Rest In Peace Duchess

I've been to the Phoenix Zoo a number of times over the years while living in Arizona, and have seen Duchess many times while there.  Rest in peace, Duchess.  You lived a good long life. 

Photo Credit:  Phoenix Zoo

Story Credit:  Reuters

(Reuters) - A beloved Bornean orangutan, reported by zoo keepers to be the oldest in captivity in North America, died at the Phoenix Zoo on Sunday after a weeks-long battle with cancer, officials said. She was 52.

Duchess, considered the matriarch of the Phoenix Zoo and one of its original animals, was euthanized on Sunday morning after her condition worsened from high-grade lymphosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer, officials said.

"The cancer was incredibly aggressive and over the past few days, Duchess became increasingly weak and more lethargic," Gary West, executive vice president of animal health and collections, said in a statement. "The veterinary staff, alongside the keepers, made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize her."

Duchess was diagnosed with the cancer earlier this month after zoo officials first noticed a decrease in her appetite, among other symptoms. An ultrasound test revealed the cancer.

West said efforts were made to make Duchess "as comfortable as possible" in her final days.

The popular primate, who had been living at the zoo for 50 years, was born in the jungles of Borneo where she was orphaned at a young age, zoo officials said. She arrived at the Phoenix Zoo when she was 2 years old.

During her life, she gave birth to seven offspring, outliving four of them. Her family eventually spanned four living generations.

"Although we are deeply saddened by Duchess's passing, she long surpassed the number of years that orangutans live in zoos and preserves, as well as in the wild," Bert Castro, zoo president and chief executive, said in a statement.
Zoo officials said it is common for orangutans to live 30 years in the wild and an estimated 40 years in captivity.

Duchess had taken a place among the zoo's royalty over the years, and was feted with an all-day celebration in March 2010, marking her 50th birthday with a frozen treat with her favorite fruit inside, a giant birthday card and a "Happy Birthday" song from visitors.

The event was used to kick-off a fund-raising campaign for a $4 million orangutan exhibit, which opened in April 2011.

News of Duchess' death spread quickly on social media, prompting an outpouring of remembrances of the orangutan.

"Your spirit lives on in our hearts and our memories," one poster wrote on the Phoenix Zoo's Facebook page. Another wryly said, "RIP (Rest In Peace) Duchess... thanks for entertaining all of us 'humans' for so many years."

(Editing by Mary Slosson and Sandra Maler)

Spur Cross Conservation Area - Part 4 - A Snake in the Grass

As usual, I had a great time on the Full Moon Hike. There were quite a few people there, but only Roger and I from our group. Because there were so many people there, Kevin told us we'd be hiking on the Metate Trail. We ended up hiking to a spot that overlooks Cottonwood Canyon before turning around and coming back down.

A short ways into the hike, we came upon a Diamondback rattlesnake. I believe I was somewhere in the middle of the group when Kevin saw it. It was lying right by the side of the trail, coiled up. It was in plain sight as there were no trees or bushes around it. Kevin stood by the other side of the trail and we all walked behind him to get by the snake. (I'm positive he was staring at me with his beady eyes as I went by!)

We also saw the cutest little owl off to the side of the trail. Kevin said it was a screech owl; Roger thinks it was a burrowing owl. It was the cutest little thing - so tiny!

A little further down the trail, Kevin showed us a tarantula's hole. We could see a little bit of her in there if we looked right over the hole.

It was starting to get dark as we made our way up to a portion of the trail overlooking Cottonwood Canyon. The view of the moon over the mountains was so beautiful!  We then turned around and hiked back to the parking lot and our cars. I had a great time, as usual.  My one big regret is that I didn’t have my camera with me so I don’t have a photo of that very cute owl or the Diamondback. 

Spur Cross Conservation Area - Part 3 - Another Full Moon Hike and a Bit More History

This was another really nice Full Moon Hike. We hiked basically the same trail, but with a bit of a modification. Kevin also showed us some interesting things on the trail and shared with us a bit of the history of the area.

I hiked mainly with two women, Wilma and, I can't remember the other woman's name, but at the end of the hike we were jokingly calling her Pebbles as she's a bit younger than Wilma. They had their dogs with them - Bo and Ginger. Bo is a larger dog who is very sweet-tempered and gentle. Ginger is a little Chihuahua who is also very sweet-tempered and likes to be held. "Pebbles" is an animal lover like I am so we had a nice chat at the beginning of the hike about how our pets had come to adopt us. Pebbles is really nice and Wilma is a riot!

Right after crossing Cave Creek, we went onto the Metate Trail for a bit so that Kevin could show us the site of the original Spur Cross Ranch. It's a fascinating story and you can read more about it by reading the blog posting for the Metate Trail hike. He also showed us a "fence" that he had made that day out of ocotillo cactus. For some reason, the cactus had to be dug up so they replanted it. They reinforced it with some wire so that the wind wouldn't blow it over. They plan to add to the fence and make it much larger. It will be interesting to see how it comes along.

