Amazing Vermilion Cliffs

    We have long been writing stories about the natural world for the web site, Live Science - http://www.livescience.com/54510-ocotillo-desert-plants-photos.html .  It is a great site for anyone interested in science and all the wonders of the world.  We have decided to also put those stories and pictures onto our Finding Arizona website.  Hope you enjoy our stories and the Live Science site.

Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher  
      1. The Vermilion Cliffs of southern Utah and northern
Arizona are one of the more isolated and undisturbed regions of the Colorado Plateau. It is the “second step” of the larger geological region found here and known as the Grand Staircase.

Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher
2. The Vermilion Cliffs extend west from Paige, Arizona and is a classic high desert region of spectacular beauty and rugged wilderness. This arid region varies in elevation from 3100 (945 m) feet to 7300 (2225 m) feet.

Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher
     3. The weather across the Vermilion Cliffs region
ranges from 100 degrees F. (37.7C) in the summer to freezing and snow covered mountain tops in the winter. Only the most rugged of flora and fauna are naturally found in this vast, inhospitable region.

Credit: BLM      
4. Flash flooding in many of the regions slot canyons
are caused by the violent summer thunderstorms and are a potential danger for any hiker who might be exploring in the narrow, canyon crevasses.

Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher
     5. The reddish or “vermilion” cliffs that make up this
region are composed of layers of silt laid down by the ancient seas that covered this Colorado Plateau some 165 - 200 million years ago. Colored red by iron oxide and bluish by manganese the layers of silt and ancient desert sand dunes were cemented together over time by the penetration of carbonates.

Credit: Linda Buscher        
6. The Colorado River cuts through the Colorado
Plateau and the southern border of the Vermilion Cliffs to form what is known today as Marble Canyon.
A short distance from Marble Canyon in 1873 John D. Lee established the historic Lee Ferry. This is the only place for hundreds of miles where early Mormon settlers could cross the mighty Colorado River from both the east and west sides.

Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher
       7. The Vermilion Cliffs are also the site of one of the
most successful reintroduction into the wild of an endangered species. In 1996 six captive-bred young California Condors were released back into the wild in the Vermilion Cliffs. This was the first time since 1924 that these majestic birds could be seen once again flying over the Grand Canyon.

Credit: Linda Buscher
         8. Today over seventy condors soar above the
Vermilion Cliff region of Utah and Arizona. At least seven of those birds wild-bred condors having been successfully raised in nesting caves found within the Vermilion Cliffs and along the Colorado River.

Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher     
9. Regions of the Vermilion Cliffs are covered with
green, grassy valleys and meadows making an ideal habitat for Desert Bighorn Sheep, dear, elks and Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana. The pronghorn’s scientific name translates to “American antelope goat.” But these Vermilion Cliffs inhabitants are neither antelope nor goat as they are the only surviving member of the ancient hoofed mammal family Antilocapridae (order Artiodactyla) dating back some 20 million years.

Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher
     10. In 2000 the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
was established by presidential proclamation forever protecting some 280,000 unspoiled acres of geological treasures. This national monument is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management and includes the spectacular Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area.

Credit: BLM
11. Three areas of this national monument are best known for their spectacular geological beauty. The Wave in Coyote Buttes (North) the Cottonwood Cove and the Teepees in Coyote Buttes (South) and the White Pocket region are all a special destination for both hikers and photographers. Shown here is the region known as Coyote Butte.

Credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher
      12. The Vermilion Cliffs are one of the many
sensational geological locations found throughout the western United States. Their rugged beauty and remote wilderness still allows one to grasp, experience and enjoy the natural beauty and wilderness of the American West before the arrival of our modern civilization.

Looking For A Unique Vacation?

