Thanksgiving 2015- Benton and beyond

[Lighthawk]

First part of our Thanksgiving trip is posted now.
There will be one or two other parts I hope to publish soon.

Hope you enjoy.

Part 1

 

[ski3pin]

Always so wonderful Lighthawk! We must have passed somewhere along 395 as we were heading home. I really like the cottonwood in Walker Canyon photo, very nice. Looking forward to the next part.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thanks for bringing us along on the Thanksgiving trip Mr. Lighthawk. Wonderful country!

Your little raptor looks like a young Cooper's Hawk to me. They, along with Goshawks and Sharp Shins make up the accipiter family. They have longish tails, short wide wings, and have a flap flap glide flight pattern.

 

[Lighthawk]

Thanks for your input, Stephen. Exactly what I was looking for.
Here's a great guide from Audubon on accipiters. I'm still a beginner identifying more than the standard RTH.

 

[Lighthawk]

Part 2 is now published.

 

[Taku]

Great trip report. Have been by there many times, but never made the turn. Will have to do so.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Andy, looks like you had a nice private spot to camp near the dunes. Great place and TR.

 

[longhorn1]

Andy, I always enjoy your reports. Such a vast area to explore. Wish we could take off and be in places like that in a few hours. Great pictures. jd

 

[Lighthawk]

Thanks jd! We are lucky to have these wild areas available in a few hours travel.

Part 3 is now published.

 

[Dughlas Stiubhart]

Thanks for all the photos and text Lighthawk! It is hard to beat DV.

 

[billharr]

Enjoyed the trip. Thanks for posting

 

[N'kwala]

Looks wonderful. Thanks for the report.

 

[Occidental]

Great trip so far, looking forward to the final chapter....

 

[Lighthawk]

Thanks for all the kind comments.

Final wrap with Part 4 is published.

Thanks for tagging along!

 

[longhorn1]

Nice finish

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Cool end to the trip. I love the snow/cabin images!!! Nice work sir.

 

[takesiteasy]

Nice trip and photos. Looks like a good way to have spent the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

[GroovyDad]

Very nice trip report and beautiful photography. I really like exploring that area and you're right, it's hard to pass up a soak when you're so close to nice hot spring.

 

[ski3pin]

Lighthawk, that was a very nice trip and another of your excellent trip reports. The Lady and I enjoyed seeing familiar territory and some new, thanks! Great idea to head north on Eureka Valley Road and then the more adventurous route to 266. We haven't explored much in that area yet. The Lady wants to see Soldier Pass Canyon and I'd like to head into Slyvania where Jack Longstreet ran a saloon and where one of the more notable episodes in his life played out - lucky the Nevada border was close!

I believe that is an Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus

 

[Lighthawk]

I believe that is an Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus

Thanks Ski. Bird and Hike guy delivers again!
We concur with ID.