January 20, 2024January 21, 2024 by kritterspaw

BEST OF … Landscapes 2023

I try to do a BEST OF every year to review and capture my best shots of the year. I did a BEST OF Animals 2023 you can see here…. https://kritterspix.com/2024/01/20/best-of-animals-2023/

This year we went to number of old stand-by’s that we enjoyed, and a few new spots that may become new favorites. We got some wonderful sunsets and amazing Arizona scenery. It is always difficult to pick favorites, but I’ve tried to narrow down my favorites to the top 10 that resonated with me. For me these photos evoke a memory of beautiful space and time. That is the beauty of photography and art in general, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I think my favorite landscape photo of the year was this sunset at Aker Lake. We were there 3 nights. It was peaceful and quiet. Every morning and every evening we went out to take photos. On our last evening, I went out to take photos and found these two hikers had pitched tents at the water’s edge (ironically, right next to the sign that said NO CAMPING). As they fished for supper, I took photos that just popped with the color of their tents against the lush trees right at sunset. Better lucky than good.

2. We do not see a lot of cactus where we live, but were camping in Kofa Wilderness in southern AZ and found the light and glow on the mountain ranges to be magical.

3. Dogtown Lake is small lake outside of Williams, AZ. It offers wonderful views of the Bill Williams Mountain range and great reflections on the water. On this particular visit we were gifted with a wonderful early morning sunrise.

4. Carnero Lake has become one of our favorite spots. It’s quite small, and generally quiet – though not always. We enjoy hikes around the lake and the ducks and coots that find it home. I got a great kick out of these ducks ‘walking on water’ as they chased each other across the lake.

5. Just outside of Page, Glen Canyon is home to the Vermillion cliffs and Marble Canyon. The mighty Colorado River flows through stunning canyons with craggy ridges and cascading rapids. It’s a wonderland of hiking and exploring opportunities, with amazing views in a serene environment.

6. I am so humbled by the awesomeness of nature. We travel her backroads looking for gorgeous overlooks, and are always inspired by the diversity of our beautiful state and it’s many moods. While our monsoon season was very dry this past year, the few rain storms we did see brought in some fantastic skies, making me all the more thankful to be in a spot where we can enjoy the show and the view.

7. We frequent Green’s Peak outside of Show Low. We particularly enjoy it in the Fall when the aspens are bursting with golden hues. The landscape is so vast and broad it’s hard to capture. We enjoy the elk, antelope, and hawks that roam through the meadows and trees.

8. Green’s Peak is also home to a number of small lakes that are popular fishing holes for local fisherman. Of course we love the water and it’s reflections of the landscape along it’s shores. During the Fall it is particularly alluring with the changing colors and mirror glass still water.

9. We pass Lake Mary every time we go to Flagstaff. We don’t generally stop, as we are on our way to do something in Flagstaff. We often see fisherman or boaters enjoying a day at the Lake. On this particular occasion it was hard not to stop and capture this sprawling field of yellow daisies against this stunning sky. Sometimes you have to stop to smell the flowers and take in the view.

10. Whitehorse Lake is a recreational lake deep in the Kaibab National Forest. It offers kayak rentals, boat ramps, fishing opportunities, camping, and hiking. If you are lucky you might see osprey fishing, waterfowl or deer. On our visit we actually had an unusual encounter with a feral pig, which for me, was particularly thrilling.

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.

July 13, 2023 by kritterspaw

Water Life

Most people go to the lakes to fish, or recreate with their boats, kayaks or canoes. We see a lot of fishing going on either from the shore or the water every time we go to any lake, and admittedly increasing numbers of campers packing the campgrounds and forests.

For us, though, we go for the wildlife and the scenery. ‘The early bird gets the worm’ was never more true than watching the morning animals forage for food and water before the sun comes out and many fisherman are out of bed.

By the time the dawn rolls in, the fishermen line the shores drowning worms, and the sun harshly reflects off its intense UV rays, the animals (and golden light) have tucked back away until the dusk emerges once away. It’s one thing in life we can depend on, sunrise and sunset, and it’s our favorite time to covet and embrace.

June 10, 2023 by kritterspaw

Water Attraction

Uncategorized
blue heron, canadian geese, dowtown lake, gosling, javelina, lakes, ritter, whitehorse lake, williams
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For a desert state, one would never imagine how many lakes AZ has. The lakes are popular with the fisherman and those seeking recreational sports such as boats, kayak, paddle boating, canoes, and paddle boards.

Of course we just love the sunset and sunrise views and reflections along the water.

