Can You Guess Our August Odd Job?

Here’s your only clue!

George Stocking’s 7 Simple Tips for Shooting Wildflowers

Click to enlarge image.

Who couldn’t use a few simple tips when it comes to photographing Mother Nature’s splendor? If you’re getting ready to go on a shoot of our spectacular backcountry (wildflowers are starting to bloom — hint, hint, wink, wink) check out George Stocking’s 7 Simple Tips For Shooting Wildflowers from our March issue. For more photo tips, consider us your go-to source. Our Photo Tips page is filled with information that’ll make your images stand out from the rest.

We can’t wait to see what you come back with, and remember, your photograph could end up as our Photo of the Day.

Enjoy!

Friday Fotos: Views From Arizona’s Many Roads

Chris Couture | Monument Valley

Happy Friday…. in honor of our January issue, we wanted to see your views from the road. Thanks to everyone who posted to our Facebook wall — there were some really gorgeous photographs. If you’re inspired by what you see in this week’s gallery, pick up the January issue and take one of our Scenic Sunday Drives.

One more thing: if you do hit the road this holiday weekend, please be safe.

Happy New Year and sayonara 2012!

Lisa Martinez | Mt. Lemmon Highway

Jackie Klieger | Schnebly Hill Rd

Chris Couture | North Rim

Lizzie Morrison | 89A

Todd Morgan | Sedona

Jason Branch | North of Young

Peggy Coleman | near Williams

Gary Smith | Hart Prairie Rd

Gary Smith | Usury Pass Rd

Jay Beckman | Pine to Camp Verde

Jag Fergus | Prescott

Denise Chelpka | McDowell Road

Sarah Dolliver | I-40

Tamara Gray Becker | Snowbowl Rd

Sarah Dolliver | Route 66

Dean Anderson | Schnebly Hill Rd

Bev Pettit | Iron Springs Rd

Chris Couture | Monument Valley

Jack Challem | Gates Pass Rd

Joel Rivera | Saguaro Lake Park

Debbie Angel | Grand Canyon

Debbie Filleman Detherage | Near Roper Lake, Safford

Amanda Clement Barber | Perkinsville Rd

Joel Rivera | Saguar Lake

Gaelyn Olmsted | 89A

Dyana Muse | Route 66

Jag Fergus | 89A

John Bruesewitz | US180

Norm Cooper | 89A

Reid Helms | Seven Springs

Bev Petit | County 66, Tonto Rd

Wendy Dunham | Bisbee to Tombstone

Reid Helm | Highway 77

Tam Ryan | Phon D Sutton Rd

Jackie Klieger | Monument Valley

Dyana Muse | Cool Springs

Go North … By Editor Robert Stieve

Along the North Rim Parkway

It was an incredible weekend. It always is when I have an opportunity to visit the North Rim —  it’s my favorite place in Arizona. This time I was up there for two reasons: 1) to attend a board meeting for the Grand Canyon Association, which is an amazing organization that works in partnership with the National Park Service to help educate and inspire visitors to the Grand Canyon; and 2) to do some hikes for the magazine and for the second edition of my hiking book. The hikes were incredible, the weather was stormy and the Grand Canyon … well, there aren’t words for that thing. Here’s a selection of photos I posted on Instagram over the weekend. Keep in mind, I’m not a photographer; I’m just a guy with an iPhone who happened to be in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

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Head Up to the Grand Canyon and Check Out Some Stars

Photo by Aaron Lavinsky

The 22nd Annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held from Saturday, June 16 through Saturday, June 23, 2012 on both the South and North Rims of the park. This event is sponsored by the National Park Service, the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (South Rim), and the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix (North Rim), with funding from Canyon Association.

Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their telescopes and their expertise. National parks are protective harbors for some of the last remaining dark skies in this country. During the Grand Canyon Star Party, numerous telescopes will be pointed at planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies at night, and the sun by day, weather permitting. There will also be special slide programs each evening.

South Rim: The nightly slide show will begin at 8:10 p.m. in the Grand Canyon Visitor Center theatre and will be followed by free telescope viewing behind the building. Parking is available in lots 1 through 4, or visitors may take the free Village Route shuttle bus, which runs until 11 p.m. To guarantee a seat at the slide show, arrive early. Visitors may arrive at the telescopes any time after dark, but the best views are after 9 p.m., when the sky is darkest. On a clear night, telescope viewing continues well into the night. Visitors to the South Rim Star Party will need a flashlight for the walk to the viewing area, but are asked to keep flashlights pointed down to protect everyone’s night vision. A red flashlight is best, and can be made by covering any flashlight with red cellophane, nail polish, or magic marker.

North Rim: Telescopes will be set up on the porch of the Grand Canyon Lodge every evening. Check the Visitor Center and park bulletin boards for additional information regarding daytime and evening programs and viewing opportunities.

Nighttime temperatures on both rims can be quite cool, even in summer. Those attending the star parties are encouraged to bring warm layers of clothing.

For additional information on either of these events, check out the park’s Website.

Apache-Sitgreaves opens Escudilla Wilderness and other areas for Memorial Day Weekend!

Photo by Kelly Kramer

Don’t have plans this Memorial Day weekend? Well, we’re pleased to report that Escudilla Wilderness and other areas in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest will be open this weekend.

The Escudilla Wilderness Area Emergency Closure Order is being lifted on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) after nearly a year since last May’s historic Wallow fire. “The resilience of the Escudilla Wilderness is truly remarkable! Escudilla is no stranger to fire, as it was nearly 61 years ago when fire swept across its landscape. But, as you will see, meadows are green, aspen groves are springing up, and some areas have mixed conifer. We are asking the public not to loose sight that there are still a lot of hazardous conditions when entering any forested area, burned or not,” ASNF Forest Supervisor Jim Zornes stated.

Many areas of the Apache National Forest at a glance will look pretty similar, but the Forest wants to remind campers, hikers and all visitors to Look Up, Look Down, and Look All Around. What to look for? Look for stump holes, unstable trees and if there is a chance for rain, the possibility of flash flooding may occur. When strong winds occur, which is typical of the White Mountain area; hikers and campers may want to stay out of burned areas just as a precautionary measure. “We aren’t telling people that they that can’t go into the burned areas, we are just encouraging people if there’s another place to hike or camp they may want to do so,” according to Eric Flood, Alpine Ranger District recreation staff officer.

NOTICE: Low clearance vehicles and those pulling trailers are being advised not to use FR276 through the East Fork Recreation Area that will be open, because of the number of deep drainage ditches and salvage logging occurring on the north end of the road between FR249 and FR37. Visitors should access the East Fork area via US191, and take FR26 west, and then FR24 north, or follow FR 24 south from the Big Lake area.

Routes to (re)open: NFSR #81 (Auger Canyon Rd.) and NFSR #276 along the East Fork of the Black River.

Recreation Sites to (re)open: Aspen Camp Ground (CG), Deer Cr. CG, Buffalo Crossing, Diamond Rock CG, Horse Springs CG, and Raccoon CG, Rainbow CG, and South Fork Day Use Area (the area was a campground, but is now closed to all overnight camping).

Areas that will remain CLOSED to Dispersed Camping Until Further Notice: Auger Creek Closure Area, Fish Creek Closure Area, Middle Mountain Closure Area, Milligan Valley Closure Area, Prime Canyon Closure Area, and West Fork Closure Area.

Recreation Sites that will remain CLOSED Until Further Notice: West Fork Dispersed CG