Hiking with Kobae

The Tombstones

Cole, Kim, Debbie, and Bradley climb the Tombstones.

Swallow Condominiums

Kobae Comes, Kobae Goes, Who's Up In Between

ATVing and Cheerleading?

ATVing by Linny, Thais, Tiago, and Jordan. Cheer by Thais.

Midget Faded

Guests told Tom they'd seen a rattlesnake the evening before, about a week ago. The previous evening Linny had a snake slide across her shoe, though not a rattlesnake. While feeding Kobae, Tom just had a feeling and realized it was about the same time of evening of Linny's encounter the day before. Walking around behind the lodge, there he was. The midget faded was pretty cooperative getting in the trash can, transfer to the file folder, and further transport down the trail below False Chicken Corner where Tom releases them each year.

Cowbirds, Mission Accomplished.

For two months Linny and Tom have fed the Cowbirds trying to get them to hang out at the lodge. These are the R2D2 singers. If you've not heard their call, go here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/brown-headed_cowbird/sounds  Some days they've counted as many as 14 and one day last week they were up to 22. Today well in excess of 50.

ATVing

Waves

Tiniest Lizard

The River Red

Close One

In the river Linny and Tom felt the wind come up and headed for Base Camp. It was the right move. Returning to the lodge, with kayak still in the truck, water shoes on the front porch, and just barely back, the storm came. If they'd still been in the river when it got there, it would have been unpleasant.

Grotto to Pot Ash Boat Ramp

Linny and Tom catch a ride with Tag A Long from the Petrified Forest to the Grotto and then Pot Ash Boat Ramp where they depart for the return to Base Camp six hours after they slid into the waters that morning.

Kayaking to Chicken Corner

It is 6am on Saturday morning as Linny and Tom slide their kayak into the meandering waters of the Colorado River. At 10am, they pull into the break in the tamarisk at the Petrified Forest below Chicken Corner.

The Beach Trail

The beach moved from it's normal location just below the lodge, to the left side of the island, though the softest of rains with the river this low changes beach locations. Linny and Tom spend Friday morning building a trail to the current beach. As darkness falls the rain taps intermittently on the front porch. After a day of trail building it's anybody's guess as to if the trail they built on Friday will be a trail to beach or river when morning comes.

Thursday Morning

ATVing to The Ice Cream Parlor

Courtesy Jean-Noel

Pot Ash Boat Ramp

Linny and Tom kayak up river to the Pot Ash boat ramp.

Tonto and the Lone Ranger Visit Cliff Hanger

First Kane Creek, then Thelma and Louise Point across from Chicken Corner and today on the way to town Linny and Tom run into the film crew at Cliff Hanger.

Sleeping On The Front Porch

Linny and Tom find this Gopher snake sleeping on the front porch, apparently digesting whatever was on the front porch before he got there. Linny and Tom take him over to the gravel pit and release him where he promptly climbs straight up a wall and out.

When The Rain Comes

With no rain at Base Camp in over four months, the projects requiring mud have stacked up. Now, with mud here, Linny and Tom must decide what has priority before the mud dries. The hogans need work, maybe Kobae's ramp up the porch, or..........ATV surfing, then up to Hurrah Pass.

Independence Day

Chukar

For the past month Linny and Tom have watched a parent Chukar in the back yard feeding with it's baby graduated to a young one. Two foxes have been circling the lodge during the same time frequently causing White Tailed Antelope squirrels to sound the alarm. On this day, separated in the chase, the parent calls for the younger one while White Tailed Antelope squirrels sound the alarm in the background.

Cowbirds, Side-blotched lizards, and Tortoise, Oh My

Chicken Corner: To and Around

Critters Everywhere

Tuesday River

Ice Cream Parlor

Having passed the climbing area known as the Ice Cream Parlor hundreds of times, Linny and Tom have never stopped to hike up to where the climbing is done. On this day they do.