    In the far northern region of Arizona one of man’s most spectacular adjustments to the beauty of Mother Nature took place back in 1956 with the initial construction of a great concrete dam across the Colorado River at place known as Glen Canyon.  It was one of the most controversial of dam projects in the American West with legendary author Edward Abby becoming an environmental icon with the publishing of his anti-dam book, The Monkey Wrench Gang.
    Over a period of 17-years the great dam slowed the flow of river water and slowly created the second largest and arguably the most beautiful lake in the world - Lake Powell.  Lake Powell, named after the famous explorer John Wesley Powell, is 186 miles long and straddles the Arizona/Utah state lines.  The sapphire blue water creates over 1,960 miles of red sandstone shoreline for lake visitors to enjoy and explore.
    Maybe the most unique and wonderful ways to explore Lake Powell is by renting a state-of-the-arts houseboat complete with all the luxury and comfort of a home.  These houseboats can be equipped with flat screen TV with satellite reception, queen size beds, hot tubs, waterslides and more.  The houseboats of Lake Powell are very special and an exceptional experience for the whole family.
    There are a variety houseboat vendors on Lake Powell but the largest and our favorite is Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas.  These good folks will make your houseboat vacation a memory you will cherish for a lifetime.  - http://www.lakepowell.com/
    You don’t know how to drive a houseboat you say?  Well the captains of Lake Powell Resorts and Marina  will teach you during one of their 6-hour “Houseboat 101” classes.  In fact, they are preparing for a series of these houseboat training seminars beginning in mid-April.  These folks know their boats and they know this lake which will insure for you a fabulous experience.  -  http://www.lakepowell.com/special-offers/specials-packages/lodging-specials/introduction-to-houseboating-weekends-wahweap-marina/
    Lake Powell is another of those incredibly beautiful places that so bless all of Arizona.  The moonless night sky above Lake Powell is so dark and so full of stars that you can actually see star light reflecting off the calm surface of the lake. 
    So why not do something a little different but no less luxurious for a 2016 vacation by discovering Lake Powell on a houseboat?  Get out and enroll in that “Houseboat 101” class and let your whole family experience the “awe” in the grandeur that is Lake Powell.  



All Pictures belong to - Aramark

Spending Time With The Monarchs

    As your family’s winter vacation escape is being planned, let us suggest a destination that we think is quite special especially if you love the wonders of nature.  A one day drive to the California beach town of Pismo Beach will bring you to one of nature’s most unique animal winter migrations - the annual overwintering gathering of thousands of monarch butterflies.
    Monarch butterflies are some of the most beautiful and unique of nature’s creatures and the only species of butterflies known to migrate.  These vibrant black and orange tropical butterflies travel thousands of miles to escape the freezing temperatures so common across Canada and a good portion of the United States.
    Many folks know about the gathering of monarch butterflies in the central mountains of Mexico, but fewer seem to know that they can experience this same butterfly gathering much closer to home by simply visiting this beautiful central coastal California city.
    Pismo Beach is a classic beach town located half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco along the Pacific Coastal and 101 Highways.  Tourists seeking the surf, sun and fun are the common summer visitors.
    But from late October until late February monarch butterflies gather in a small grove of eucalyptus and Monterey Spruce trees at the southern end of town and literally hang-out on the tree branches enjoying the weather and breezes of the Pacific Ocean.  Last year’s count shows some 34,000 butterflies were over-wintering in these trees.  During the winter of 1990-91 that number was 230,000 beautiful butterflies.
    The home range of the monarch butterflies that come to Pismo Beach is those lands west of the Rocky Mountains extending into southern Canada.  Their close cousins who range east of the Rocky Mountains are the monarch butterflies who make the longer journey to the central mountains of Mexico.
    Some of the monarchs found at Pismo Beach will have traveled over 2000 miles, covering about 100 miles each day.  They have been seen flying toward the Pacific Ocean at an elevations up to  10,000 feet, slowly making their way to a climate that is not cold enough to kill them nor warm enough to waste their precious, stored energy.
    Once they arrive at the Pismo Beach Butterfly Grove, they arrange themselves into dense clusters, wings hanging down over the butterfly below them like the shingles on a roof.  This arrangement provides shelter from rain and wind and provides warmth for the entire group.
    Since the life span of the monarchs of Pismo Beach is only six months, the butterflies there this winter will leave their ocean retreat in March never to return again.    But their descendants will continue this thousand-year-old cycle and return to their Pismo Beach winter tree grove again in October 2016.  How this new generation of monarch butterflies know how to return to Pismo Beach each year is an unknown mystery of science.
    The Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove is closely monitored to keep the thousands of butterflies safe.  But the grove is easily accessible and open each day of the week. Trained docents provide free informational walks/talks at 10 am and 2pm daily weather permitting.  Be sure to check out the following website - www.monarchbutterfly.org/

