Thursday, April 23, 2009

Skywatch Friday: Picacho Peak Sky

Picacho Peak 4-14-08 by Kathies Brown
(click to enlarge for the best view)

This is one of several views of Picahco Peak I took when I was here birding last week. This shot really makes me feel the weight of the mountain against the blazing white clouds that are backlit by the setting sun. The wind was gusting to over 45 MPH this day, so I didn't see many birds and I had the park almost completely to myself. It was a fun day and I was tired by the time I got in my car and headed back to Tucson to meet Gus at the restaurant mentioned in last week's Skywatch post. Read more about Picacho Peak in My World Tuesday: Picacho Peak

See more amazing skys by going to:

17 comments:

Arija said...

Kathie, that is a beautiful mountain and a great skywatch shot of it. Pity about the absence of birds though.

abb said...

Almost looks like the mountain is going to topple over. Lovely!

Margaret Cloud said...

Looks very rugged. Do people climb up it?

Deborah Godin said...

Very picturesque rock - do you know what kind it is? Or maybe one of your readers is a geologist...? Looks like the kind of formation that might have an indigineous legend to go with it, too. Beautiful!

bobbie said...

So beautiful, Kathie, as all of your pictures are. The contrast between the rock and the cloud is marvelous.

Rossel said...

Lovely! Hopping on blogs of photographers is like touring around the world for free. I'm inviting you to my sites. Hope you could pass by whenever you are free.

http://topicsonearth.blogspot.com
http://butterfly-kusinako.blogspot.com

Thank you!

Quiet Paths said...

Now that is some rock. I really like the way all the fissures show up in this photo.

Gaelyn said...

Nice shot of Piccacho against that whiteout sky.

Anonymous said...

"the weight of the mountain" is an excellent description of the photo. Great photo, Kathie - it really conveys the sense of place and presence of the peak.

Jack and Joann said...

When they use the term Rocky Mts. the emphasis has to be on Rocky. Another great desert photo.

Alexander said...

Very nice. I've never been to the Rock Mountains but it is beautiful.

Alexander
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

Anonymous said...

lovely capture of the peak...and i also enjoyed your update of the owls in the previous post. i so hope they survive ^..^

Anonymous said...

I have yet to witness these mountains in person..They look unsteady..Hahah

*I Donated to Cornell Ornithology!*
http://www.opticsplanet.net/cornell-lab-of-ornithology.html

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

Great post. Loved learning about the cotton. But, gotta tell you, those Earth Day Owlets steal the show!!!!

Naturegirl said...

Kathie.whaaaa....as I see those wonderful scenes of cacti and mountains..I'm home now because of family crisis but sure do miss the mountains and everthing about the Sonoran desret! I scrolled down and caught up on your postings and am relieved that your cat survived being left ((((outdoors all night!)))) Close call..count those cats before turning in. Whew!

DeniseinVA said...

Wonderful rocky peak, do they have mountain goats in that area.

Kathie Brown said...

Arija, it's an amazing place with lots of desert birds. The high winds were just keeping them down that day. If I went on a calm day and early in the morning I'm sure I would have seen more birds.

TSAnnie, yes it does. It feels that way too when you get that close to it. Thanks for stopping by.

Margret Cloud, yes, people climb it and though the climb is only a couple of miles it is straight up and quite difficult near the top from what I've been told. I have not climbed it myself but my kids have. There are cables and ladders near the top but you must bring lots of water because it is so dry. Dehydration and Sunstroke are real dangers.

Deborah, I read that is a volcanic flow that shifted upright through the earth's crust. It looks like an old cinder cone but it is not.

Bobbie, thank you!

Rossel, thanks for stopping by.

Quiet paths, not as majestic as your mountains but it is interesting and beautiful in its own way.

Gaelyn, thanks!

wren, I'm glad you could feel it too.

Jack and Joann, thank you!

alexander, I hope you enjoyed your visit.

It'snotjustapicture, glad you came back. I hope the owls survive also.

cvpepper11, thank you so much for donating to Cornell. They do so much for the birds!

Greensborodailyphoto, I'm glad you enjoyed the owls and the cotton!

Naturegirl, I am glad you made it home safely and I pray your family crisis is under control. I was so shocked to find my cat outside. I have been loving him up ever since. He and Bonnie are back to being friends.

Denise, they do not have mountian goats at Picacho Peak. It is really quite isolated in the desert landscape. I do not know if there are mountain goats anywhere in AZ. I have seen them farther north in the Rocky Mountains but I have not heard of them down here. I shall have to research that.