Phoenix Botanical Gardens

A few years ago I made a trip down to the Phoenix area to spa after getting laid off. In addition to hiking the Go John Trail, I went with my aunt and uncle to the Phoenix Botanical Gardens. We went on a day when the butterfly conservatory was open to photographers. Below is a sequence of photographs, in no particular order, from this outing. I decided to not try and identify everything after finding an online cactus guide with 500 entries. If you know, let me know and I will add an appropriate caption to the pictures.

Part 1: In the Butterfly Pavilion

Part 2: Desert Cacti

Black-billed Magpie

Black-billed Magpie on a frosty winter's day

I once won a Trivial Pursuit game down in Mississippi because I was able to correctly identify the colors of a Magpie (Pica hudsonia) much to the amazement of all present. The colors are black and white. This was hardly a feat of mental prowess. I see the dang things every day.

A Magpie's "Ka Ka-ing" is filled with mockery. “she is such a Magpie” did not enter into the vernacular because of their sweet song. Magpies are members of the Crow family (Corvidae) and are BIG. Their screeching tones match their size of their rotund bodies, huge beaks, and even larger tail. Interestingly, Magpies are the only non-mammals that are known to recognize themselves in the mirror. Perhaps all the cacophony is the Magpie equivalent of bad-feather-day mirror shock. To be fair, not all cultures find the Magpie’s vocal habits so offensive. In China, the squawk of a Magpie is a sign of good fortune.

Magpies are omnivorous. They feed mainly on the ground, eating a wide range of food, including such tasty morsels as beetles, seeds, berries, small mammals, small birds and their eggs, nestlings and even reptiles. If you had a beak the size of a surfboard, you would eat reptiles too. They are also scavengers, swooping down to rapturously dine on road kill pizza.

Who needs a telephoto lens to photograph a Magpie, when these bad boys will walk right up to you and let you know how they feel. Note the dark beady eyes filled with scorn and the iridescent wings. 

Even though Magpies are often seen in large groups, they are solitary nesters, forming large dome-like nests high up in trees. These lofty perches offer them a better perch from which to thrown down insults on the inconsiderate humans passing by. Bad feather day indeed.

Baker's Tank (Boreas Pass Rd) Snowshoe

Distance: 6 miles round trip
Elevation: 10,350 ft to 11,050 ft
Elevation Gain: 700 ft
Bathroom at Trailhead: No
Dogs: Off leash
Date snowshoed: 18 January 2009
Tags: #snowshoe, #coloradooutdoors, #breckenridge

Our Destination...Baker's Tank. Note the ski tracks to the left. This is where the CMC trail comes in.

On a sunny calm day, the Baker’s Tank snowshoe near the Breckenridge Ski Resort will fill you with awe. On an overcast or very windy day, this snowshoe will be a bone chilling experience, so choose your time well. This is also not a snowshoe for those who cringe at the sight of another Homo sapien because they will be there in droves, at least for the first 1.5 miles, after which they seem to thin. Still, the views are sublime, the trail is easy, and route to the trailhead is passable by passenger cars. This snowshoe will not prepare you for a winter assent of Mt. Bierstadt, but it will fill you with the joy of the outdoors. Sometimes that can be just as good.

0.5 miles from the trailhead is Rocky Point. Here the views begin.

Rocky Point

This trail is outside of Breckenridge and begins where Boreas Pass Road dead-ends into a plowed parking area. There are two options for this snowshoe. One is the road itself, which we took, and the other is a narrow trail through the trees, which cuts across to the tank. The guidebooks say this trail is more secluded, contains less people, but also has an additional 400 ft of elevation gain. We chose the road not for fear of the elevation gain but because we wanted the views. I can take the hordes if the views are worth it. Others may feel differently.