Other Nearby Attractions:

    1.     Avilia Valley Barn is 2 miles north of Pismo Beach and is a fabulous family farm with a petting zoo with a wide variety of fresh fruits/vegetables and gifts - http://www.avilavalleybarn.com/


2.  Just 26 miles north of Pismo Beach is the community of Morro Bay whose Natural History Museum has a fabulous program about monarch butterflies and the most extensive collection of shells from around the world in the best shell shop that we have ever visited - http://ccspa.info/morrobay/ and http://www.theshellshop.net/


3.  San Simeon is just 55 miles north of Pismo 
Beach and home to both the Hearst Castle and 17,000 incredible elephant seals.  From mid-December thru mid-January hundreds of female elephant seals give birth to their pups.  Another amazing sight of the natural world - http://hearstcastle.org/ and http://www.elephantseal.org/

Monarchs of Pismo Beach

The beach of Pismo Beach

One of those California sunsets

A male elephant seal

A female elephant seal

A young beachmaster calls out his claim

 

Nightfall in Old Tucson

       Across the great State of Arizona each October there are some pretty incredible places and events where one can go to literally have the bejeebers scared out of you while enjoying the Halloween season.  And certainly, if you really like being scared and entertained, NIGHTFALL at Old Tucson just might be your perfect destination this October - that is, IF YOU DARE!
    NIGHTFALL at Old Tucson is back for its 25th year of haunting, magical and laughter filled shows.  This year’s “scarefest” presents live shows that entertain, amaze and frighten guests of all ages.  Both the family oriented shows, like the amazing Magic of the Macabre,  as well as the adult nerve-challenging experiences, like the walking nightmare of fear known as Fertile Ground,  are offered.
    If you are looking for some really scary experiences, NIGHTFALL offer you the chance to survive the characters of Terror Square,  the perpetual nightmare of Psychomania, the colorful tribute to the Day of the Dead known as the Creepy Crawly Cave and so much more.
    And if you want to spend a little more money, you can encounter the Twisted Circus which features creepy clowns and a town overrun by Zombies or join in the Zombie Shoot and rid the town from the undead terror.
    If you enjoy an old fashion hay ride, just dare to take NIGHTFALL’s Haunted Hay Ride for a trip through the hinterlands of fright.  Yes, all the thrills and excitement of a fabulous “All Hallows’ Evening!”
    It’s October and why not just plan to get out and spend an evening in Tucson and attend all the “happenings” of Nightfall at Old Tucson.  If you do, you will never forget the thrills and chills of this Halloween!  Boo!

Nightfall - http://nightfallaz.com/

More scary places around Arizona…

    1.  Fear Farm - http://www.fearfarm.com/ - near
        Loop 101 and I-10 Exchange

    2.  13th Floor Haunted House - http://13thflooraz.com/ - 2814 W. Bell Road

    3.  Halloween In Phoenix - http://phoenix.about.com/od/halloween/tp/Halloween.htm

    4  Real Haunted Places In Arizona - http://phoenix.about.com/od/wacky/a/haunted.htm

    5.  Day of the Dead Celebrations - http://phoenix.about.com/od/events/a/dayofthedead.htm


All pictures are from Marie Demarals who asked photo credit to be “Nightfall At Old Tucson”

Pumpkin Time

    Two great pumpkin festivals are now beginning in the cool autumn weather of northern Arizona.  The wonderful Mortimer Family Farms in Dewey begin their annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 2.  This “A-Maze-ing” farm opens their fields for the whole family to search the 15-acre Pumpkin Patch for that most special orange October gourd. 
    While at the farm, test your directional skills in the challenging 25-acre corn maze.  In addition, the whole family can enjoy the games, tractor pulls, barn dances, hayrides, arts and crafts shows and more that are found on this most special Arizona farm.
    Mortimer Family Farms continues the old and grand traditions of the American farm that once was so common everywhere.  Their Pumpkin Festival each October is a perfect way for every family to discover and share this most time-honored way of making a living.

