'Merica

I was up at Compass to zero some rifles and had a though.  There were a bunch of folks on the pistol range.  The rifle range had AR's, FRT's and even a .50.  'Merica!

Chili Cookoff

We hosted the 2025 Highland Pines Chili Cookoff!

I also joined the POA board.

Jeep Trip - Camp Wood Rd and Bagdad

With the great weather lately, we spend the day taking a jeep trip.  We started up Williamson Valley Rd and turned onto Camp Wood Rd.  Camp Wood is very well maintained and there were several vehicles on it.  The terrain started with ranch land, then juniper forest then pine forest.  The western end went through a very nice canyon area.

In Bagdad, we checked out the outdoor mining display and had a nice protein iced coffee.  We also did a short hike along Bridle Creek.

We left Bagdad southbound along 96, then 97 west to 93.  After a few miles south, we turn eastware onto Santa Maria Rd.  This easy trail had some very nice wildflower fields.  He ended up back on 96 and then took the highway to Skull Valley.

We finished up by taking Copper Basin Rd and then Thumb Butte Rd (which was very bumpy) back home.

Wildflowers along Santa Maria Rd

Dump truck shovel in Bagdad

Great weather and views

Great weather and views

Prescribed Burns

Here in Arizona, they take preventative measures for fires.  In California they just wait until entire towns are destroyed.

Local prescribed burn

Snow Camp 2026

Had another awesome time at snow camp.  There was enough snow to camp at French Camp so we made the walk to Tom's Place for breakfast and watch women's Olympic curling.

While we were gone, a bobcat stalked our patio

Tom's Place bar

Great weather

Camp

Getting geared up for the snowshoe in

Snow in Atlanta

Atlanta got ice and snow the week I was there.

Snow in Smyrna

Snow Activities

We got a decent snowstorm recently so I took advantage for some snow activities.

Shoveling the driveway

Lily in the snow

Snowscape

After the storm

Lily finally out of the house

During the storm

Secret Prescott Christmas Spots

Christmas in Prescott 2025

We hosted the family for Christmas this year at Juniper Ridge.  We scrambled to get enough places for 12 people to sleep but the house did great.  We didn't run out of propane nor water!

• Food, food, food!
• A couple of days on the range
• Local hikes
• Bill's Pizza

Prescott Square

Lynx Lake with very low water

Weekend Activities

• Hiked Pioneer Park for the first time
• Range day with buddy to zero some optics
• Getting house ready for Christmas
• Cookie sale at church

Along the trails in Pioneer Park

Pioneer Park trail map

Getting Ready For Christmas

We got the tree and stockings ready for Christmas!

Prescott Christmas Weekend

My parents and aunt and uncle came up to enjoy some Prescott Christmas events!

• Christmas Tenors at the Elks Theatre
• Courthouse lighting - very nice but super crowded and shuttle was quite disorganized

Local children singing hymns before the lighting

We setup chairs in the morning

Prescott Light Parade

Highland Pines float at day

Highland Pines float at night

Thanksgiving in Tucson

• Hiked Bren Mt.
• Shopping trip to Tubac
• Annivesary dinner at Moonstone
• Thanksgiving dinner with the Bakers
• UA planeterium

Old car in a ravine

Hiking towards Bren

Moonstone

Downtown Tubac

20 Year Blog Anniversary

Today is my 20 year anniversary of this blog!

I started it at the heydey of personal blogging.  Unfortunately, most blogs of that era have moved to social media such as Facebook, gone commerical or just died off.

Hopefully I will be here for 20 more!

Jaya's Engagement Party Weekend

Jaya and her financee had an awesome engagement party in Tucson where we met his family.  We are very blessed to be a part of their family.

We also got a round of golf in at the country club and had a good visit to the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum.

Verde Valley Jeep Loop

Took a nice jeep ride through some nice country north of us, then looped through Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Cornville and Camp Verde.  Got coffee and gifts at Stardust Books in Clarkdale; had a nice lunch in Cottonwood at Red Rooster Cafe and got some end tables at Sweet Pea Trading in Camp Verde.  Also scouted out some spots to check out in the future.

View of Cottonwood

Endless views

Leaves changing

Weekend Activities

• Pistol day at the range
• Nice hike in Granite Basin - also saw the SAR folks rescuing a hiker
• Highland Pines pancake breakfast
• Dinner with friends

Rescuer dangling from roe

SAR event

US Hiking v. European Hiking

Over the past 12 year, I have hiked a fair amount, mostly in the Western US.  But my wife and I just completed our second long slackpack in the Alps.  Here are some of the things that are different between US and European hiking:

• The trails in the Alps tend to be steeper and much rockier.  Many are old roads and some are old goat paths but Europeans don't seem to build switchbacks like they do here.
• Bathrooms can be hard to find in the Alps.  Refugios have them but they require a purchase.  There are very few public toilets so take advantage when you encounter one.
• The Alps are covered with refugios so you are always within walking distance of a good meal, glass of wine or coffee.  There are very few comparable examples in the US but places like Muir Trail Ranch come close.
• Since much of the Alps are accesible by car, gondola or chairlift, the trails are usually much more crowded.

Government Shutdown Notices

I saw this on the website for Tonto NF: