My new favorite canyon: I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is never the same one as last time, but that's because I keep adding to my list of favorite canyons. Usually...

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is never the same one as last time, but that's because I keep adding to my list of favorite canyons. Usually when I explore a new (to me) canyon for the first time, it becomes my favorite, so that explains this one. It is near the southern end of the Continental Divide Trail in the Burro Mountains of southwestern New Mexico. I found it while looking for a new site for a trail camera--not too far from here I got some great mountain lion videos--and I just love its twists and turns, its smooth undulating rock. I'd love it more if I saw water in it, but recent rain has at least made things damp, and in spots there are minute pools. What charms me the most are two tiny springs which emerge from the rock itself to fill equally tiny pools. The lower one is fouled by cattle, but the upper one is inaccessible to them--thank God SOMETHING in this area is off-limits to them!--and that one is like a miniature oasis supporting a miniature ecosystem, including the beautiful (and also tiny) flowers featured here. I have no idea what they are, if anyone would like to help me out. A botanist I am not.

Today's hike in the canyon had a purpose, which was to relocate one of my trail cameras. I already had a good spot for it, overlooking one of my water stations (which I learned is appreciated by rock squirrels and javelinas, and also one hiker's little dog), but getting to the camera became too much of a challenge for me. It was strapped to a solid little oak shrub and very well concealed, but the slope up to the tree was a nearly impossible scramble. It is nicely relocated in what today I dubbed Javelina Canyon, a little offshoot of the main canyon, because after I'd situated the trail cam and was ready to head back, I realized that a small band of javelinas had arrived at the mouth of the offshoot canyon. Sigh...I let them know I was there and was allowed safe passage which is not always the case, and would not have been the case if I'd had a dog with me.

I hope you are refreshed by the varied desert southwest scenes in these photos. Everywhere you look it's something different.

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PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

SWFeral wrote:

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is never the same one as last time, but that's because I keep adding to my list of favorite canyons. Usually when I explore a new (to me) canyon for the first time, it becomes my favorite, so that explains this one. It is near the southern end of the Continental Divide Trail in the Burro Mountains of southwestern New Mexico. I found it while looking for a new site for a trail camera--not too far from here I got some great mountain lion videos--and I just love its twists and turns, its smooth undulating rock. I'd love it more if I saw water in it, but recent rain has at least made things damp, and in spots there are minute pools. What charms me the most are two tiny springs which emerge from the rock itself to fill equally tiny pools. The lower one is fouled by cattle, but the upper one is inaccessible to them--thank God SOMETHING in this area is off-limits to them!--and that one is like a miniature oasis supporting a miniature ecosystem, including the beautiful (and also tiny) flowers featured here. I have no idea what they are, if anyone would like to help me out. A botanist I am not.

Today's hike in the canyon had a purpose, which was to relocate one of my trail cameras. I already had a good spot for it, overlooking one of my water stations (which I learned is appreciated by rock squirrels and javelinas, and also one hiker's little dog), but getting to the camera became too much of a challenge for me. It was strapped to a solid little oak shrub and very well concealed, but the slope up to the tree was a nearly impossible scramble. It is nicely relocated in what today I dubbed Javelina Canyon, a little offshoot of the main canyon, because after I'd situated the trail cam and was ready to head back, I realized that a small band of javelinas had arrived at the mouth of the offshoot canyon. Sigh...I let them know I was there and was allowed safe passage which is not always the case, and would not have been the case if I'd had a dog with me.

I hope you are refreshed by the varied desert southwest scenes in these photos. Everywhere you look it's something different.

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is... (show quote)

Great variety in your desert southwest images.They are great.Thanks for sharing

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

PixelStan77 wrote:

Great variety in your desert southwest images.They are great.Thanks for sharing

You're welcome. I love my landscape so much that I have to share it; to not do so would be selfish. Thankfully, not many flock to see it because of my photos.

mundy-F2 Loc: Chicago suburban area

SWFeral wrote:

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is never the same one as last time, but that's because I keep adding to my list of favorite canyons. Usually when I explore a new (to me) canyon for the first time, it becomes my favorite, so that explains this one. It is near the southern end of the Continental Divide Trail in the Burro Mountains of southwestern New Mexico. I found it while looking for a new site for a trail camera--not too far from here I got some great mountain lion videos--and I just love its twists and turns, its smooth undulating rock. I'd love it more if I saw water in it, but recent rain has at least made things damp, and in spots there are minute pools. What charms me the most are two tiny springs which emerge from the rock itself to fill equally tiny pools. The lower one is fouled by cattle, but the upper one is inaccessible to them--thank God SOMETHING in this area is off-limits to them!--and that one is like a miniature oasis supporting a miniature ecosystem, including the beautiful (and also tiny) flowers featured here. I have no idea what they are, if anyone would like to help me out. A botanist I am not.