    “The Train” from Williams, Arizona has certainly carried many famous as well as ordinary Arizona citizens over the steel rails that wind their way through the forests to the Grand Canyon since first opening  in 1901 .  But each October for the past four years when the conductor cries “All Aboard,” some of the most unique yet friendly ghouls, ghosts and goblins now climb into those historic train cars on their way to a secret Arizona Halloween pumpkin patch.  
    The Pumpkin Patch Train of the Grand Canyon Railway begins it fifth year of Halloween festivities during the first three weekends of October.  Those who dare to board this train full of costumed children will travel through the forest for some 40 minutes to a magical patch of pumpkins.
       Upon arriving the friendly ghouls, ghosts and goblins de-board the train and select their very own special Halloween pumpkin.  The pumpkin search lasts some 45 minutes and everyone also has the opportunity to explore the Haunted Train Car and a hay bale maze. 
    Upon returning to the Williams Depot, all passengers get the opportunity to paint/carve their special pumpkin and enjoy a special arts and crafts gallery.  Of course pumpkin pie and other Halloween treats are available for those friendly yet ghastly Halloween passengers.Last year nearly 3,000 passengers enjoyed the ride and the adventures so tickets can be in great demand. 
    So there are two great family-oriented events to kick-off this Halloween season.  Why not getting out and travel with your own group of trick-or-treaters to these two magical pumpkin patch adventures in northern Arizona?  Both will be “spook-tacular!”


Other Family Fun October/Halloween Adventures

    1.     Schnepf Farms, Queen Creek - Pumpkin & Chili Party - five weekends of fun in October - http://www.schnepffarms.com/event/pumpkin-chili-party-2/
    2.    Tolmachoff Farms - Glendale - Pumpkin Days & Corn Maze - throughout October - http://tolmachoff-farms.com/corn_maze_pumpkin_patch_glendale_arizona.htmlt
    3.    Mossther Nature’s Farm - Gilbert - Halloween Pumpkin Patch - New Times Arizona’s Best - throughout October - http://www.mothernaturesfarm.com/pumpkinpatch.aspx

Changing Hands

     Bookstores all across America have sadly been closing their doors permanently, victims to the ways of the new digital age for obtaining information and leisure reading.  Yet, one Valley bookstore has successfully bucked that national, closing trend to not only survive but to thrive in this most competitive media world.
    “We strive to be nimble” is how co-owner Cindy Dach summarizes the key to a forty-one years of  business success for Tempe’s historic Changing Hands bookstore.  “We adapt with the times.  As the world changes, we do too!”
    And possibly the most wonderful change for those of us living in the north Valley is the opening of the second Changing Hands Bookstore/First Draft Book Bar on West Camelback Road in Phoenix.  Now we too are only a few miles from all the wonderful children and adult programs and author events along with the many great books and gifts for which the Changing Hands bookstore is known.
    Since 1974 the good people of the Changing Hands bookstore have “worked hard to make every experience a great one inside of our stores.  We concentrate on the community experience” with all the books, programs and gifts offered.
    The new book store/book bar is located in the historic Beefeaters Restaurant building, once a hot-spot of Phoenix nightlife.  The restaurant’s bar still remains now surrounded by bookshelves, gifts and presentation areas.  According to Dach, since the Camelback store is “only 15 months old, we are focusing on making the book bar a really unique experience.  There are less than 10 book bars in the country and we want ours to be a pride for Arizona.”
    The wonderful, yearlong author series, book clubs, workshops, classes and community events offered by the Changing Hands bookstores make for their charming uniqueness.    New York bestselling authors such as Sarah J. Maas, Dav Pilkey and Christopher Moore spoke here this summer, as too did former President Jimmy Carter.  On September 5 Adam Bray and Michael Kogge authors of Stormtroopers of the 501st Legion will do a book signing at the First Draft while featuring Star War themed activities. 
    Recent workshops dealing with comedy writing techniques, writing a mystery thriller, Opera 101, Printing Without A Press and Chanting The Chakras highlight the wide and eclectic offerings found at these two, family-friendly Valley bookstores.
    The Changing Hands bookstores in Tempe and now Phoenix feel like comfortable old time establishments that wisely have adapted to the modern digital age.  Their highly informative website, e-newsletters and community service projects makes for a digital connected establishment while still being a warm, friendly, repository of knowledge.  Go on, take the time to get out and enjoy these two marvelous Valley of the Sun bookstore treasures!  You will be delighted by what you discover!