The Points

With their dendritic drainage patterns, the plateaus of the Arizona strip feature many "points."  These are the ridge tops and elevated flats that have not yet eroded and which continue to stand between the canyons.  I went to the confluence of Snake Gulch and Kanab Creek on Wednesday to observe an operation designed to test mountain sheep for pneumonia.  The landing zone was atop Gunsight Point (above).  On Thursday, I gave a brief presentation to a group of students from the Hopi Tribe.  The site was downstream from Snake Gulch and to the east of Kanab Creek at a place called Locust Point (below).  Whatever else can be said about them, the points provide scenic views.

Getting Into the Light

VSO is painting in Escalante this weekend.  I'm the one at home for a change.  At least, I'm near home.  I was working my way back from the rim over Ashdown Gorge this afternoon when she called me on the cell.  She was about to go up the road to the Little Desert to give it another try, but had been painting all day and was tired and hot.  "It's too bad," I said.  "We're just getting into the light."  This was what I meant.

Biggest One I've Seen

I was out thrashing around on the plateau today and I found this Douglas fir.  It was still alive and pushing 60 inches.  I looked on the Arizona State Forestry website for the champion, but Douglas fir wasn't listed.  I haven't seen one this big in Arizona, so I'm going to call mine the champion.  Of course, the national champion for Rocky Mountain Douglas fir has supposedly been located in Montana.  They've recorded it at 223 inches, which blows my mind.  On the coast they've got one that is supposed to be 599.  Is that even possible?  I'll have to see it to believe it I guess.

Trying to Understand

I don't really get it with the UTVs.  They mostly can't go anywhere your truck can't go, certainly not anywhere a jeep can't go, but they're no where near as comfortable or useful.  First of all they sound like a lawn mower.  Is that fun?  Buzzing around sitting on a lawn mower engine.  I mean, I understand the thrill of revving your big engine, but these aren't big engines, do people really get a thrill from revving around with a lawn mower engine?  Then there are the go-cart wheels and uncomfortable seats.  You feel the roughness of every pebble, and each big bump throws your shoulder against your neighbor.  But the worst of it has got to be the dust.  I understand that it is wonderful to be motoring around in the woods without any windows or doors, but if you aren't the lead dog you're going to be absolutely enveloped in dust.  I was out for a few minutes yesterday, and witnessed a big rally just a-lawn-mowering-it up Center Creek.  I made it out of the side-canyon and into the Chev before the worst of it, so I was able to watch from inside the truck with the windows up.  The second guy, and gal, and whoever else was in there, had to wear goggles and a mask.  By the seventh or eighth UTV, I could barely see the occupants, but from what I could tell, they were swathed from head to toe against the dust storm—hooded, masked, and goggled like Rommel's 15th Panzer Division.  In general I think these things can be had for less than $20,000, so I know you're not paying very much to eat dust on your lawn mower.  I guess I'm starting to talk myself into it.