Travels With Kerri: December 2007

28 December, 2007

Reavis Ranch

This is all that is left of Elisha Reavis' Ranch. There was a fire in 1991, and then the forest service knocked the remaining walls down in 1994. Reavis planted hundreds of apple trees which still bear delicious fruit every fall.

A coatimundi! I have been looking for one of these elusive animals for a decade. They are in the racoon family but they are slender with pointed snouts and rounded ears. They have masked eyes and long, black and white striped tails. This picture is blurry because I was holding Tahoe who wanted to play with it. It climbed this tree and made clicking noises at us.

We began our long trek back to the trailhead.

We didn't finish the hike until dusk but were rewarded with this sunset.

Reavis Trail

True to its name, there was a strong breeze atop Windy Pass. This is the highest point in elevation on the trail.

Grand views of the Superstitions.

One of many trail junctions along the way.

Tahoe tried to drink from this small frozen creek. I had to break the upper layer with my walking stick so we could drink.

Reavis Ranch Trail

Tahoe and I hiked this 19 mile trail in the Superstition Mountains. There were nice views of Apache Lake near the trailhead.

Most of the trail looked like this as it slithered around the grassy hills.

We found snow in the higher elevations!

It got down to 28 degrees at night. It was cold enough that I could see my breath even inside my tent, and my water froze overnight.

25 December, 2007

Christmas Eve

When can we open presents?

Cowoby liked his new hamburger. It took him about 2 minutes to break the squeaker.

I gave the girls a little bird that chirps when you move it. They ignored it until 3:00 in the morning. Then, Greta decided to play with it by our bed.