Tag Archives: Tonto National Forest

Wildflowers and lake views

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wildflowers and lake views

Wildflowers and views of Bartlett Lake.

We went for a drive Saturday to check out the lake near us. Last summer, we’d picnic and go for a swim in the afternoons. This week, we were curious to see if the water levels would be higher thanks to our wet winter. Thankfully, the lake looked very full.

The drive was stunning with massive amounts of wildflowers. Hillsides in the distance had bright yellow and orange color from blooms of flowers.

You can see the bright orange spots of color which are flowers.

This is a picnic spot at Rattlesnake Cove. It was packed over Easter weekend.

Bartlett Lake in the Tonto National Forest.

The lake is 15 miles from our house and the beauty of a full lake with wildflowers made my Saturday. It reminded me of Saturday or Sunday drives when I was a child. My parents would say, “We’re going for a drive.” They’d pack us in the station wagon and off we’d go to wander around the countryside. I have to admit, it wasn’t my favorite thing to do. I’d rather be at home playing.

Bartlett Lake in 2022.

This is a view of the lake from last summer. Quite a difference in the water level. I found a news story about Bartlett Dam. There was so much snow and rain this year that they have released enough water to fill Bartlett Lake three times.

Do you remember taking rambling drives with your parents as a child?

Where would you go?

One year ago

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Desert clouds and views
A view of the desert last January from the Sears-Kay Ruins.

What was I up to in the New Year of 2022? One of the things I like about blogging is being able to look back on what I was doing, thinking and feeling.

A year ago to the date, I was returning home from Berkeley after taking care of my son post surgery.

Imagine that!

AND my husband wasn’t answering the phone. I was worried about him. It turned out he was sick in bed with COVID. As sick as I have ever known him to be.

I took a Lyft home from the airport in Phoenix. The Lyft driver was not happy when he learned how far away I lived. I didn’t mean to be an inconvenience, you’d think drivers would want to pick up a long ride. But I think we are so far out, there’s not much of a chance for the driver to pick up any rides on the way back to Phoenix. Plus, he was going to be late picking his wife up after her work. I wondered why he accepted my ride in the first place?

In any case, I moved into our Casita and kept my husband isolated in our Master bedroom. (I heard master isn’t PC to use, but I really don’t care.)

I cooked him homemade chicken soup with onions, garlic and carrots. I carted it to the front porch and then called him to let him know food was waiting for him. This went on for several days.

When he was finally better, we went exploring and hiked the Sears-Kay Ruins. Then we went to hang out with friends who invited us over to watch football.

What were you up to a year ago? Do you find yourself doing many of the same things year after year?

This was last night in our backyard. We call them “Mulies” short for Mule Deer.

This was Olive, checking out the Mulies from the bar in our living room.

Hiking to ruins

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View from Sears Kay Ruins
A view looking south from the Sears Kay Ruins in the Tonto National Forrest

A neighbor told me about a couple hikes close to home. One is called Seven Springs and the other is a short one-mile jaunt called Sears Kay Ruins.

We left the house yesterday before football began to explore the area. I suggested the one-mile loop because we weren’t wearing hiking boots and what I read about Seven Springs — it was more challenging. Also a much longer hike.

On the hike, we learned about the Hohokom people who built a fortress on a hilltop with 40 homes in 1500 AD.

Sears Kay Ruin offers the visitor a glimpse of a distinctive lifestyle that existed long before Columbus. Self-guided 1-mile loop trail will take you through Hohokom Ruins. The site of Sears Kay Ruin was first occupied about 1500 AD. Point of Interest along the Great Western Trail. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/recarea/?recid=35235

The views were spectacular and I’m sorry the iphone doesn’t do them justice.

Desert Living marker at Kay Sears Ruins.
One of the markers at Kay Sears Ruins.

I’d like to go back again whenever we have an hour to do a short hike. I love that it’s a quick drive from our house. Next time, I’ll wear hiking boots because the trails is rocky and it’s a steep climb up the hill to the ruins. First, I want to find out more about the Hohokom.

We wondered why the Hohokom would live in such an isolated place on top of a hill. We read the signs and learned that the Seven Springs were close by and the hilltop gave the Hohokom protection from other tribes thanks to the fortress they built around it. Life sure looked hard having to hike down a steep cliff for water and food.

Kay Sears Ruins
Ruins.

This was a historic site along Great Western Trail — something else I’ve never heard of before.

What have you discovered close to your home that you haven’t seen before?