Usery Mountain Pass

A couple of my friends have talked about the different County Parks around here and I figured it was time to start visiting! We got some snacks, filled up our camelpaks, loaded the kids in the car and headed off to Usery Mountain Regional Park just north of Mesa. We did an easy hike for the kids that had some climbing, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't hear whining about it. I am trying to toughen them up slowly and less painfully. They were excited. I love their hiking shadows in this picture. This was right at the beginning. Katie kept asking why I was taking so many pictures and would I just put it away. Christian felt like it was slowing us down. There may be a little truth to that. But I am not admitting anything.
Here we are at the top of the first peak of the little ridge we were hiking. Don't you like Christian's pose. He had to do this whenever we stopped to do a group picture. He is a rugged Mountain Man in the making.

The valley has received a lot of rain this winter (at least for here...I think). Christian is pointing out the moss that we found on the rocks.

There was this fantastic Arizona Barrel Cactus that twisted as it grew. I would love to see this when it is blossoming in the spring. They get these great flowers on the top of it. Did you know that cactus get flowers? I didn't until I moved here.

I loved this rock formation that was so unlike the rest of it around it.

There was this amazing Saguaro (Sa-wa-row) Cactus. How does this thing stay up? Did you know that it takes 60-75 years for a Saguaro to start getting one of the arms and can live over 300 years? Although I do not think that the arm thing applies to this one, remember that for some of the other pictures. It is amazing.

Here Mike and Katie are walking past a huge Ocotillo. They are VERY prickly but get leaves all over them during wet periods and they fall off during times of drought. During April they get fantastic blossoms also. I am going to try to get a really good picture of these beautiful desert flowers this year.

Here we are at our second pinnacle with the Mountain we intend to climb next time we go. We aren't going to tell the kids how long it is, but take better food with us to make it worth it. Notice, Christian still has to have his stance. Katie is all girl.

This is the path the leads around the hills that we hiked back to our car. Isn't the desert beautiful? It is so different from the lush trees that I grew up with, but it has its own beauty that is quite amazing. Those tree like cacti are Teddy Bear Cholla. You wouldn't want to meet up with this thing in a dark alley, but they are fun to look at.

Here it is up close and personal. Aren't they fabulous in the sun. I don't think I would want this one in my yard. I have enough prickly plants already. Beautiful, but painful to take care of.
See the great Saguaro? No, not my husband, he is not 60 and already has arms, so you can rule him out. It was a fun day that we really enjoyed. I look forward to going back soon. Or to another park...

PS...I got all my information about the plants from the picture I took of the plaque about "Sonoran Desert Plants" at the park. Our day use fees at work for the public!