Today I went for a hike with the Terravita Trekkers, our community hiking club. It was my first outing with the group, with 13 other hikers in attendance. Our destination for the day was the Badger Spring Wash Trail, located in the Agua Fria National Monument, north of Phoenix. A National Monument is a protected area that is similar to a National Park, but can be created from any land owned or controlled by the federal government by proclamation of the President of the United States.
The trail follows a wash ( a dry bed of a stream, typically in a ravine, that flows only seasonally) that ultimately intersects the Agua Fria River. The trail leads down the Badger Springs Wash to the Agua Fria River canyon, an area rich in archaeological resources. The confluence of Badger Springs and the Agua Fria is the location of a fantastic panel of petroglyphs (prehistoric rock carvings). You can see an example of petroglyphs in this first photograph.
The east sidewall of the wash was very high and very steep. These walls are very weathered and prone to boulders breaking loose and falling into the bottom of the wash.
Here’s view looking across the wash to its west side. Equally high but not so steep.
This next picture shows the accumulation of boulders that have broken loose from the sidewalls and collected on the bottom of the wash.
My favourite picture of the day, a view of the idyllic Agua Fria River.
It was a pleasant morning hike, a beautiful winter morning in the desert.
Great images from what was undoubtedly an enjoyable outing. Images very representative of the environment, capturing the spirit of the Valley perfectly. Nice job. Wish I had been there. Thanks for sharing.
Great photographs! Quite a change from the mountain or desert shots. Really makes me want to visit the SW US! Now if you could get the CDN $ back to par!! LOL