Phoenix 7, side events and Carlene's hike

Carlene's day:
Today I drove 17 minutes to the Desert Vista Trailhead. Callahan stayed in the camper to sleep in comfort. When I arrived at the parking lot, there were already many cars there. I took the Hawks Nest Trail to the Dixie Mountain Loop that included a side trip to the summit of Dixie Mountain. I hiked 5.6 miles with only an occasional tree for shade. The temperature was in the high 60s. It was a pleasant and fun day. Took Cal out for a walk when I got back early afternoon.

Sunrise

Desert Vista TrailsD

Dixie Mountain Geological survey marker

trail from the summitr

rusty car in the wash

Dixie Mountain

Andy's day:

This was the primary day for side events.  I started off with 4 Warm-Up stages at 8 AM.  Luck had it so that I got yo shoot with some of the best competitors in the game.  Holy Terror, Evil Roy and Lassiter.  Holy Terror is a several-time Ladies World Champion, her grandfather Evil Roy is a several time Men's World Champion, and Lassiter has won many Gunfighter titles.  Warm ups are a more laid back style, not much at stake, go have some fun and get the kinks out now while it doesn't really matter.  Now, I shoot that way now anyway but it's fun to be with these guys when they feel this way.  

Later Cal and I walked around the vendor tents again.  He wanted to go see some people so we did.  He has a great admirerer at the SASS office, Ruby Ruthless is a real dog person who seems to look forward to all the dogs that visit.  There is a wter bowl outside the office for them.

Later again it was more shooting with the Plainsman event. That uses all black powder guns; cap & ball pistols, which are normal for me but a specialty for most others, plus a single shot rifle which is often a big  caliber and a double barrel shotgun.  I was the Posse Marshal for the event.    It is a lot of fun but it does take a long time.

By the end of PLainsman there was the War Bird's flyover.  Always a treat.  Followed by the shooter appreciation dinner.  This year it was pulled pork.  Quite good.  free food often is, haha.

These wooden pistols with a "WR" brand on them are the spotter sticks, hey look, someone shot a hole in the table with one!

Holy Terror

Plainsman:

Skinny, editor of the Cowboy Chronicle

The best flame of the day!

War Birds

Phoenix 6, Wild Bunch & Carlene's hike

Andy's day:
This was the second day of Wild Bunch match.  I had a much better day, many fewer misses, it was finally coming together.  We also had a very good posse.  Everyone worked well together on the tasks that make the group work.

After shooting I had a bit of ice cream form the 3 Chicks Ice Cream vendor.  They have been here every year but it has often been too cold to enjoy that.  They have an awesome assortment of flavors and very good ice cream.  Then back to the camper where Cal was waiting for someone to come home.  He wanted to go for a walk so we went back to the vendor area and toured the whole area.  He got to meet several new friends.

Shortly after that Carlene came home.  I rearranged my cart with the different gear I'll need tomorrow.  We will be shooting Cowboy Action in a warm up event in the morning and another side event in the afternoon.  Going to be another busy day.


Carlene's day:

Today I decided to hike Daisy Mountain which was only an 18 minute drive to get to the trail head. The trail begins on the edge of a residential neighborhood of beautiful homes.  I soon leave all that behind as the first mile and a half is quite flat and easy to follow. Once I reach a small saddle, the climb becomes much steeper with some loose rock.  When I reached the summit, I found a very large pile of rocks that I declared must be the top even though a path went on to a second bump that appeared higher.  I consulted my Topo Maps + app to see if my exact location was on Daisy Mountain and I was right where I wanted to be.  It was a splendid six mile hike with great views.  Callahan stayed back in the cool camper to sleep.



Andy's pictures (followed by Carlene's pictures):

Whirlwind Wendy

Posse 4

Tex 

Fort Sinclair

Capt. Gorge Baylor

Miss Chevious

Half-A-Hand Henri

Matchlock

The theme of Winter Range is the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.  This stage is actually 2 stages with trains meeting from opposite directions, with a golden spike at the midpoint
I put these pictures in mostly so Ol' Beaver Tooth can have some train envy.

Molly McGoo

Tex and LAwless Lil

Carlene's pictures:

poppies 

looking back at the residential area

the climb still lies ahead

stead trail climbing

my trekking poles on Daisy Mt.

Daisy Mt. 

Last look at where I had been