#oak creek canyon

[fatchance]

Oak Creek Canyon after rain. In the Coconino National Forest between Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona.

[heartshapedcaskett]

Arizona on expired film

[bignaz8]

Frozen Waterfall in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona

[groats]

Oak Creek Canyon after rain. In the Coconino National Forest between Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona.

[tracyorama]

Approaching Sedona

[velvethopewrites]

[mentagenesis]

Energizing Excursion.

by Daniel Wolfert. Earlier this week while I was working outside on my never-ending construction projects here on my retirement property, it occurred to me that the weather was perfect for a hike I’ve been wanting to do for some time. By choice, I live in an area with prime hiking trails and magnificent natural beauty. The problem is I get so wrapped up in working on my property improvement…

[pcttrailsidereader]

Section Q of the PCT often gets little respect. By reputation, it is hot (thru-hikers tend to pass through in July). It is forested with a minimum of views. But, it has areas of wonderful beauty like the McCloud River and Squaw Creek. This is a 2017 photo by Matthew Kennedy taken when he dropped into the McCloud River basin. This moss covered Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepsis) indicates a lowering in elevation.

[sohannabarberaesque]

Postcards from Snagglepuss

So THIS is the "Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania" I've heard so much about!

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE PINE CREEK STATE TRAIL THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON OF PENNSYLVANIA: For all of just under 60 miles between Jersey Shore and Wellston Junction in northern Pennsylvania, running alongside the rather enchanting Pine Creek, runs some former rail line converted into a multi-use trail which has become something of an area of cultish fascination.

Which some have taken to calling "the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania" for as long as anybody can remember, even when there was still railroad track through the same. Even considering that the deepest point is between Tiadaghton and Darling Run, where two Pennsylvania State Parks, Colton Point (on the west bank) and Leonard Harrison (on the east bank), face each other at an elevation of some 1,500 feet above the valley floor (and, hence, the trail; the fall view from Leonard Harrison State Park is said to be especially spectacular).

So, at any rate, this particular morning, one dappled heavily in mist and some fog, our particular crew, stoked up with some breakfast at a modest little diner in Jersey Shore, chose to pedal our way through such a spectacular chasm as Pine Creek Gorge. What pretty much attracted us was the rather gentle grade on a packed gravel trail, not to mention what some might call the clean coolness of the gorge at its most spectacular. The morning may have started on the cool side, but the mist started burning off about five miles into the trail ... and the early crowd on the trail, be they hiking or biking, somehow couldn't believe such characters on a biking excursion on such an undiscovered gem most spectacular for east of the Mississippi River and barely into the Alleghennies--heavens to Burton Holmes!!!

But it was at Tiadaghton, the southern gateway into the canyon, at a coffee place popular with trail users, that no less than half a dozen bikers sharing the experience, as well as a few hiking it, were stunned by our presence, many perhaps wondering themselves who we were and where they recognised us from. But the biggest draws, you might say, were yours truly, Wally Gator and Magilla Gorilla--especially when it came to requests for selfie poses. (But then, not to be outdone, Huckleberry Hound and Yogi saw their share of selfie requests.) And as if fellow trail users surprised by our presence wasn't interesting enough a draw, Huck admitted that the main purpose for the stop at Tiadaghton was for bottled water. More specifically, such with added electrolytes; even with a gentle little grade, biking it through the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania can be demanding in its own way, even if Huck had to advise against consuming it all in one swig.

And what could have been some of the easiest going than through the canyon itself, trying all of us not to look like jerks even as fellow bikers ogled at us on the ride through and alongside Pine Creek. I do swear that at least one biker, who swore he was from Philadelphia, nearly fell off his bicycle at the sheer sight of Magilla Gorilla in particular, demanding selfies even (and Magilla offering a banana to the afflicted biker)!

"And to think I was once offered as a novelty at Peebles' Pet Store!" was how Magilla explained it as our company pulled into the quaint little town of Ansonia, where we found Squiddly Diddly at the controls of our motorhome outside the local park; Squiddly drove said motorhome between Jersey Shore and Ansonia as the rest of us were on the trail ... and just be thankful the drive over wasn't wasted, though Squiddly acknowledged adding some powdered Gatorade to some bottled water to stay hydrated alongside a breakfast burrito from a modest little convenience store.

