Peavine
@pvine.bsky.social
I live in the beautiful community of Prescott, Arizona. My favorite pastime is walking the endless miles of trails in the Prescott National Forest.
Every December the Prescott Resort has a Gingerbread Village contest and display in the hotel lobby. As is always the case, there were many fun and creative entries. I've included below a few of my favorites.
December 21, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Every December the Prescott Resort has a Gingerbread Village contest and display in the hotel lobby. As is always the case, there were many fun and creative entries. I've included below a few of my favorites.
The Arizona Pioneers Home cemetery dates back to 1864. It's the burial site of many persons of note including Sharlot Hall and Big Nose Kate. The cemetery also contains an attractive memorial to the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died fighting a fire in nearby Yarnell.
December 13, 2025 at 1:56 AM
The Arizona Pioneers Home cemetery dates back to 1864. It's the burial site of many persons of note including Sharlot Hall and Big Nose Kate. The cemetery also contains an attractive memorial to the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died fighting a fire in nearby Yarnell.
Citizens Cemetery is an historic site that was established in 1864 and is located on Sheldon Street about a mile east of downtown. I enjoyed walking through the cemetery reading about its history and viewing the epitaphs on the gravestones, which document the early settlers of Prescott.
December 7, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Citizens Cemetery is an historic site that was established in 1864 and is located on Sheldon Street about a mile east of downtown. I enjoyed walking through the cemetery reading about its history and viewing the epitaphs on the gravestones, which document the early settlers of Prescott.
I did not serve in the armed forces but have great respect for those who did. Today I visited the Prescott National Cemetery, a beautiful and peaceful site that was established in 1869. These photos are of the entrance, Unknown Soldier Monument, burial sites, and columbarium for cremated remains.
December 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I did not serve in the armed forces but have great respect for those who did. Today I visited the Prescott National Cemetery, a beautiful and peaceful site that was established in 1869. These photos are of the entrance, Unknown Soldier Monument, burial sites, and columbarium for cremated remains.
Lynx Lake is my favorite lake in Prescott, but it had to be drained 11 months ago to repair an outlet valve and is still at very-low levels. These photos are from the south and north shores. The water normally covers the lower portion of the concrete boat ramp.
November 27, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Lynx Lake is my favorite lake in Prescott, but it had to be drained 11 months ago to repair an outlet valve and is still at very-low levels. These photos are from the south and north shores. The water normally covers the lower portion of the concrete boat ramp.
Prescott has numerous wilderness parks, but only one of what I would consider to be a city park. Its name is A.C. Williams Granite Creek Park, and it's accessed from 6th Street north of Sheldon Street. Although relatively small in area, this park is a fun and pleasant place.
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Prescott has numerous wilderness parks, but only one of what I would consider to be a city park. Its name is A.C. Williams Granite Creek Park, and it's accessed from 6th Street north of Sheldon Street. Although relatively small in area, this park is a fun and pleasant place.
The weather has cooled, and I redid my hike around Willow Lake. I started at Willow Lake Park and hiked in a clockwise direction, for a total distance of about 5.5 miles. The north and east trails are primarily on granite bedrock, and the south and west trails are dirt paths that parallel roadways.
November 5, 2025 at 12:36 AM
The weather has cooled, and I redid my hike around Willow Lake. I started at Willow Lake Park and hiked in a clockwise direction, for a total distance of about 5.5 miles. The north and east trails are primarily on granite bedrock, and the south and west trails are dirt paths that parallel roadways.
I hiked Granite Mountain yesterday and hoped to get some attractive photos for use as computer wallpaper. None of my photos will qualify for that, but it was still a pleasant hike. The photos are briefly described as starting out, starting up, almost there, and view from the top.
May 20, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I hiked Granite Mountain yesterday and hoped to get some attractive photos for use as computer wallpaper. None of my photos will qualify for that, but it was still a pleasant hike. The photos are briefly described as starting out, starting up, almost there, and view from the top.
