az | kritterspix

It’s A Boy

Posted on October 13, 2018November 16, 2018 by kritterspaw

If you remember a post I did a little while back about Pat’s Fawn (https://kritterspix.com/2018/09/17/pats-fawn/), we’ve been fortunate enough to see it a few times and kinda watch it grow up, which has been a real joy. It’s starting to loose it’s spots.

But it’s still playful and skittish… and wonderfully fun to watch. Mom still dotes on her… except, apparently it’s a him.

I caught a glimpse of a little bump on his head where his antlers will be soon.

We can still call him Spots though, right?!

Mountain Wildlife

Posted on October 12, 2018November 16, 2018 by kritterspaw

One of my favorite things about living up north in the mountains is the wildlife we get to see. I never saw wildlife in the big city. Here on the mountain we see a wide variety of species.

Like this elusive fox. I have seen fox on occasion, but have struggled to get a good shot. This one was no exception, taken in the dark with a high ISO, spotlighted with a flashlight. I had a hard time focusing in the dark, even with the flashlight… and today’s camera’s aren’t intended for manual focus.

We also saw this curious raccoon. He was searching for grub.

We watched him (her?) for quite awhile (albeit difficult in the dark)…. another animal we rarely see, particularly as they are nocturnal.

Incidentally, the fox came at the same time… but didn’t stick around. The fox seemed quite put off by the raccoon, and quickly circled the raccoon then made haste and left. Pity, I would have liked to have gotten a better shot.

Grand Canyon North Rim, Point Sublime

Posted on October 5, 2018October 5, 2018 by kritterspaw

While at the Grand Canyon North Rim, we decided to take in Point Sublime, another overlook we had never been to. The map shows it’s only 17 miles… so we figured it would take maybe an hour to get there. NOT!!

We stopped at the Backcountry Office to get our Permit to camp there. The Ranger told us that we should take the long way for our truck, instead of the shortcut for short wheel base Jeeps. We had no idea the trek would take almost 4 hours.

The dirt road is not well marked, and the rough map is difficult to follow. The drive along the way is lined with aspens and a gorgeous drive.

The turn at Kanabownits was basically the last sign we saw. We turned around once, but decided to stick it out. The road along the way was worth the drive… we were anxious to see the overlook.

At the end of the long drive we were rewarded with a stunning vantage point. We set up our camp as we took in the views we had all to ourselves.

Photos just don’t do it justice. It was worth the price of admission (free!).

Grand Canyon North Rim, Bright Angel Point

Posted on October 5, 2018 by kritterspaw

Speaking of Grand Canyon North Rim… the most popular, and accessible trail is just outside of the Grand Canyon Lodge: Bright Angel Point.

The trail is paved and an easy walk to the point at the end, overlooking the vastness that is the Grand Canyon. It’s hard not to be awestruck by it’s majestic depth and beauty.

One takes pause to take it all in.

I loved the craggy trees along the trail that grew out of moldy rocks filled with character. These trees have grown and leaned in the wind and heard tales of generations who have walked past.

Grand Canyon Aspen Fall

Posted on October 5, 2018 by kritterspaw

The first signs of fall are in… starting at highest elevation and dropping to lower elevations, it’s beginning to look like Fall Colors.

We were at Grand Canyon North Rim this past week, and the Aspens are in full Yellows. Love the golden hue against the deep greens of their neighboring Firs and Ponderosas.

The colors were made more beautiful by the ferns that adorned the ground in varying shades of green and brown.

Nature is at her most beautiful and happiest as she smiles upon us all with full color. Gotta love it.

Grand Canyon North Rim, Cape Royal

Posted on October 5, 2018October 13, 2018 by kritterspaw

Admittedly, I have been to the North Rim more in the last couple years than I have in my whole life. But, oddly, I have never been to the ‘popular’ out of the way overlooks. In part, I imagine that is so because National Parks are notoriously dog unfriendly. Thus, we tend to camp outside of the actual park and get awesome views without the crowds.

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But this time, we took the occasion to do Cape Royal (above) and Point Imperial (below).

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What stunning overlooks! The weather graced us with mostly blue sky with minimal clouds. But we made due with what we were given and captured some images for the archives.

Big Bull

Posted on September 18, 2018September 18, 2018 by kritterspaw

I keep hearing the elk bugle… a magical, majestic sound… but I had yet to see the big bull that bellowed. That is, until this morning. It was just after 5am… a little dark still, when he came in.

I think I may have been a little late to the party, as he didn’t stay long. He seemed merely to have come in to collect the last of his harem, and then he was off again.

To watch the grace and ease at which he slinked off into the forest was a beautiful thing. He was so quiet and confident in his graceful movements as he jumped over a ledge like it was a pebble and quietly disappeared. Awesome.

Tinder Run-off

Posted on July 14, 2018July 22, 2018 by kritterspaw

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We have been trying to take advantage of the moody skies, fog, and rain to capture the aftermath of the Tinder Fire. Only yesterday, this ‘water hole’ was dry. But with a recent rain storm, and lack of vegetation destroyed by the fire, the water ran down the hill and formed this instant lake, crippled by ash scum coating the top.

It’s one of the many features and stories told by the aftermath of the Tinder Fire that I want to capture for posterity, having lived through it.

If only these signs of the fire could talk and tell the story for themselves of the fear and danger approaching. The charcoal and cinder, soot and burn left in it’s wake as testament to the flames that rolled through.

It’s a new day post – Tinder Fire, and may we all remember the horror and effect of forest fires and the camaraderie of others during difficult times.

See my additional post here… https://kritterspaw.com/2018/07/22/tinder-aftermath/

Big Lake, Greer AZ

Posted on July 1, 2018July 1, 2018 by kritterspaw

There are a number of little lakes around the Show Low / Heber area in northeast AZ. Originally named, Big Lake is one of the larger lakes, with multiple camp grounds, and boat rentals that make up this Recreational Area.

There are signs everywhere to be aware of bear… but we didn’t see any, only Journey who enjoyed a dip in the water during the water summer sun.

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We did see some antelope which is always a treat, along with the occasional deer and elk.

Somewhere Where It’s Quiet

Posted on June 9, 2018June 9, 2018 by kritterspaw

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Now if that doesn’t describe where we live, I don’t know what does!

We live in the most amazing place, with the most amazing people, and the most amazing animals. It is truly somewhere where it’s quiet. Somewhere between the Mogollon Rim and Moqui Draw, surrounded by Potato Lake, Knoll Lake, and Blue Ridge Reservoir, and littered with elk, deer, bobcat, mountain lions, fox, and coyote. This is what we call our home.

After the devastating Tinder Fire (https://kritterspaw.com/2018/05/02/tinder-fire/) which we still continue to clean up from that raged in our backyards, we are blessed to have friends and neighbors helping each other out.

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And this is what it looked like BEFORE the fire. My photo of Moqui Draw, now scarred by the Tinder Fire.

“At sunset, fog shrouds a ponderosa pine forest at Moqui Draw, along East Clear Creek in the Coconino National Forest. This spot is about a mile southeast of State Route 87 and northeast of Potato Lake.” Photograph by Kathy Ritter, published in the June 2018 Arizona Highways Magazine, just after the Tinder Fire devastated this very same area.