Next stop: Across the line into New York state, the Finger Lakes wine country even!

@warnerbrosentertainment @haiyis-dark-void @jellystone-enjoyer @xdiver71 @archive-archives @thebigdingle @themineralyoucrave @thylordshipofbutts @screamingtoosoftly @warnerbros-blog1 @joey-gatorman @theweekenddigest @iheartgod175 @warnerbrosent-blog

[thelostcanyon]

Heavy flow in Oak Creek Canyon near Slide Rock, Coconino County, Arizona.

[mutant-distraction]

David Frederick

Late Fall at Oak Creek Canyon

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

[sierrablaircoyle]

I spent 55 days climbing outside in 2023 and really couldn’t have asked for a better year ♥️

Oak Flat: 22 days

Priest Draw: 14 days

Groom Creek: 7 days

Clear Creek: 4 days

Cherry Canyon: 3 days

Beardsley: 2 days

Sierra de la Laguna: 1 day

Blue Ridge: 1 day

Kelly Canyon: 1 day

Photo: Instagram.com/queencreekbouldering

[bignaz8]

Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona

[lupinus-bicolor]

Red dead gang + flowers

Arthur Morgan - Dudleya cymosa; Canyon liveforever, native to California cliff faces and craggy areas, thrives in the sun and blooms vibrant red and orange cymes. Pointed rosettes of succulent leaves form the base which sends out a delicate bloom in early summer. This flower is also the one found in the terrarium jar on Arthur's bedside table.

Tilly Jackson - Helianthus annuus; Common sunflower, a showy plant native to grasslands in the US, its undomesticated form is a branching annual plant with many flower heads. Its domesticated form is an important food crop grown both for its seeds and seed oil. It's common in sunny gardens, where its unmistakable bright blooms attract pollinators. Commonly symbolizes longevity and adoration.

Sean Maguire - Tripolium pannonicum; Sea aster, native to Ireland, a very hardy plant that requires very little to thrive. Showy purple blooms usually a bit ruffled, but all the brighter in their seaside environments.

Charles Smith - Quercus alba; White oak, a staple crop for thousands of years, white oaks of the Quercus genus are amongst the most important habitat species for wildlife in North America. These trees provide food, shelter, fuel, and fertilizer for countless native flora and fauna, and oaks are among the few trees that thrive in both open fields and sheltered forests. Their diminuitive flowers (catkins) are wind pollinated and mature into thousands of acorns per tree every 2-10 years. Traditionally associated with bounty, wisdom, and protection. (Not a flower in the traditional sense, but catkins do count and white oak really REALLY suited Charles so I'm putting this in)

Dutch Van Der Linde - Pueraria montana; Kudzu vine, a hardy, subtropical plant introduced to the US with bright sweet pea flower spikes in spring. Rapidly spreads to completely cover native flora, shading out and crushing plants and depleting habitat for mutualistic wildlife. This vine is a noxious invasive in the southern US.

Hosea Matthews - Triticum aestivum; Wheat, grown as a staple crop around the world, wheat has many uses and is considered the backbone of western cuisine. Often grown in wide monocrop fields, mature wheat's golden color makes for a striking image. Commonly symbolizes bounty and resurrection. (Yes, grass (Poaceae) is a flowering plant family!)

Mary-Beth Gaskill - Viola riviniana; Common dog violet, native to europe, its nodding purple blooms can be found along roads and creeks in lightly shaded areas. Flowers in this genus traditionally symbolize modesty and humility.

Abigail Roberts/Marston - Rudbeckia hirta; Black-eyed Susan, a popular midwest native wildflower common in gardens for its sunny florets and contrasting center. Its association with gardening is a long established one, and traditionally symbolizes encouragement, adaptability, and determination.

Molly O'Shea - Passiflora alata; Winged-stem passionflower, a species native to the south American tropics and known for its visually distinctive red petals and exotic striped filaments. A delicate looking nodding flower with an edible fruit, commonly cultivated for its medicinal benefits and its beauty.

This post got very long! I will make a part two to save you the effort of scrolling <3

[juanmerkader]

Oak Creek Canyon por Juan Mercader Por Flickr: Sedona (Arizona)