We aren’t the only ones that enjoy the water and the lakes of AZ. We run into all sorts of wildlife that also goes to fish, play, and wander around the water and lush environment that the lakes bring.

*Blue heron fishes at Whitehorse Lake in early morning light.*

Blue heron’s fish for fish, crabs, frogs, or crawdads, while Canadian geese forage for aquatic vegetation and grasses.

While it’s unusual to find javelina at the lakes, we found a young javelina very content and happy with the environment. Who could blame him.

It’s that time of year for animals to be having their babies and bring them out to teach them to feed off the land. We watched osprey for hours fruitlessly fish to great frustration and tired wings. We never did see any of the young ones catch anything.

*Osprey hovers overhead looking for fish*

Any day at the lake is a good day, made only better with great sunrise / sunsets, and animals to watch.

June 1, 2022 by kritterspaw

A picture tells a story

Uncategorized
animals, lakes, osprey, picture tells story, ritter, wildlife
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I have been determined to get that great story telling shot, since I missed the shot here … https://kritterspix.com/2022/05/14/tucson-to-greens-peak-in-45-degrees/

The story I want to tell, is of an osprey catching dinner, trout in it’s talons, taking it back to the kids for dinner…. and of the photographer (that would be me… getting her shot).

We heard there were osprey at Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes. Along the way we saw herds of bull elk, deer, a bear cub, and coyote. At Willow Springs we found cute chipmunk willing to pose for the camera.

We headed to Hawley Lake hoping for better luck. We didn’t find any osprey, but we found turkey, elk, and bluebirds.

We kept moving, hoping for that illusive osprey shot. We found blue heron at Horseshoe Cienga Lake.

In the morning, still looking for osprey, we encountered beaver and baby Canadian Geese.

Still on a mission, we headed to Bog Tank for osprey, where we had seen them before.

We weren’t there 5 minutes, I had barely gotten out of the truck with my camera when we saw an osprey overhead… coming toward us.

With a lot of luck, (and a ton of practice), I actually captured my illusive shot. The osprey got his prize.. and I got mine. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you intend, but if you’re patient and take what comes one can get more than they sought.

September 4, 2019September 4, 2019 by kritterspaw

Kaibab Lake

We’ve lived in AZ for a bunch of years now. Truth be known, I was actually born here – one of the few I think.

We’ve been to all the big lakes of Phoenix – you know: Saguaro, Canyon Lake, Lake Pleasant, Roosevelt, Apache, and Barlett, and many of the other well known lakes like Havasu, Lake Powell, and Lake Mead. We’ve even been to some of the more obscure lakes like Ashhurst, Kinnikinick, Woods Canyon, Long Lake, Bear Lake, and Knoll Lake.

Still, you just don’t think of AZ as having so many lakes.

We went to Blue Ridge Reservoir recently… you can see my post here – https://kritterspix.com/2019/08/20/reflections-of-blue-ridge-reservoir/

We found ourselves thinking – we need to get out to some of those ‘other’ lakes we haven’t been to.

So we decided to head out to Kaibab Lake. Neither John, nor I, had ever been. So we were stoked to go someplace new… and found it to be very close to Flagstaff, just outside of Williams in fact.

We found it to be a beautiful respite, with terrific sunset & sunrise views.

I think we’re on to something… let’s go do more lakes!

June 21, 2015June 21, 2015 by kritterspaw

Blue Ridge Reservoir

Travel
az, blue ridge reservoir, lakes, northern az, wood duck
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Blue Ridge Reservoir is in my opinion the most picturesque lake in Northern Arizona. Many of the lakes in Northern AZ are small, and while fishable, not the most attractive. Lake Mary is popular upon the ‘walk in’s’ who climb down the hill to cast their lines.

Knoll Lake, Bear Lake, Kinnickinick, Ashurst, Woods Canyon are all part of the Northern AZ lake options. But my heart belongs to Blue Ridge. It’s windy green waters traverse through thickly forested high canyon walls.

Tall dense trees reflect on the waterways like a mirror. Wildlife abounds. On this particular trip we saw bald eagle, a blue heron fishing for dinner (www.kritterspix.com), and wood ducks and their little ones.

It’s a peaceful respite commonly enjoyed by an abundance of rude camp canoe organizations and kayakers. The Forest Service is now syphoning off water to Payson, compromising our tax payer recreational resource. The water continues to drop at a rapid pace. Yet, with it’s many flaws, and frustrating politics, it is a beautiful lake that should be enjoyed and shared by all, as long as we are ‘allowed’ by the US Forest Service to do so.