Instead of hiking out and back like we did last time, we made a loop of sorts. We turned off and went through a wash for awhile. At one point, Kevin showed us where someone had erected a number of cairns. (A cairn is a non-naturally occurring pile of stones erected by a person or persons. They are built for several purposes.)  They call the area "Spurhenge". (lol) He showed us something else that was really interesting. I was going to take a picture of it, but I didn't think it would turn out. Anyway, it was a fairly large tree on the top of a large boulder. On the side and toward the bottom of the boulder was a very large hole through which the roots of the tree were coming. I had never seen anything quite like it.

Further up the trail, we went off it a bit so that Kevin could show us what remained of about five rooms in which the Hohokam Indians lived about 1,000 years ago. There are other similar sites in the Spur Cross Conservation Area, but they are larger (one has twenty-eight rooms).

I love the Full Moon Hikes out there. I can't wait for the next one!

(I took a few pictures, but they didn’t turn out very well.)

Happy Father's Day

Here’s wishing all the Dads out there a very happy Father’s Day.  My heart goes out to all who have lost their Dads, but I know they are in your hearts on not only this special day, but every day.  I feel very blessed to be able to have called my Dad today and not only wish him a happy Father’s Day, but also to chat about so many different things, as we often do.  His commitment to his family and the integrity with which he lives his life knows no bounds, and oh that sense of humor!  Happy Father’s Day Dad – I love you.   

Spur Cross Conservation Area - Part 2 Moonlight Hike on the Tortuga Trail

For the second post in this series on the Spur Cross Conservation Area, I thought I would write about a moonlight hike I once took out there.  This would be my second moonlight hike (the first being on South Mountain) and I couldn’t wait for it.  Hiking in the mountains at night is an amazing experience and the moon provides beautiful (and very reliable!) light.

We all gathered at the Spur Cross Conservation Area before the hike. Just outside of Cave Creek, this is one of my favorite areas in the Valley. I had never been out there as the day is drawing to a close and the area had a different feel to it; quieter somehow. The mountains had a different look to them so I took a couple of pictures before stopping at the Spur Cross Ranch to watch the horses for awhile. The horses, the peace and quiet, and friendly waves from strangers as I passed them on the road all contributed to the small town feel of the area and I felt very far removed from the hustle and bustle of "the big city".

After we had all gathered, the ranger who would lead the hike told us a little bit about the Spur Cross Conservation Area, plans for the area's future, and the trail on which we would hike, which was to be the Tortuga Trail.

I had wanted to hike this trail for quite some time so now I was really excited to get going. Before we headed out, the ranger introduced us to the three volunteers who would be assisting with the hike. He assured us that one of the volunteers would be at the back of the group at all times to ensure that nobody was left behind. He also joked that if anybody was going to be bitten by a snake if would probably be him as he was the first in line.

So then we were on our way. I hiked mainly with some women that I met on a trail a few days before. It was already dark by the time we got started but I had been on the trail that led to the Tortuga Trail before, so I knew my way somewhat. To get to the Tortuga Trail, we had to cross a very narrow portion of Cave Creek by stepping over some rocks. The first portion of the Tortuga Trail (basically an old jeep road) is a gradual climb and was the most difficult portion of the trail.

Once we got to the top of this climb, we stopped to enjoy the view a bit and let the rest of the group catch up. (I must be well on my way to regaining my strength and stamina after being sick. I was never at the back of the group and that's after already hiking North Lookout Mountain - both circumference and summit - that morning!) The ranger told us a little bit about the changes that would be made to the trails in this area and we were on our way again.

I remember a particularly nice view of the moon and mountains at this point. Although I wish I had a nice picture of it, I doubt I'll soon forget it. There are also a large number of large saguaro cactus and some baby cholla cactus along the trail. The saguaros looked majestic silhouetted against the sky, while the baby cholla stood in nature's spotlight.

Because the hike was led by someone who knew what he was doing in addition to ensuring that everyone was accounted for and nobody was left behind, I was able to relax and just enjoy the hike and everything it had to offer. I can't wait until next month's Full Moon Hike!

On the way out to the Spur Cross Conservation Area.

Another view after just rounding the corner above.



A few of the horses that live in the area.

Another shot of the horses.

A nice shot of Elephant Mountain.

So peaceful as the sun is setting.

Some of the group on the trail.



Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area – Part 1 – Metate Trail

The Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area is one of my favorite places to hike, so I thought I’d post a series of places and trails I’ve hiked in the area beginning with the Metate Trail.  Encompassing 2,154 acres, the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area is located north of Phoenix just outside of Cave Creek.  It’s a beautiful place to hike and the trails range from the easy Metate Trail to the more challenging Elephant Mountain.  One can either hike with friends or participate in the many ranger-led hikes that are offered.  See here for a full listing of upcoming ranger-led hikes. 

