The Granite Dells of Prescott, AZ

My daughter Bug was accepted to Prescott College in AZ. In searching for a college she had set specific criteria: strong program in marine biology, conservation focus and a temperate climate. As odd as it sounds, this high-mountain desert college does indeed have a strong program in marine biology: the college established a field station in Kino Bay, Mexico. Programs are student-driven, giving Bug plenty of opportunity to shape her major and even work in important areas of conservation.

Temperate? Oh, yeah--Prescott is lovely with four seasons and lows averaging 21 degrees and highs 90 degrees.

Of course, as the mum I have my own criteria: when I visit my college brood I want places to explore, history to uncover and food to savor. Prescott has it all along with the bonus of friendly people and interesting shops, galleries and saloons downtown. This is the first of three photo essays, sharing our discoveries of Prescott, AZ.


With adventure on our minds, we stayed at the college campus long enough to find out where a good place to hike was: the granite dells. As we drove out of town and rounded a corner near Willow Lake, the landscape rose up in a weather-worn tumble of granite rocks all pink with feldspar. The geology was brilliant against the rich blues of water and sky.



It was sensory overload: birds, flowers, rocks--oh, my. I quickly zoomed in on the bird activity along the shore of Willow Lake. The shore birds were active feeding and frolicking.




American Coot










Black-Neck Stilt










Mallard in Flight











Courting Mergansers (note how the female has her head thrown back dramatically)





Since it was late April, spring vegetation burst to life among the rocky soil. As we hiked we saw colorful splashes of desert wildflowers




Field Bindweed







Delicate Yellow Flowers








Desert Hyacinth








Rock Daisy (growing up through the needles of a cactus)






The granite dells provided great rock climbing up smooth granite boulders and down into crevices and back up more boulders. I felt like a kid playing on the rocks. But that's how I stumbled upon a hidden lagoon teeming with dragonflies and quick flitting birds. A few perched long enough for a photo, but most flitted about, darting after bugs on the water.








Black Pheobe











Old Snag (perfect roost)











Black Crow







From this lagoon I hiked down a crevice and discovered an amazing outcropping with a rip that exposed quartz and other crystalized minerals.






This is a close up of the rip in the rock.









At the bottom of the crevice I found a beautiful, large prickly-pear cactus.











A noise on the rocks above caught my attention. Something was scurrying down the steep incline of granite.







It was a gorgeous Gambel's quail.






I followed him as he headed down a trail into some shrubs. That's when I saw the most incredible red blooms. It was a flowering cactus.







Red Claret Cup Cactus












Close up of cactus flowers reveals red, yellow, purple and long needles.







By this time I had realized that Bug was no longer with me. I decided to hike back up the granite dells for a better view to see if I could find my daughter.




A blue-bellied lizard pointed the way.











In the dinstance I discovered the "common sunbathing teen." Evidently this critter likes warming on the rocks as much as a lizard does.










Peace.





Prescott College seems to be a great choice for higher education. Especially of the outdoor kind! We have no pictures of the college, but that is quite all right. Prescott College distinguishes itself as a field study school. The environment becomes the classroom.

One parting shot: our trip to the granite dells was made complete as we were leaving we saw a road runner racing along side of us.




Beep-beep!