Looking south at what I believe is Mt. Argentine (~11, 300 ft)

Goose Pasture Tarn with the Tenmile Range in the distance

Boreas Pass Road is an old rail bed for one of the first narrow gauge railroads to traverse the continental divide. In its day this was an important commercial route. The destination, Baker’s Tank, is a steam engine watering tank that has been restored by Summit County. Such a history means the road gains elevation very gradually. Boreas Pass Road does go all the way over Boreas Pass to the town of Como. It would be a hearty soul indeed to traverse that distance on snowshoes. Many do continue another 4 miles to the Section House and John’s Cabin huts, which are located near the pass itself.

Boreas Pass Rd traverses several Aspen Groves. Note the people and the very wide, packed trail.

The meadow at 1.5 miles. Many people turn around here. The best views are up to this point. Just past the trees on the right is another large meadow to the south. If you only came this far, it would be worth it.

Because this route is so popular, we ended up leaving the snowshoes in the car and just used Microspikes. As you can see from some of the pictures the snow was very compressed. I can’t imagine deep snow on this trail unless you happen to live in Summit County and can hit it right after a good dumper.

Closer to the tank there are less Aspens but nice views of Bald Mountain.

The main views are of the Tenmile Range, which include the peaks of the Breckenridge Ski Area plus Quandary Peak. The mountain to the south I believe is Mt. Argentine not to be confused with Argentine Peak, which is off of Peru Creek Road. Behind Baker’s tank is Bald Mountain.

Heading back now with views of the Tenmile Range

Quandary Peak (14, 265 ft)

The first milestone one the road is Rocky Point at 0.5 miles from the trailhead. It is here that views really begin. At 1.5 miles is a very large meadow. Here you can access the tree-lined trail mentioned earlier.

The closer we got to the trailhead, the more people we began to see.

The lower end of Boreas Pass Road does traverse several nice Aspen Groves, which makes me wonder about driving this in the fall. I confess I tend to do a lot of the same snowshoes over and over again because if I am going suffer through I-70’s ghastly traffic jams, I want it to be worth the pain and agony. Baker’s tank on a sunny day has just expanded my repertoire.

Black-capped Chickadee

I had a close encounter with a Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) last weekend. Normally, I only get to hear them in the trees (“chick a dee dee dee”), but this time I followed the sound to a barren shrub near a back yard bird feeder. Ok, I admit it; I was stomping around in the mud near people’s backyards in search of the feathered ones. Boy did I luck out.


Chickadees are small songbirds that eat insects in summer but often rely on seeds and nuts during winter.

Canada Goose

What a gaggle! Colorado is filled with Canada Geese to the point where you would like to take a vacuum cleaner and clean up all the schoolyards, golf courses, and public parks. The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is like those pesky Californians. They migrated through on a trip and just stayed dang it. The analogy doesn’t stop there either. They are noisy, confrontational, and down right rude. The flock I photographed for this post took off with a cacophony of honks reminiscent of an LA traffic jam and flew in with no respect for the locals.

Take off from a nearby school

In flight

Landing. That is ice folks and the geese slide a yard before stopping. I too was surprised this small lake was frozen considering it was 60 degrees out. That is Colorado for you though. One day below zero, the next day it is practically summer.

Taxiing

Parked at the gate. A small chunk of unfrozen lake was the destination for all the birds.

These pesky interlopers hang out on the green spots for a reason, they eat the stuff. Golf courses are particularly delectable but so is the silt at the bottom of a pond. If that were my diet I would honk too.


Still, there is nothing like seeing a V-formation of a hundred or more Canada Geese fly overhead or the graceful sweep of their wings. On land they possess less than graceful goose-like moves, however, that remind of the Sauropods from Jurassic Park. Who was mimicking whom in that movie I would like to know! I think these tourists cum residents have kept the attitude of their distant ancestors. As a native Californian transplanted to Colorado, I can relate!

Peru Creek Snowshoe

Distance: 6 miles to 8 miles round trip
Elevation: 10,030 ft to 10,630 ft or 11,061 ft
Elevation Gain: 600 ft (6 miles) or 1,031 ft (8 miles)

Brittle Silver Mountain (12, 228ft). Note the mining ruin on the slope. This is the farthest I have gone up Peru Creek Road. Photo take in 2004. All other taken in December 2008.

