Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures. These are some photos we have taken recently of native Arizona hummingbirds.

We have an orchid tree in our back yard that has been blooming for a month now. This tree seems to be a favorite hangout for hummingbirds, so we have been able to get some photos as the birds eat from the bright purple flowers.






This Broadbilled Hummingbird is very colorful: blue, purple, and green. It loves the desert honeysuckle plants.



This hummingbird also loves the desert honeysuckle, but decided to perch for a while.



When we saw this Costa's Hummingbird, it had just been raining, and the temperature was pretty cool. The bird fluffed itself up and hunkered down on a branch of a fairy duster plant. It was pretty disinclined to move, although it stayed pretty alert.








This bird is probably a broad-billed hummingbird as well. This one was at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson. Even in a cage, they don't hold still very long, and are difficult to photograph.



This little guy must have been taking a nap because we were able to get up pretty close for a few shots before he took off to wherever he went into the neighborhood.



We also have some aloe vera which the hummingbirds love.

Where does this trail go?

The day we hiked the Peralta Trail was pretty warm for February. When we headed out from the trailhead about 8:30, it was almost 70 degrees. By the time we returned after noon, it had warmed up to the high 80s. With only sporadic shade, it was quite toasty, and we ended up sharing a lot of our water with some of the less well-prepared members of our group. We had enough water to get everyone down safely, but only because we had carried two extra gallons of water.

About a quarter of a mile from the end of our hike up and back the Peralta Trail, two college-age men asked us where the trail went. One of the two men carried a half-full bottle of water. Neither had packs of any type.

"Hey," one said. "Where does this trail go?" Not really understanding what the two wanted to know, we pointed out where the trail went up the canyon to the saddle. Others pitched in to tell them how wonderful the hike was, and what a great view there was from the top. A short discussion followed, and the two headed up the trail. We had determined that the two actually had no idea where they were or where they were headed. Did they just drive around the desert on back roads until they found a parking lot, and head up the nearest trail?

It had taken me a few minutes to process their question, because the concept was so foreign to me. Never have we driven randomly around and hiked up whatever trail we found. Maybe you can do that back East, but here in Arizona, you can get into a lot of trouble really fast if you don't know where you are and what you are doing.

We hope they turned around before they got too far along the trail and got into trouble. With a half bottle of water between the two, they could get pretty dehydrated hiking four and a half miles. When hikers are warned to "be prepared for conditions" that means that they should check the weather, know where they are going, and carry enough food and water to safely complete the hike. Also, to let someone else know where you are going and when you are supposed to return.

A superficial survey of the stories on local Search and Rescue websites show that most rescues are those of inexperienced hikers who got in over their heads. A majority seem to be out-of-state visitors or newcomers to the area.

The two guys we met didn't show up on the news, but they could have been added to the list of statistics and merited a press-release by the search and rescue team that came out to look for them. Even if they stayed on the trail, dehydration is a real problem. Walking Arizona had an interesting post on dehydration in the Sonoran Desert here.

So just stay safe, and make sure you know where you're headed when you go out hiking.

Peralta Trail to Fremont Saddle and the Weaver's Needle Overlook

On our recent trip up the Peralta trail, the weather was lovely. The popularity of this trail in good weather is such that the second parking lot was almost full by 8:30, and the trail was rather busy. A group of scouts was heading up with their backpacks for an overnight campout at about the same time we were heading up.

As we hiked up the trail, we saw some wildflowers, although not as many as in some years. Twice, hikers in our group brushed up against cactus, leaving them each with a pant leg and shoe full of spines. Fortunately, it wasn't too difficult to pull out the spines.

The Peralta Trail is a popular, moderately easy hike into the Superstition Wilderness Area. The trail leads to Fremont Saddle and a really nice view of Weaver's Needle. The best time to hike this trail is in the Fall or Spring, followed by Winter. Summer is not a very good time to hike this trail, since temperatures top 100°F.

The trail is easy to follow and starts by crossing a small stream in several places, swinging from the west side to the east side of the canyon. About two-thirds of the way into the canyon, there is a little bit of exposure to some dropoffs, where parents will need to hold onto small children. Don't let this discourage you from bringing your children along, however, because they love the trail. Toward the end, the trail leads to a small series of switchbacks on the east side before reaching the summit. The trail is not too steep, but towards the end of the hike, can be more strenuous. The trail climbs approximately 1,400 ft. over 2.25 miles. Elevation at the saddle is approximately 3,700 ft.

Upon reaching the Freemont Saddle, the volcanic plug known as Weaver's Needle is visible. If you have a good pair of binoculars, you can focus them on the summit of Weaver's Needle, where visitors will be pleased to see an American Flag waving in the breeze. The summit has little caves and boulders, and so climbing around and exploring the saddle can be quite exciting.



Most hikers turn around at Fremont Saddle. For those continuing onward the trail goes north into Boulder Canyon, and continuing on for several miles before connecting with the Dutchman's Trail. However, the trail is not as well-built or maintained, so past the saddle, hikers will do less hiking and more boulder-hopping. Those who feel like climbing the Weaver's Needle would be advised to skip the climb unless they are skilled technical climbers with full climbing equipment.

The saddle also provides excellent views of the Superstition Wilderness. There is also a small window and cave on the way up.

Weaver's Needle is famous due to its association with the "Lost Dutchman" Gold Mine. Or was is the Dutchman's lost mine? Stories say that the Needle could be seen from the mine. Or was the mine supposed to be in the shadow of the Needle? With all the treasure hunters that have wasted their time looking for the lost mine, don't get caught up in the search. The needle can actually be seen from quite a distance and from a number of locations in and out of the Superstitions. Fremont Saddle offers a unique close up view.