Ok, this is getting unreal. I guess there was a point when the Park ranger said that Camelback Mountain is popular for chuckwallas. I went again this morning and on my way back down when the temperatures were on the rise baking the East facing side, I had hit one of those tricky passes where it is downhill gravel (this is where mountain goat maneuvers come in handy...). I had successfully made it down the passage and stopped. I started thinking now if I was a lizard this is where I would be hanging out. I am starting to pick out good lizard sun rocks. So I started to slowly scan the rocks and What??? I see this huge chuckwalla (pictured above) on the rocks above me right along the gravel side. Since I was concentrating so keenly on getting no scraped knees and bruises I did not even notice this guy two feet away from me.
Hot digity dang! This guy is huge. And it is a male by the way. Males have red on their back. Females are just one shade of lizard grey color. And the female was below me hiding under a rock. I clearly scared her with my "ooos and ahhs" and flashing my camera around.
A father and his daughter (about 5 or 6 years) came up the trail. I showed them the sighting. The girl let out a scream. And telling her daddy she wanted to go home. Oh dear. I told her that the lizards were more scared of her and would not attack her. Poor girl. I felt bad that fear was the immediate emotion and not awe.
By the way, yes I spotted a snake. Did not take a picture as it quickly slithered under a rock. The tail was showing a bit and I studied that... no visible signs of rattles. I am pretty confident it was not a rattler. But regardless, I left it alone.
And now that chuckwallas are so popular on my camelback outings. No more pictures. That is unless I find one over a foot or so. I wonder if they get that big.
I spent the rather warm (upper 80s) Easter day to the mountains. Specifically, I hiked Butcher Jones Trail nestled along parts of Saguaro Lake, which has been created by the Salt River projects (dams and thus water for the valley). In the backdrop of this picture is the famous Four Peaks. While the Four Peaks was not my destination, it was one of the visible landmarks for my hike.
Not too far into the hike, there is a short detour (.1 miles) that visits a dry waterfall. This is where the water would be coming out (the V shaped rock, yellow rock). As I was walking the dry beds to the waterfall, it is apparent that water has not flowed for some time now (years?). 
As one continues the hike, the trail still follows the meandering shoreline rising higher and higher along the cliffs. The slopes are exposed and abundance of wildflowers are seen amidst the desert scape. I saw more varieties and colors of flowers than on South Mountain. Yellows and blues are still the dominate color but there were white, orange, and pink contrasts to be seen.
During the hike, there were some panoramic views of the lake and cliffs. Saguaro Lake is an oddly shaped lake following the rugged cliffs in and out of coves. For the next mile and half or so, the trail left the lake and started into the desert terrain. So I was able to leave the noises of loud boats and people for a bit. I realize that sound travels far in the desert. So I could hear many things, mostly boat traffic.
So began the next segment of the hike. Even being in the desert, there is a lot of changes of vegetation and scenery in a short span of time. The trail becomes a little more rugged and less maintained. The cactus and shrubs extend often over the trail and sometimes the trail encroaches the vegetation. It is apparent that the wilds of nature is taking back the trail. I have small scratches on my arms and legs to prove it.
And then when rising over the crest of a large hill, another part of the lake comes into view with the sweeping views of Four Peaks and the wilderness area. Turkey vultures were my steady companions. I saw them often during my hike flying low and than out circling with sometimes four in the same area.
I went out to hike at 1430 hours. During the middle of the day and the highs in the lower 80s. Regardless of the heat, it was vastly pleasant to take a hike. There were nice breezes blowing through and I was protected with sunblock and shade (hat/sunglasses) plus water and electrolytes.
I am tempted to hike more often during the midday or afternoon. It is very different atmosphere than when I hike during the morning hours. I was contemplating what the changes were. Primarily reason may because there were less hikers and bikers on the trail. There were people out but very few, especially up on the National trail. But less movement and stillness, even though the wind was gently breezing. Not so many birds out chirping. A quiet feel that slowed my pace to being rather meditative and just being in the moment.
The next few are going to be pictures of flowers. Small flowers. The need to get up close and personal with the intimate characteristics of the subtle changing yellows, blues, oranges and the poise of the flowers.
I know the color contrasts are not vibrant...maybe looking a little bleached or more appropriately-dusty. But this is the beauty of the desert. It is so subtle. I am finding the desert is not a place to be hurried if one wants to appreciate the full gamut of beauty and the secrets the desert has to tell. 
Even though it was still, there were still plenty of critters out and about. The lizards were the most active. I saw a chipmunk and several beetles that can fly too. There was a hummingbird at one point. And I saw three birds passing through. Two looked to be some sort of miniature bird of prey of some kind.
And yes, your eyes are not teasing you, this is a snake. I made sure to include this one because I know there are so many snake fans out there and been asking about snake encounters. Cute little guy stretched out on the trail keeping warm, enjoying the sun. I was tempted to lay down with it for a spell to soak in some of the rays and hear any exciting tales of rattlesnake encounters. But no, I left it in peace. The snake did not seem bothered by my presence.
And thus my walkabout. It was nice to be out at South Mountain. It is like home now since I have been there so many times. Always nice to return to something familiar but yet observe the changes present. I had not expected this hike in many ways. I went with my before mentioned purposes but yet, the walkabout served a higher purpose that I did not plan for. Indeed it was very meditative. The pace just right to fit the day. To drink in the sights, smells, and what sounds that could be heard-the silence broken only occasionally by friendly greeting and smile with a fellow neighbor. The walkabout was also very restorative. I have needed this kind of contentment and peace for some time (especially with my February sickness streak). I am fairly certain that I will get much rest tonight. The kind that is deep and reaches down to the soul to dream the visions and mingles with loved ones far and near.
This is how far the sun is able to reach it's sunrays during the day. I do not know if you can tell but "white lines" on the rocks are actually waterfalls that had become frozen.
Here is a close up of one still life waterfall. I think it is a wonder of nature. I never really thought to see anything like this before. Water that had finally froze in motion? One of the hardest parts of the hike was that there was frozen water everywhere including on the trail. It made it very tricky to get across some parts. Try walking on pure ice with only the canyon wall on one side and the drop off on the other side of forty or more feet. And the trail in some places was only wide enough for my feet to step in front of another step. No missteps or else! No joke.
I named this the bonsai ice garden. The picture does not serve justice. It warmed up to 38 degrees ... oh yes, did I forget to mention that the average temperatures in the morning hours were around 28 degrees according to the thermostat we had with us? It changed of course when we got out of the canyon to more sun. But we were marveling this bonsai ice garden. Droplets of water trickled down the ice. The cactus all frozen in.
The scenery changed when we got higher. Less snow and the vegetation changed a bit. This was an area that was ravaged by the wildfires some years ago. So the vegetation is quite shrubby.
The giant aloe species were abundant. I loved seeing them. So different from the valley where the Saguaros are the primary giants.
Yes, I was here. Proof I did the hike. :)