Today's hike in the canyon had a purpose, which was to relocate one of my trail cameras. I already had a good spot for it, overlooking one of my water stations (which I learned is appreciated by rock squirrels and javelinas, and also one hiker's little dog), but getting to the camera became too much of a challenge for me. It was strapped to a solid little oak shrub and very well concealed, but the slope up to the tree was a nearly impossible scramble. It is nicely relocated in what today I dubbed Javelina Canyon, a little offshoot of the main canyon, because after I'd situated the trail cam and was ready to head back, I realized that a small band of javelinas had arrived at the mouth of the offshoot canyon. Sigh...I let them know I was there and was allowed safe passage which is not always the case, and would not have been the case if I'd had a dog with me.

I hope you are refreshed by the varied desert southwest scenes in these photos. Everywhere you look it's something different.

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is... (show quote)

Very nice pictures.
Mundy

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Wonderful set, as usual! I look forward to what the trail cam produces.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Beautiful place.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

SWFeral wrote:

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is never the same one as last time, but that's because I keep adding to my list of favorite canyons. Usually when I explore a new (to me) canyon for the first time, it becomes my favorite, so that explains this one. It is near the southern end of the Continental Divide Trail in the Burro Mountains of southwestern New Mexico. I found it while looking for a new site for a trail camera--not too far from here I got some great mountain lion videos--and I just love its twists and turns, its smooth undulating rock. I'd love it more if I saw water in it, but recent rain has at least made things damp, and in spots there are minute pools. What charms me the most are two tiny springs which emerge from the rock itself to fill equally tiny pools. The lower one is fouled by cattle, but the upper one is inaccessible to them--thank God SOMETHING in this area is off-limits to them!--and that one is like a miniature oasis supporting a miniature ecosystem, including the beautiful (and also tiny) flowers featured here. I have no idea what they are, if anyone would like to help me out. A botanist I am not.

Today's hike in the canyon had a purpose, which was to relocate one of my trail cameras. I already had a good spot for it, overlooking one of my water stations (which I learned is appreciated by rock squirrels and javelinas, and also one hiker's little dog), but getting to the camera became too much of a challenge for me. It was strapped to a solid little oak shrub and very well concealed, but the slope up to the tree was a nearly impossible scramble. It is nicely relocated in what today I dubbed Javelina Canyon, a little offshoot of the main canyon, because after I'd situated the trail cam and was ready to head back, I realized that a small band of javelinas had arrived at the mouth of the offshoot canyon. Sigh...I let them know I was there and was allowed safe passage which is not always the case, and would not have been the case if I'd had a dog with me.

I hope you are refreshed by the varied desert southwest scenes in these photos. Everywhere you look it's something different.

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is... (show quote)

Gorgeous images

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

You can keep adding favorites as long as you like! These are beautiful, sharply detailed shots that are beautifully composed. So often the desert is depicted as barren but you show its true beauty!

SonyBug

SWFeral wrote:

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is never the same one as last time, but that's because I keep adding to my list of favorite canyons. Usually when I explore a new (to me) canyon for the first time, it becomes my favorite, so that explains this one. It is near the southern end of the Continental Divide Trail in the Burro Mountains of southwestern New Mexico. I found it while looking for a new site for a trail camera--not too far from here I got some great mountain lion videos--and I just love its twists and turns, its smooth undulating rock. I'd love it more if I saw water in it, but recent rain has at least made things damp, and in spots there are minute pools. What charms me the most are two tiny springs which emerge from the rock itself to fill equally tiny pools. The lower one is fouled by cattle, but the upper one is inaccessible to them--thank God SOMETHING in this area is off-limits to them!--and that one is like a miniature oasis supporting a miniature ecosystem, including the beautiful (and also tiny) flowers featured here. I have no idea what they are, if anyone would like to help me out. A botanist I am not.

Today's hike in the canyon had a purpose, which was to relocate one of my trail cameras. I already had a good spot for it, overlooking one of my water stations (which I learned is appreciated by rock squirrels and javelinas, and also one hiker's little dog), but getting to the camera became too much of a challenge for me. It was strapped to a solid little oak shrub and very well concealed, but the slope up to the tree was a nearly impossible scramble. It is nicely relocated in what today I dubbed Javelina Canyon, a little offshoot of the main canyon, because after I'd situated the trail cam and was ready to head back, I realized that a small band of javelinas had arrived at the mouth of the offshoot canyon. Sigh...I let them know I was there and was allowed safe passage which is not always the case, and would not have been the case if I'd had a dog with me.

I hope you are refreshed by the varied desert southwest scenes in these photos. Everywhere you look it's something different.

I know, I always have a favorite canyon, and it is... (show quote)

Great shots. Winged loosestrife is the flower.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

A very nice set.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Nice series. It makes me want to go there.

tcthome Loc: NJ

SonyBug wrote:

Great shots. Winged loosestrife is the flower.

To me they look like something a Hummingbird would like.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Nice series; I particularly liked the last one.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Great description. beautiful country, beautiful photos. Isn't great to discover & explore some new terrain!

OneShot1 Loc: Wichita, KS, USA

Superb shots of a beautiful place.