Friday, December 21, 2018

Usery Mountain Regional Park







































  Agent 54 here again.  I went hiking in the Usery Mountain Regional Park, Arizona.  It was a great day for hiking.  Overcast and not too hot.  The mountain has a band of light colored rock called "Tuff" that can be seen from all over the valley of the sun.  The "Tuff" has a lot of green colored Lichen on it now because we had a lot of rain in October.



We went back to the Usery Mountain on 3/16/19.  It was decked out in green for St. Patrick's Day.


My little buddies were out.


Millions of Yellow Flowers were in bloom.




I hiked the Vista Trail in the Merkle Hills to start off my day.  You can see the tall buildings of Phoenix in the hazy background.


Looking East, you can see the Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman's State Park.


Great view of Pass Mountain from the Vista Trail.


I hiked up the Wind Cave Trail and had lunch in the cave.


After a short hike, I could see my lunch spot.


I heard some rustling in the bushes and then saw a dear pop his head up.  Can you see it in the middle of the picture?


Looking back towards Phoenix from he trail.  You can see Camelback Mountain in the distance on the right side of the picture. 


Getting closer to the Tuff band as I ascend.


The trail goes right up to the Tuff Band and then turns right toward the cave.


My Hockey Walking stick and one of the many small caves in the Tuff band.


Lots of green at this time in the Tuff band.


Looking back at the Tuff band from the edge of the Wind Cave.


Welcome to Wind Cave.  The other sign says "Travel at your own risk beyond this point.


The cave is amazing.  Notice the split rock in the lower right.


Looking to the right from the cave you can see the 70ft fountain in Fountain Hills.


Phoenix and Camelback Mountain from the cave.  The two small buttes on the left side in the distance are in Papago Park. 


Lot's of great views from the cave.


Green plant hanging from the roof of the cave.


Of course I had to hike past the silly sign so I could get this shot of the Superstition mountains.  I was way up near the top the trail was all but gone by now. 


Coming down I took a break in another small cave in the Tuff band.


A Forrest of Saguaro Cactus.  This whole area is part of the Tonto National Forrest.

I had another great day on the mountain.  There were so many wonderful views.  I hope I captured some of the best.


I climb rocks.  My wife paints them.




I added my neighbor's Cactus Flowers here because they're cool.




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52 comments:

  1. joehDecember 21, 2018 at 6:33 PM

    looks like a great hike. My muscles are sore just thinking about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54December 21, 2018 at 6:34 PM

      I'm a little sore right now but, feeling great. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  2. messymimiDecember 22, 2018 at 8:13 AM

    Thank you for posting! It's like getting a mini-vacation, we don't see vistas like this in the swamps.

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    Replies
    1. Agent 54December 22, 2018 at 10:43 AM

      You have your whole perspective on life refreshed on the mountain. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  3. NCSueJanuary 2, 2019 at 10:48 AM

    Great shots!
    Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2018/12/king-of-mountain-kitty-style.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Powell River BooksMarch 17, 2019 at 1:17 PM

    We tried to stay there after we left the Lost Dutchman campground but they were full for the night. After reading your post we are definitely going to come back another trip. This time we will make reservations ahead of time so we can stay there for a few days. - Margy

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    Replies
    1. Agent 54March 17, 2019 at 4:44 PM

      Yes, there were a lot of people there on Saturday. Please come back often.

      Delete
  5. NCSueApril 2, 2019 at 9:20 AM

    Thanks for joining us at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2019/04/somethings-squirrely-on-april-fools-day.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54April 3, 2019 at 8:50 AM

      Thank you for visiting. Hope you liked the chipmunk.

      Delete
  6. Catscue Cat MomApril 3, 2019 at 2:13 PM

    The desert is so beautiful in the Spring! I love those little chipmunks, such darlings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54April 3, 2019 at 5:24 PM

      Glad you enjoyed the pictures. I'm so happy to be able to hike again.

      Delete
  7. csuhpat1September 25, 2019 at 10:43 AM

    What a beautiful place. #bloggerclubuk

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    Replies
    1. Agent 54October 6, 2019 at 12:57 PM

      Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Please come back and check out my silly short stories and other pictures.