Peru Creek, near the Keystone Ski Resort, is a great novice or early season snowshoe. The elevation gain is relatively gradual and the route crosses several expansive valleys with incredible views. The eight-mile distance is more easily obtained on skis or for snowshoers who don’t have to drive up from Denver and return the same day. If you manage to make it that far, you will be rewarded with the additional attraction of the ruins of the Pennsylvania Mine.

The first glimpse of Cooper Mountain (12,792 ft). Note the ski tracks to the right and the snowshoe track to the left. I love seeing fresh snow on the trees.

There is a large, parking lot at the intersection of Montezuma Road and Peru Creek Road. It is usually plowed.

First power line crossing. This is the most obvious one. The creek here is always snow covered. Somehow that does not look like a hot tub. You can actually see the power line on the topo map. It appears as a thin dashed line to the north of the road at is beginning. Here is where it crosses to the south.

On snowshoes, it is a good half-hour to forty minutes before any of the spectacular views appear. Before this, there are glimpses of peaks through a mostly tree-shrouded road. At 0.5 miles Cooper Mountain (12, 782 ft) can be seen. Occasional glimpses to right of Morgan Peak (12, 474 ft) also occur. At 1.5 miles are the ruins of the Maid of Orleans mine. There are also two private cabins there, which can be rented out if you know the right person.

Deer tracks along the trail

Just past the turn off to the Lenawee trail, which is clearly marked and often tracked, is the first valley. Here Morgan Peak and Brittle Silver Mountain on the right and Cooper Mountain on the left frame a winter tableau. If you go no farther than this, you will have been well rewarded. This valley is suitable for romping, trail blazing, and general fun in the snow. At the far end is a forest service road size point ahead to Argentine Peak and to the left to Chihuahua Gulch.

The trail widens and Morgan Peak comes into view.

Beyond this first meadow, the trail winds upwards again through the trees. There is a short quarter mile segment that is very steep and narrow. On this trip, it was shortly beyond this meadow that we began breaking trail.

A good view of Cooper Mountain. This small boulder field is always photogenic with its variable snow cap.

I like nothing more than being the first to track new snow but it is fatiguing and doing it on this steeper pitch made it doubly so. Still, with the thoughts of my Christmas over indulgences, I forged gamely ahead.

Looking south. I believe this is Tip Top Peak (12,053 ft) which is west of Morgan Peak. Note the large avalanche chute down its side. From the size and lack of trees I would guess this chute sees action on a yearly basis.

Getting closer to Morgan Peak

On this trip we stopped right at the beginning of the second valley. This was due to two things. First, our new German Short Haired Pointer was on her first snowshoe and she was shivering. Second, we had gotten caught in typical I-70 traffic and it had taken us 2 hours to get to the trailhead. It was therefore late in the afternoon and we were already fearful we would get trapped in the apres-ski stampede.

Western end of the first open valley.

Eastern end of the first open valley.

Back in 2004 we went a little further so that we were almost abreast of Brittle Silver Mountain. From that point it was still around a mile to the Pennsylvania Mine. Given an overnight stay it would be an easily obtainable goal. I have always wanted to climb Argentine Pass and Peak, so perhaps this summer I will at least see the buildings.

Second open valley. Here the power lines briefly return.

If you are in Summit County or are daring the drive up from Denver, Peru Creek is a good choice. I have had friends complain to me that they find it too crowded and filled with snowmobiles. I have gone yearly now for the last four years and have not seen a single machine and usually the trail is sparsely populated and practically deserted after the first meadow. Others find the power lines that transect the valley a detriment to their outdoor experience. I find them easy to ignore, particularly since you cross their path only a couple of times. The views of the peaks are far more eye catching.

Coyote

(On the Left: This is a squence of photos from Rocky Mountain National Park. They are ordered in time.) Colorado has gone to the dogs and I don’t mean rover! The Coyote (Canis latrans subsp.), a member of the dog genus is ubiquitous around the state and throughout North America for that matter. Unlike other species, which have felt the pinch of encroaching humans, the Coyote has adapted and expanded its range. It now roams from Oregon to New Jersey. They thrive in the burbs as well as the wilds.

