Stunning hike and ride! I'm so envious.

Might be the only government project that ever finished on time. But did he also come in under budget?

Nice ride! If you had the chance to ride 88 (Apache Trail) across to Apache Junction instead of going south to Tucson, I think you would find the long, winding, narrow, steep road up from fish creek "interesting." It is very scenic, and one of my favorite places... You won't of course, but I just thought you'd be interested.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fish+Creek+Canyon/@33.5285967,-111.3253192,13.38z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x872bc38a8e30cb95:0x73d899d749f2c804!8m2!3d33.5767142!4d-111.3537405!16s%2Fg%2F1tf58c5z!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu

My opinion, but I think mid March to mid April is about the best... at least for weather and flowers... Unless you are herping... Then I'd say mid April to mid May.

No need to guess on brittlebush! the little densely compact gray bushes with thin stalked yellow flowers poking out... They are often blooming when nothing else is.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encelia_farinosa

Plus, you had the eagle eye to see it! This was a great ride today -each photo is a treasure.

You wouldn’t have seen it then. It’s n the opposite direction, about twenty miles northwest of the city. You’ll have to go back - and while you’re at it you should keep going and stare down into Death Valley.

So far as I know, I haven't been. We used Lost Wages as a transit point (fly in, rent a car, drive out, then reverse on the way home) in 2004 on a trip to Arizona. We drove across Hoover Dam of course, but other than that we were on whatever highway gets you from LV to Show Low AZ. I remember miles and miles of desert wash with alluvial fans lining the edges of the adjacent mountains, but no Red Rock Canyon comes to mind.

I forget now whether it was on the outbound or return leg but we did stop in Sedona long enough to take a jeep tour of the back roads in the Red Rocks area there- very impressive.

Yes, but from this direction anyway it’s sure a scenic ride until you close in on the place. Have you ever been to Red Rock Canyon? It’s an exceptional place.

Quiate a stately villa, and well-earned from the sound of it. Who ever heard of *any* major construction project finishing on time, let alone early? Especially a government project.

But that white band all around the perimeter shows how much lower it still is than in the past. Not out of danger just yet, but safe for the moment at least.

a.k.a. "Descent Into Hell".

Ooooh! Thanks.

Yup
Yucca brevifolia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_brevifolia

I like how the cactus spines glow in early morning sun!