The Spur Cross Ranch Conservation area is rich in history and, in this series, I’ll be sharing the stories of Edward M. Joyce and Philip K. Lewis, the Beaubien family, and the Hohokams, as well as photos of the numerous archaeological sites, wildlife, and desert vegetation.

 

Metate Trail

This very easy 1.3 mile, ranger-led hike turned out to be very interesting as I learned more about the Spur Cross Ranch as it was in the 1940's and 1950's. After the hike, I did some reading and learned how the Spur Cross Ranch came to be. Very interesting story!

The Metate Trail is named for an old Native American grinding stone that is found along the trail. Also along the trail one can see large saguaro cactus and what remains of the original Spur Cross Ranch. The first of the area's guest ranches, all that is left of the old Spur Cross Ranch is the remains of a swimming pool (barely visible) and a crumbling foundation.

Spur Cross Ranch was established in 1928 under some very unusual circumstances. The owners, Edward M. Joyce and Philip K. Lewis, met while both were in the state penitentiary. Upon their release, they decided to go into the guest ranch business together. Their land adjoined the Tonto National Forest on the north and straddled both the stream of Cave Creek and Spur Cross Road, and included almost all of Elephant Butte, which is the site of ancient Indian ruins. 

A few famous guests stayed at the ranch around this time, including W.H. Kellogg. After his stay in Cave Creek, and upon returning to his ranch in California, Kellogg sent Edward Joyce an Arabian stallion named Jeremiah. One of Joyce's prized possessions was Patches, a trick horse that would entertain guests with his stunts. According to legend, Joyce once rode Patches into the dining room of the upscale Westward Ho Hotel in Phoenix in an effort to publicize Spur Cross Ranch.

Warren Beaubien and his wife, Billie, owned and ran the ranch, a hustling and bustling beehive of activity, from 1945 until Warren's death in 1953 from injuries he sustained when the plane he was flying crashed approximately one mile from the ranch house. Guests would be met at Sky Harbor Airport by Warren and be driven the forty miles to the ranch in Warren's wood-paneled station wagon where they would be greeted by a strawberry-roan burro named Red. Guests (the Spur Cross Ranch could accommodate 24) found the names of the cabins - Mesquite, Palo Verde, Ocotillo, Saguaro - to be quite exotic.

Guests enjoyed hearty breakfasts, horseback rides, home cooking, parties, music by local musicians, dancing, fiddle music, and Christmas parties complete with a Christmas tree in the barn and the arrival of Santa Claus. There were also occasional trips to Nogales. The residents of Cave Creek were always welcome. (The last big party held at the Spur Cross Ranch for the residents of Cave Creek was the Lions Club picnic in 1954. It was a large social gathering where the guests enjoyed a cook out and a scavenger hunt for elaborate prizes.)

An accomplished pilot, Warren Beaubien had cleared a strip of land that was of emergency character at best and very unsafe. While on the trail, we were able to see where the landing strip was located (it had been 1,400 feet long when used by Beaubien). It was lined on either side by a row of mesquite trees, and was subject to flash flooding which would leave it gullied and strewn with boulders. There was also the danger of updrafts and gusts of wind due to the fact that the landing strip was located in a narrow canyon. (Beaubien also owned an airplane - a silver Ercoupe complete with the name of the ranch emblazoned on the fuselage with a minimum flying speed of 60 mph - but it's unclear whether this is the plane he crashed into Cave Creek. One account of the crash claims that the plane in which he was flying when he crashed was borrowed.)

According to Audrey Beaubien Woodward, her father's plane crashed against the embankment in Cave Creek Wash, just north of the ranch, after the engine cut out while he was circling to land on the afternoon of September 9, 1954. He was returning from a trip to Santa Ana, California. Badly burned in the crash, Beaubien managed to crawl to the ranch house and was later found on the front porch by his daughter, Eileen. Prior plans had been made by the two that he would buzz her house in Phoenix upon returning from California and she would go immediately to the ranch to meet him. This is exactly what happened, but she didn't expect to find her father sitting on the porch with severe burns and broken bones. He died in a Phoenix hospital three days later, surrounded by his family.

After Beaubien's death, the ranch was sold and the new owners demolished the buildings. While on the trail, we were able to see the crumbling foundation of the original ranch house. We were also able to see where the swimming pool once was. (I believe it was also around here that we saw some fresh javelina tracks!) The Metate trail is an interesting one, made even more interesting when one knows a bit of the history of the Spur Cross Ranch.

Beginning of the hike

Beautiful Scenery

More Beautiful Scenery

Cave Creek - this is one of my favorite photos of the area

Warren Beaubien landed his plane on this very spot many years ago.

Native American Grinding Stone

The area is known for its large cactus.

And some people think Arizona is nothing but a big sandbox! 

You can view more pictures of this hike here.