August 30, 2023August 31, 2023 by kritterspaw

Land of a hundred Lakes

You wouldn’t think it, but Arizona hosts 128 lakes and 5 major rivers. Many know of the big popular lakes like Lake Powell, Havasu, Lake Pleasant, Apache and Roosevelt lakes. But there are a lot more obscure lakes throughout Arizona.

Some are not much more than dry mud holes during the summer season, but can be flush with water after heavy snowfall or a particularly productive monsoon seasons.

*Horseshoe Cienga, north of Pinetop-Lakeside*

The lakes offer popular fishing spots, boating and water sports opportunities, and make for beautiful respites from the heat of Phoenix.

We love them for their photogenic nature, reflections, and gorgeous sunrise and sunsets.

August 22, 2023August 22, 2023 by kritterspaw

Baby Season

I am sometimes asked what my favorite season is. I often like to reply, ‘Winter’, for the unique vantage point and photographs I get when the animals wander through the fresh fallen snow.

But, I’d be remiss in not admitting my love for baby season. Dependent on the animal, new borns are generally between May and August. We find (and look for) them all over Arizona during those summer months. Sometimes we are lucky enough to successfully find, and capture some magical moments with wildlife.

See more big horn sheep pix here… https://kritterspix.com/2023/08/22/big-horn-sheep/

Whether it’s in the forest, the canyons, or the waterways, animals can be found anywhere we look.

I admit to getting very lucky to see and capture the animals we encounter. Truth be told though, we spend a lot of time in the wild looking for just such opportunities.

We’ll go back to places we have seen particular animals in the past, with mixed level of success. They are wild animals after all, emphasis on the ‘wild’ part.

But then, luck does favor the prepared.

August 2, 2023August 2, 2023 by kritterspaw

Smoke & Haze

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aztec peak, fires, haze, northern az, red sunball, ritter, smoke, sunset
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In Arizona it’s more ‘monsoon’ season than summer season.

Yes, the summer brings the ‘dry heat’ we are universally known for, but it’s the monsoons that bring the rains, wild flowers, green grass and cool things down. It’s in every conversation across the water coolers across Arizona, ‘where are our monsoons’, ‘we need some rain’.

The monsoons bring much needed moisture to our forests and trees, to our gardens and landscapes. With the coveted rain also comes lightening, and fires.

As we travel across the state, we are reminded of our dry rain storms as we traverse dusty roads, thirsty oaks and brush drooping toward the ground seeking water.

Smoke and haze rise from the horizon as lightning strikes bringing more grief than relief. Red sun-balls rise through the haze with awesome eerie sunsets and sunrises.