Most of my photos are taken in portrait mode, but these do not work well as wallpaper on my computer screen. So, I thought I would revisit a few of my favorite spots and take landscape photos with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The photos included below are of Watson Lake, the Granite Dells, and Thumb Butte.
May 15, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Most of my photos are taken in portrait mode, but these do not work well as wallpaper on my computer screen. So, I thought I would revisit a few of my favorite spots and take landscape photos with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The photos included below are of Watson Lake, the Granite Dells, and Thumb Butte.
The Apex Trail is a short and occasionally challenging scramble on eroded bedrock to a high point in the Willow Dells. I parked at Willow Lake Park, and the distance round-trip was about a mile and a half. I've included two photos on the way up and two at the top.
April 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM
The Apex Trail is a short and occasionally challenging scramble on eroded bedrock to a high point in the Willow Dells. I parked at Willow Lake Park, and the distance round-trip was about a mile and a half. I've included two photos on the way up and two at the top.
One of my favorite art galleries in Prescott is Van Gogh's Ear, which is located downtown opposite Courthouse Square. They have many attractive and unusual items, and most are from local artists. I've included below photos of a few items I've purchased.
April 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
One of my favorite art galleries in Prescott is Van Gogh's Ear, which is located downtown opposite Courthouse Square. They have many attractive and unusual items, and most are from local artists. I've included below photos of a few items I've purchased.
If you're ever in Prescott and happen to see me driving my car, please wave to say hello. This photo was taken at the Willow Lake boat ramp.
April 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
If you're ever in Prescott and happen to see me driving my car, please wave to say hello. This photo was taken at the Willow Lake boat ramp.
The Constellation Trails are located on the west side of State Route 89 immediately north of the Willow Dells. There's a parking lot at the north trailhead, but I accessed the trails from Willow Lake Park. I hiked the Lost Wall and Rock Wall trails plus a short connector trail between them.
April 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The Constellation Trails are located on the west side of State Route 89 immediately north of the Willow Dells. There's a parking lot at the north trailhead, but I accessed the trails from Willow Lake Park. I hiked the Lost Wall and Rock Wall trails plus a short connector trail between them.
I primarily use the normal lens of my Samsung Galaxy S25+ phone to take photos when hiking. I took some photos with the wide-angle lens and have included them below. The exposure is not very good and the Ponderosa Pines often have a bowed appearance. The photos were taken in the Spence Basin area.
April 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I primarily use the normal lens of my Samsung Galaxy S25+ phone to take photos when hiking. I took some photos with the wide-angle lens and have included them below. The exposure is not very good and the Ponderosa Pines often have a bowed appearance. The photos were taken in the Spence Basin area.
I did not include the ECOSA Trail in my previous hike in the Willow Dells, and I did that today. I started at Willow Lake Park, and the total distance as an out-and-back hike including a short side trip was 2.8 miles. This is a pleasant walk, and I've included a few photos below.
April 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM
I did not include the ECOSA Trail in my previous hike in the Willow Dells, and I did that today. I started at Willow Lake Park, and the total distance as an out-and-back hike including a short side trip was 2.8 miles. This is a pleasant walk, and I've included a few photos below.
The Willow Dells Trails are located immediately northeast of Willow Lake. I started at Willow Lake Park, headed east on the Approach Trail, and then looped around and back on the Canyon Trail. I took a side trip on the Ron James Approach Trail, which connects with the Constellation trail system.
March 27, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The Willow Dells Trails are located immediately northeast of Willow Lake. I started at Willow Lake Park, headed east on the Approach Trail, and then looped around and back on the Canyon Trail. I took a side trip on the Ron James Approach Trail, which connects with the Constellation trail system.
The Willow Lake Loop Trail encircles Willow Lake and has a length of 5.8 miles. I included in my hike the Apex Trail, which increased the total distance to 6.3 miles. I parked in Jim McCasland Willow Creek Park and walked the trail in a clockwise direction.
March 24, 2025 at 1:29 AM
The Willow Lake Loop Trail encircles Willow Lake and has a length of 5.8 miles. I included in my hike the Apex Trail, which increased the total distance to 6.3 miles. I parked in Jim McCasland Willow Creek Park and walked the trail in a clockwise direction.
