Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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We recently lost our old French Brittany, Rosie. She was an amazing hunter, a tireless hiker, a lover of children, and a fishing fool. She had almost reached the ripe old age of 17 – she would have been 17 in September of this year. We miss her terribly. The past couple of years or so, though, she gradually let us know that her adventuring days were over. When a dog starts to age, they can't talk to you, but you can tell from observation if they are in pain, and you can sense that they have lost... Full story
The cover photo from the National Safe Boating Congress (NSBC) reminds us that although boating safety is stressed during National Safe-Boating Week, May 19-May 25, it must be a priority all year 'round. All of the organizations that stress safety on the water emphasize the importance of wearing life jackets. Far too many accidents, with injuries and fatalities, have happened to even good swimmers who were not wearing pfds. Although it may be tempting to not wear a life jacket - for reasons that... Full story
We decided to take the granddaughters to Monument Valley for spring break this year. Excellent decision! John and the girls had never been there, and I hadn't been there since I was a kid, so we were all excited about going. We drove up to Flagstaff and spent the night – Em was able to stay in Trinity's apartment dorm with her – then we drove from Flagstaff to Monument Valley in the morning. It's about a three-hour drive from Flagstaff, which isn't too bad. Monument Valley actually extends ove... Full story
A new lake opened in Arizona just this year – Hidden Lake near Buckeye. This is a private lake, and you pay to get in, but you pay to get into any lake, right? Hidden Lake is being managed as a trophy bass lake, and has been stocked with Florida strain bass. The Gila River feeds this lake, which used to be a gravel pit. There is an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other, but for the most part the water is kept fresh because the Gila actually flows underground here, but the gravel pit was d... Full story
The road to the top of the Harquahala Mountains takes you to the historic Solar Observatory. We had read several accounts of the road, and many of them said that it was very rough, even dangerous. The day we went there it was neither. Yes, there are a couple of place where 4WD came in handy because of loose rock, but for the most part it was not that bad. There is one short stretch near the end that has been paved with concrete, and that part was apparently the worst place before the paving was... Full story
The Hassayampa River begins somewhere south of Prescott and flows through Wickenburg before joining the Gila River near Hassayampa, Ariz. It is around 113 miles long, but most of the time the Hassayampa is flowing, but you can't see it - the water is below the surface of the ground and the river looks like a very wide dry wash. However, near Wickenburg are a couple (or three) places where you can enjoy seeing the waters of the Hassayampa flowing on the surface. The Hassayampa is one of the few... Full story
When I met John (decades ago!), I had never really fished much at all. My dad took my brother and me hunting and camping all the time, and we always did a lot of target shooting, but we never really fished. In fact, I hadn't even seen most of the lakes because Dad didn't go there. Too many people, he said. But John was both a hunter and a fisherman. And once he took me fishing, I was hooked. We went to Christopher Creek and caught trout. I had a blast. Bartlett Was Our Favorite Once we got... Full story
John and I went Coues hunting this year. We have a great 4-wheel-drive pickup, but while scouting and hunting we discovered that we needed more. Our little whitetails are spooky, and once the season opens, you have to get far away from the easy roads or you're just not going to see any. And although we could get over a lot of stuff in the truck, there always seems to be an impassable piece of road keeping us from where we want to be. I'm sure there are guys who insist they can get their trucks... Full story
Jim and Carol L. Allen, Publisher and Editor Carol and I wish you all a great new year. Angela Ogden, Production Manager Arizona Boating & Watersports News Magazine / Western Outdoor Times would like to introduce you to one of the best graphic designers in the business. Angela Ogden has a B.A. in graphic design from Point Loma University, San Diego, CA (1988). She has worked on newspapers and magazines and added her freelance work in 2005. Angela is based in Oklahoma and has clientele all over... Full story
We have a family tradition of going on a fun hike on New Year's Day each year. Since we live in the desert, this is the best time of year to hike close to home. If you are also a desert rat, now is a great time to go for a hike. Here are some great hikes near Phoenix to get you started. Wave Cave Hike This trail is in the Superstitions and it gets quite a bit of traffic - for good reason. The trail takes you to a large cave with incredible views. It's called the Wave Cave because right in front... Full story
The show has officially opened and from what I understand, if you wanted to visit every booth you'd have just 22 seconds per booth. So we are trying to cherry pick, and concentrating on outdoor things not only for hunters, but also for campers, RV'ers, fishermen, and hikers. We've found plenty, and it's only lunch time! Right off the bat we visited the HydraPak booth. They make collapsible water containers in many sizes, for everything from a day hike to a long hunting trip. Our granddaughters... Full story
Well, yesterday we put over 9 miles on our shoes at the SHOT Show, and today just a little less than that – because we had a couple of meetings and a press conference to go to. But it's so much fun seeing all the great products that we really don't mind all the walking. Of course, SHOT Show has tons of guns, and that means that there are also tons of accessories designed to help you shoot better. Up on the third floor of SHOT is an area called NEXT, where the companies who didn't make it into t... Full story
SHOT Show officially starts tomorrow, but if you're lucky enough to get an invitation, the day before the show starts is Industry Day at the Range. This is the day when the manufacturers set up at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club, which is an excellent facility near Boulder City, Nevada with tons of room for the over 200 manufactures who let us handle their new products. This is the day for actually shooting the latest guns and checking out the great new optics and gear. If you've read John's g... Full story
Day 3 is in the books and the energy hasn't abated at SHOT Show. The aisles are teeming with people eager to see everything, talk to everyone, and learn something new. At times you can barely squeeze through the aisles, and occasionally you have to stand in line for while to handle the newest guns. But the people who work the booths are unfailingly kind and helpful, even though you know their feet must be killing them and they must be dog tired. SHOT Show people are the best. We spent a while... Full story
Safety is huge at the SHOT Show, and there are always lots of companies with gun safety products to show. This year was no exception. The Allen Company has a new holster called the Swipe MQR (Magnetic Quick Release) holster that makes it easy for you to quickly access your weapon while keeping it safe from anybody wanting to walk up and take it off you. It works by using a patented magnetic system that releases in half the time as a regular snap – you clear the lock by "swiping" directionally t... Full story
The Key To Success Is Being Versatile Back in the day, Wes McCracken was one of the best anglers on the All Star Bass trail. The key to his success: he knew that you have to be versatile to catch fish consistently. "Every lake is different, and every year it's different, too," says McCracken. One thing that he can count on most of the time, though, is a worm bite of some sort. "Finding the fish is the hard part," says Wes. "Figuring out what they want is simply a process of elimination." This... 