Coyotes are carnivores. Their primary diet consists of small mammals like rabbits, mice, and Prairie Dogs. They will eat carrion but prefer a fresh kill. There is a great deal of controversy over how much livestock and domestic pets are affected by the coyote. Whether myth or fact, just the idea makes the Coyote the target of ranchers and farmers. Interestingly, Coyotes are afraid of Mountain Lions and some communities have learned to keep Coyotes away by projecting the sounds of Lion.

The Coyote to the left smells something in the snow

Now it is digging in the snow.

Nothing comes of it.

I have lost track of the Coyote sightings I have had. What is unique about his sequence is that there were three Coyotes traveling together. I have only seen them solo despite the fact that they do usually hunt in pairs. I observed this group in Rocky Mountain National Park the day after Christmas. I only had a 200mm lens, so the photos are distant but the sequence does give you an idea of their color and behavior. Coyotes usually have a hunting circuit three to four miles long. The tracks you can see in the photos imply these three had cruised this ground before.

The group begins to move on.

I have been spotted and they begin to head over the hill.

I am being observed.

Coyotes can interbreed with domestic dogs. Sometimes I wonder if my new puppy is not part Coyote. She is a trickster for sure, just like prevalent Native American myths. Next time you see a Coyote or hear its lonesome song, take a moment to appreciate the rare success story of a species that is actually thriving.

The last shot before they bolted over the hill.

Elk (Cervus canadensis)

This herd was located across the street from the visitor's center snuggled down in between a bunch of houses.
Welcome to the herd! Think we “advanced” primates are above such behavior? Try taking an intercontinental flight one of these days and you will change your tune. I can hear the cattle braying as the line winds around and around the tape at the security checkpoint. All I see are backsides and I shuffle ignominiously onto the plane. Ever been to a professional football game? Doesn’t that remind you of the annual rut in which thousands of Elk gather in Rocky Mountain National Park’s two large meadows and congregate around the largest and loudest Bull with the showiest physic. Herd indeed!

This herd was on the side of the road between Moraine Park and Horseshoe Meadows. It was about 16 degrees out and the Elk were all laying in the grass.

I confess that I am immune to the charms of the Elk. It is sheer ennui brought on by too much familiarity. Visit the Estes Park and you will see them…everywhere. They are on the golf course, huddled around the large bronze Elk statue at the edge of town, or wandering around the meadows of the park itself. In contrast, last summer I ran into a herd of Mountain Goats and practically had an epileptic fit. Isn’t it amazing that you can live in a place where such amazing animals are as common as the tourists who clog the roads to ogle them?

Many of the Elk had tags and radio collars.

(On the left: This young bull was watching us closely as we got too close to the gals.) I have another confession…whenever I see an Elk I also think of dinner. I like the taste of it and wish I could get some hunter to bag one for me. I don’t think I could ever get up the nerve to do it myself. I like my protein dressed and sauced on my plate. Hypocritical in the extreme I know but not an uncommon attitude. Since the days when we could hire out our husbandry, the human species has become sensitized to all the carnage.

Elk are Colorado’s largest species of deer. They can be seven to nine feet long and over four and half feet high. The antlers of the Bull Elk are impressive indeed. These antlers grow in the spring and can weigh up to 40 pounds. They can grow up to an inch a day, protected by velvet, a soft skin that is scraped off on trees by summer. By early winter, the antlers are shed. Interestingly, the number of points on the antlers has nothing to do with the age of animal.

Elk are vegetarian browsers. Their diet consists primarily of grass but in winter will augment this with the bark of trees. Much of the scaring on Aspen trees is from Elk.

The snow was softly falling. You can see the flakes in the photos.

Finally, experts are trying to get us to use the term Wapiti for Elk because in Europe the term Elk refers to what we would call a Moose. Somehow, I don’t think Wapiti is going to catch on. The herd may just have a mind of its own.