coming upstream from below the dam, by the the time I got back to the camera (on tripod) I realized it was an otter. It saw me and went under and continued upstream. Oh well, this is an ideal area for otters, too, so I’ll pay more attention.

Went back to the trailer for a bit and noticed something pass by the side window then Concho started looking out the rear window and growling. Had to check it out and it was a fox! I grabbed the camera and got a few shots off through the window. It moved up in front of the truck so I stepped out and stayed by the trailer to get some more images. The fox seemed a bit curious about me and didn’t immediately run off so I was able to get several images. What a thrill. It was so dark I looked it up online. Turns out the Red Fox in AK can have several coat colors including a very dark one called Cross Fox. Its head is extremely dark and this one has a beautiful coat, a bit wet after crossing some water, though.

Turns out I also have a good view of Denali right here. 

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2018, Whitewater Draw

This January trip west was delayed in southern LA by an ice storm. Sitting it out until I 12 and I 10 were opened in a mall parking lot behind a Cracker Barrel was interesting. After setting up a solar panel I made the best of the record breaking cold as I watched the area fill with 18 wheelers. Nearly 32 hours later we all got back on the road and the trip west to AZ was uneventful.

Once in AZ I stopped at Whitewater Draw to spend some time observing the Sandhill Cranes that winter there. The cranes number in the thousands and have a very different schedule than those I watched in Bosque del Apache over two years ago. IT was cold in AZ, too, but worth it to see the birds. 

I got to see a Vermillion Flycatcher, watch some handsome ducks and a Killdeer, too. 
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2017 Grand Tetons

From Utah I headed north to Gros Ventre campground in Grant Tetons NP, just outside Jackson, WY. It was cold and snowy two days but the solar worked great keeping the trailer battery charged along with other stuff. Didn’t see any moose, but I did spend a bit of time at Schwabacher’s Landing, capturing a beaver, muskrat and some sort of interesting bird.

The snow fell mostly two mornings but once it stopped the roads were clear and dry. I took advantage of that and managed to get a few unique images.

As always it is interesting to photograph one of the old Mormon barns, the sunsets are never the same.

Last day I was there I finally got to see a bear.

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2017, into Arizona

One of the fun things about driving out West is seeing the way various cities decorate their over and underpasses.

I stayed at Quartzite for a few days with friends, this is all boon docking on BLM land, free but no amenities. It was cloudy, cold, windy and often rained, not exactly what you picture the desert to be. This particular week at Quartzite is a huge RV show, with literally hundreds of vendors all around town selling everything imaginable. On the BLM land you will see every type, make, age of rv, trailer or camping rig.

From Quartzite I headed down to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. This is right on the border with Mexico. The saguaro, organ pipe and other cactus abound and the Ajo mountains make a nice background for some images. The campground here is very nice, with good sized paved sites, plenty of bathrooms and spigots for water. No hookups, of course, but with the solar I can do quite nicely.

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2016 Grand Teton NP, 2

Sunset over the Tetons

A colorful sunset over the Tetons is always a delight. After spending a long time at the riverside hoping to see some moose I gave up, threw the camera gear in the truck and headed out since it looked like there might be a good sunset. Turns out the gamble paid off!

I was up very early the next morning and caught the sunrise lighting up the Tetons and then happened on some bison that were still frosty from the cold night. While driving around or
being stopped I’ve also seen two foxes and two coyotes.

The night of the full moon it was very clear so I headed out to see what a couple of places

Full moon light on the barn on Mormon Row with the Tetons and Big Dipper

looked like in the moonlight. First stop was the iconic barn on Mormon Row with the Tetons behind it.

After that I went to another spot on a hunch. On a good day the

Full moon light at Schwabacher’s Landing with Tetons and Big Dipper

Tetons are reflected in the river and I thought if things came together right the moonlit Tetons would be reflected in the river. Sure enough, they were!

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