One of the falls in Yellowstone

Drove nearly 150 miles today down towards Casa Grande Az. and back through Phoenix. Nothing interesting to photograph so will post this one from September in Yellowstone park. Nice and warm here today, about 75 degrees. Air quality is really pretty bad lately down here, last winter the air was relatively clean in the Phoenix metro area.

Looking towards Tucson

Another similar picture from last week's hike. You can sure see the air pollution settling into the valley. Yesterday was particularly bad but today is much better, tail end of a cold front passing through stirring the air up a bit! Thei picture taken from the superstition mountains looking south and east.

Public hangings

Got to love Arizona, had a nice public hanging last evening, (kidding of course), the RV park we stay at put on a hypnotist show, using the park residents. I laughed till my throat was sore at some of the things that the hypnotist made people do. I'm soooooo glad I didn't volunteer to get up there and quack like a duck!

Superstition smog

With the "la nina" weather pattern, Arizona is mostly dry and warmer this winter. Took this photo a couple days ago while on the hike. There is a "dirty air" warning out today for this area, not so bad here in the east Phoenix valley. Soooo, just don't breathe and you'll be ok. With millions of cars running around you'll have that. Area shown on the photo is Gold canyon area, just southeast of Apache junction.

Storm chaser vehicle

some kind of a SUV storm chaser vehicle. The thing has everything (probably including the kitchen sink) aboard. That's Win Farnsworth in the foreground checking the vehicle out! Supposed to hit 75 here today, time to soak up some sunshine!

Hiking buddies

A few of the "regulars" at the Wednesday hike. The fellow on the right (wife next to him) are from Vermont, he's our unofficial leader. The folks in the center are from Quebec Canada and speak fluent french. He is a retired drug cop. The cave we climbed to is in the background. I didn't go down in it very far (a clausterphobia thing).

From the Superstition caves

Took a pretty steep hike today to Superstition cave. Very pretty up there. That street shown is "Broadway" if you follow it way off in the distance you barely make out the tall buildings in downtown Phoenix. About 3 miles roundtrip but seemed longer because of the steepness. Above 70 here today, nice!!