AZT: Kelvin Wildflower Hike

The end of the ride into Kelvin was so good on Sat. I just had to bring K down the following day for a hike. We try to get out on at least one designated wildflower hike each spring. This would be it. We would park down in Kelvin where our ride finished, then hike up the trail to the brass cap marking the completion of the AZT. There's not much else to say, I hope you enjoy the pics.

Poppies blanket a hillside along rte 177.

New parking area in Kelvin.

Fancy AZT gate.

There's gold in them thar hills!!

Mexican gold poppies.

How do you make RR tracks attractive? Add poppies.

A fallen desert sentry.

Yellow Bladderpods.

Not sure what these are.

Found my tracks from the day before!

A black cardinal or phainopeplas.

Desert Chicory.

Globemallow.

The end of the singletrack below, Ripsey ridge somewhere up high.

Now that's impressive!!

Tailings from the Ray Mine, find it on Google Earth it's HUGE.

At least the mining company did right by converting its construction road back into trail when the road was no longer needed.

Odd rock slab.

Fairydusters.

At the top!

DS: Dale Shewalter AZT visionary.

The Gila River.

Ocotillo.

Blue lupines.

K was very pleased to ditch the house chores in favor of this!! So was I!!

We capped off a great hike with some fine mexican food at Los Hermanos in Superior. So good. We'll see how long the wildflowers hang around, time for the cactus to start blooming. Springtime in the Sonoran desert is something everyone should experience. Get out there!!