Spring has arrived in Prescott and its time to garden. Unfortunately, gardening in my immediate area can be a challenge due to infertile soil, hungry critters, and destructive insects. However, I've found a few trees and plants that do well in my woodland garden.
March 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Spring has arrived in Prescott and its time to garden. Unfortunately, gardening in my immediate area can be a challenge due to infertile soil, hungry critters, and destructive insects. However, I've found a few trees and plants that do well in my woodland garden.
There are so many trails in Prescott that it's occasionally fun just to wander. Today I parked at the Brownlow trailhead on Commerce Drive and hiked the Yellow Trail, then headed north on the Orange Trail, and looped back around on the Prescott Legacy Trail. This was a walk of about 5 miles.
March 18, 2025 at 8:56 PM
There are so many trails in Prescott that it's occasionally fun just to wander. Today I parked at the Brownlow trailhead on Commerce Drive and hiked the Yellow Trail, then headed north on the Orange Trail, and looped back around on the Prescott Legacy Trail. This was a walk of about 5 miles.
A GPS device is often helpful when hiking National Forests. I use the Backcountry Navigator Android phone app, and, until recently, I've been happy with it. Unfortunately, this app has not been updated in over a year, and it no longer downloads Forest Service topo maps (USGS maps work fine).
March 12, 2025 at 8:09 PM
A GPS device is often helpful when hiking National Forests. I use the Backcountry Navigator Android phone app, and, until recently, I've been happy with it. Unfortunately, this app has not been updated in over a year, and it no longer downloads Forest Service topo maps (USGS maps work fine).
It's March 7th and we had our first snow of any consequence. I started mid-morning and hiked trails in the North Thumb Butte Recreation Area. Snow had accumulated to about 4 inches on the trails, which made for a pleasant hike.
March 8, 2025 at 1:24 PM
It's March 7th and we had our first snow of any consequence. I started mid-morning and hiked trails in the North Thumb Butte Recreation Area. Snow had accumulated to about 4 inches on the trails, which made for a pleasant hike.
There are three trees that are most commonly found in the Prescott National Forest. Shown in order, they are Ponderosa Pine, Pinyon Pine, and Alligator Juniper.
March 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
There are three trees that are most commonly found in the Prescott National Forest. Shown in order, they are Ponderosa Pine, Pinyon Pine, and Alligator Juniper.
The Brownlow trail system is part of Pioneer Park and is primarily located on the west side of Commerce Drive in the northwesterly section of Prescott. Individual trails do not have names and are instead identified by a color or as 10K or 5K. The trails are typically easily-hiked dirt paths.
March 4, 2025 at 12:26 AM
The Brownlow trail system is part of Pioneer Park and is primarily located on the west side of Commerce Drive in the northwesterly section of Prescott. Individual trails do not have names and are instead identified by a color or as 10K or 5K. The trails are typically easily-hiked dirt paths.
Prescott has one shopping mall, which is located on the east side of town and is called Pine Ridge Marketplace. It's attractive and well-maintained but, like many malls, has seen a large decline in shoppers and tenants. Penneys and Dillards are the anchor stores and seem to do fairly well, though.
March 2, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Prescott has one shopping mall, which is located on the east side of town and is called Pine Ridge Marketplace. It's attractive and well-maintained but, like many malls, has seen a large decline in shoppers and tenants. Penneys and Dillards are the anchor stores and seem to do fairly well, though.
Most trails in the Prescott National Forest can be hiked with a good pair of walking shoes, but there are some trails that are best done with lightweight hiking boots. I currently wear Dunham Cloud Mid-Cut boots, which do well on slippery trails although their durability remains an open question.
March 1, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Most trails in the Prescott National Forest can be hiked with a good pair of walking shoes, but there are some trails that are best done with lightweight hiking boots. I currently wear Dunham Cloud Mid-Cut boots, which do well on slippery trails although their durability remains an open question.