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We just got back from a seven-day hunting/camping trip and I discovered quite a few things that make life a lot easier for a camper. We camp rough - no trailer, no cots, no RV. We just throw a couple of self-inflating pads in the back of the truck and roll out our sleeping bags. Warmers Blankets That said, one of the most important things is being warm enough. Lightweight sleeping bags are usually fine in Arizona, but when nights get chilly, you need more. Something along the stocking stuffer li... Full story
Patagonia Lake is a small reservoir about an hour south of Tucson. Formed by damming Sonoita Creek, this beautiful little lake offers good crappie, catfish, and bass fishing in Southern Arizona. The terrain around Patagonia is very different from the deserts surrounding the central Arizona lakes. Patagonia is at an elevation of 3,750 feet, and the surrounding country is grassy hills and scrub oak and juniper. Dan Marzano Takes Us To Patagonia Patagonia looks more like a midwestern lake than an... Full story
This lovely photo of Lockett Meadows from Margie Anderson shows part of the state dressed in the beauty of autumn colors. The gorgeous fall palette draws many from the Valley of the Sun just a short distance north to visit the cooler country and its autumn beauty. Besides the many upcoming holiday events, the outdoors draws enthusiasts to hunt, fish, camp, and recreate in the refreshing weather that is so welcome after a long, hot summer. May you enjoy thoroughly this season that many call... Full story
Before you know it, the holidays will be upon us and we'll all be scrambling to find the perfect gift for the people we love. If someone you love also loves the outdoors, here are some ideas that are sure to please. Good Maps Are Essential Build Your Own Whether your passion is fishing, hiking, hunting, off-roading, RV-ing, or geocaching, good maps are essential. The best way to get the perfect map is to visit MyTopo.com and build your own. These are especially great for hunters because you can... Full story
Last month, when I was writing about Grandparents' Day, I mentioned that we take our granddaughters on a big road trip/hiking trip every year. In between, we take a day now and then and just go to a small town or great place nearby. Since we've been doing these trips, small and big, for nearly two decades now, we've discovered some secrets to making every trip memorable and fun. Know Your Audience What is fun to a 5-year-old is not necessarily fun for an 18-year-old. What is safe for an 18-year-... Full story
From the trickle of a few springs, Oak Creek gathers water from the southern part of the Mogollon Rim to start its thirteen-mile flow through the canyon that the creek helped form. From Oak Creek Canyon , the creek winds through Sedona and begins its eight-mile descent into the Verde Valley to meet up with the Verde River. Editor's Note: Each time we visit this gorgeous Arizona area, we are moved by its incredible beauty and are refreshed physically, mentally, and yes, spiritually. Land... Full story
Sunday, Sept. 10 is Grandparents' Day, and this year, we salute Marge and John Anderson who have shared the wonders of outdoors with their granddaughters for over two decades (and loved every minute of their times together). When we found out that our son and daughter-in-law were expecting their first baby, I quit my job so I could stay home and take care of her. Since the day she was born, Trinity has been the joy of my life. Then, three years later, Emily joined us, and brought us even more... Full story
In Arizona, people tend to think of heading north to cool off in the summer, but there are many places in the southern and eastern areas of our beautiful state that also offer higher altitudes, cool forests, and great hikes. These places include Mt. Lemmon near Tucson, the Pinaleno mountains near Safford, and the Mt. Baldy Wilderness near Greer. Mt. Lemmon In July, the Burro fire was raging and crews were using the Mount Lemmon highway as a firebreak. Residents, campers and hikers were forced... Full story
This issue's photos and article from Margie Anderson highlight one of the "coolest" areas of our state: Payson and its nearby delights, including fascinating trails, water falls, cool pools, and well-known destinations such as the Tonto Natural Bridge. She reminds us all that we need not stay put in the Valley of the Sun all summer long. We have options. Wonderful, refreshing options! Land Cruising - Rainbow Bridge Gains Designation - The National Park Service has designated Rainbow Bridge a... Full story
