Awesome Archery

The regional park that we are staying at has an archery range that is described as Arizona’s premier outdoor facility and only one of the only Five-Star rated range in the Western United States. Amenities include 4 miles of trails around four separate trails. A couple practice ranges, a2D range and a 3D range. It was really impressive. Steve and Chloe would really enjoy this range.

Five star archery range

Part of the course

Practice range

Visitor, spectator area

Targets on the 2D range

Targets along the 3D range

3D target

Close up of a five foot 3D target

Later in the day we headed into Apache Junction. Apache Junction Arizona is home to the Superstition     Mountains with the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine on the east, Bulldog recreation area on the north, and the city of Mesa on the west. Goldfield Ghost Town, a popular tourist spot preserved from former prospecting days, nestles near the western face of Superstition Mountains. We had to stop and see the ghost town, and

although there were some very old and interesting antiques remaining from the boom mining days, it is still a typical tourist area.   

 

Usery Mountains Day 2

This morning we decided to take a little walk after breakfast around the campground. We thought that after yesterday’s snake sightings we may see some more. Well we did come upon one that we thought was dead as it didn’t make any movement as we approached it. We saw that something was protruding from his mouth and thought he may have suffocated while feasting on a mouse or something. After talking with the park ranger we later learned that snakes remain very still and motionless when eating and  we were very fortunate to have witnessed it. We returned later to get pictures and found that he had moved on. Later we did see our fifth snake, a large one that crossed the street directly in front of us.

This park has many trails to hike from .5 miles to 7.5 miles and from easy to difficult. We decided to hike the wind cave trail which is also the parks most popular trail. The trail is 3 miles and considered hard. It’s a climb of 812 feet the first mile and half and then the return is the descent of 812 feet. It was a pretty trail with beautiful vistas of the Phoenix valley.

Notice the large lump in his throat

How he looked when we first spotted him

View along the trail

View along the trail

Large Saguaro's

More Saguaro's

Cactus in bloom

Cactus in bloom

Cactus in bloom

Cactus in bloom

Looking south toward Apache Junction

Looking west toward Phoenix

Finally the top

Back to the Desert

We left the resort life and returned to the desert. We are in Maricopa County at Usery Mountain Regional Park. When we arrived this morning we unhooked the car and drove through the park so we could choose the site we wanted before registering. On our drive through the park we saw two large snakes warming, I’m guessing, on the warm blacktop of the road. We had been talking about going as far as northern Arizona but even down here they have cold snaps and for the next four or five days highs for that part of the state are only in the 60’s. We decided to stay in the Phoenix area where the weather will be in the 80’s. This park has large spacious sites with plenty of room between them. Electric and water hookups at each site, the restrooms offer flush toilets and hot showers. We will miss the pools, hot tubs and the rest of the amenities offered by the resorts but it is hard to beat the beauty of the desert.

We had to run into Apache Junction for some supplies this afternoon.  The great thing about this park is that it is only 8-10 miles from town.

P.S. while sitting outside just before supper I spotted my third snake of the day, I'm getting a bit spooked now.

View from our campsite

Our backyard

Large campsites

Pretty at dusk

Sunset

My favorite