Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS - Red Mountain (Mount McDowell)

C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) is a comet from the Oort cloud discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China on January 9, 2023 and independently found by ATLAS South Africa on February 22, 2023.

Ragged Top - Ironwood Forest National Monument

This was my third time to the summit of Ragged Top (3,907 feet), and my second time up the south gully. I prefer the south gully to the north gully. My hike was 5.2 miles round-trip, and it took me 5 hours and 27 minutes. It is the biological and geological crown jewel of the Ironwood Forest National Monument.

The South Gully

The South Gully

View from the summit.

Looking down at the south gully from the summit.

View from the summit.

View from the summit.

Humphreys Peak - Coconino National Forest

Humphreys Peak (12,633 feet), is the highest point in Arizona. It is part of the San Francisco Volcanic Field. This was my fifth hike up the mountain. My hike was 9.3 miles round-trip, and it took me 8 hours. The beginning of the trail was rerouted due to construction, which actually made it slightly shorter.

False summit.

Humphreys Peak

Humphreys Peak

View from the summit.

View from the summit.

The summit.

Martha's Butte - Petrified Forest National Park

I visited the petroglyphs at Martha's Butte in Petrified Forest National Park. There is no trail but you can see Martha's Butte from the road. My hike was 2.5 miles round-trip, and I spent 2 hours out there.

Martha's Butte on the right.

Martha's Butte