      Delete
  8. kateonthiniceSeptember 25, 2019 at 10:43 AM

    Stunning images of a place I had not heard of so thank you for the introduction #BloggerClubUK

    ReplyDelete
  9. Shooting Stars MagOctober 6, 2019 at 10:22 AM

    Looks lovely - you got some wonderful pictures.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    Replies
    1. Agent 54October 6, 2019 at 12:56 PM

      Thank you. Hiking season is coming soon. Hope to take some more pictures of Arizona.

      Delete
  10. Susan MannOctober 7, 2019 at 8:27 AM

    Such lovely photos. Looks like a great place to visit. #silentsunday

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    Replies
    1. Agent 54October 7, 2019 at 6:18 PM

      Thank you. Hiking season is starting soon. I can't wait.

      Delete
  11. Carol @Comfort Spring StationOctober 7, 2019 at 8:54 AM

    Great pictures of your day on the mountain. I especially like your "little buddy" and the yellow flowers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54October 7, 2019 at 6:19 PM

      The mountain really does change colors quite a bit in the different seasons. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  12. A Bit of the BlarneyOctober 7, 2019 at 11:11 AM

    Amazing photos and panoramas! It must have been most enjoyable!

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  13. judeeOctober 8, 2019 at 3:45 AM

    Breathtaking photos of such a beautiful area of nature .. thanks

    ReplyDelete
  14. An Apel a DayOctober 9, 2019 at 2:44 PM

    I wish I lived there. I live in Nebraska. The grassland is ok to drive through. I'd prefer hot and dry! I love cacti!

    ReplyDelete
  15. betty-NZOctober 9, 2019 at 10:24 PM

    What splendid scenery! It's so different from any of the places I have lived.


    My Corner of the World

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54October 10, 2019 at 5:08 AM

      Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  16. Sylvia | Grace for a GypsyOctober 13, 2019 at 9:02 PM

    Thanks for linking up with us at the GATHERING OF FRIENDS LINK PARTY 8, pinning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54October 13, 2019 at 9:07 PM

      Glad you liked the pictures. Thanks for pinning.

      Delete
  17. Michelle ChurchmanOctober 14, 2019 at 9:43 AM

    Beautiful shots! The desert in that area is particularly pretty. Thanks for sharing your hike with us.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Coombe Mill - FionaNovember 10, 2019 at 11:37 AM

    what an amazing landscape you really can see for miles #KCACOLS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54November 10, 2019 at 1:18 PM

      Yes, the view is worth the hike. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  19. Lydia C. LeeNovember 11, 2019 at 2:19 PM

    It's such weird scenery (for us over here). Fabulous!! #KCACOLS

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jo (A Rose Tinted World)November 14, 2019 at 10:40 AM

    Looks like a great hike. Some great caves and scenery!Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54November 14, 2019 at 5:50 PM

      Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Hoping to do more hiking soon.

      Delete
  21. Liberty from B4andAfters.comNovember 15, 2019 at 7:05 AM

    Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing at Best of the Weekend.

    Liberty @ B4andAfters.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. tiredbutcraftymummyNovember 18, 2019 at 2:19 PM

    Wow that landscape is breathtaking and there were certainly some very impressive cacti! #KCACOLS

    ReplyDelete
  23. Crummy MummyNovember 23, 2019 at 7:52 AM

    Those cactus look amazing - I've never seen them in the wild like that before #KCACOLS

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    Replies
    1. Agent 54November 23, 2019 at 7:55 AM

      There are thousands of them. It's very interesting to look at all the different shapes and the numbers of arms each unique cactus has. Hope you get to visit Arizona some time.

      Delete
  24. Mother of 3December 30, 2019 at 4:23 AM

    Very neat! We love to hike too but living in New England we obviously don't have any views like this.

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    Replies
    1. Agent 54December 30, 2019 at 2:18 PM

      Please come out to Arizona sometime. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  25. Sandra NachlingerMarch 7, 2020 at 7:11 PM

    Gorgeous scenery. This looks like a great place to hike.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agent 54March 7, 2020 at 10:53 PM

      Yes, it is very interesting and it changes with the seasons. Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  26. NCSueJune 25, 2020 at 12:44 PM

    Looks pretty rigorous traipsing around up there!
    Thanks for linking up at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/06/bath-time.html

    ReplyDelete

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