I visited the Chiricahua Mountains this summer with my father. This was my first visit to this extraordinary mountain range, we were there in August, 2011, for 7 days. I took all of the photos in this gallery during that time. It truly is beyond words to explain the impact that this beautiful mountain range has had on me.

A historically huge fire (Horseshoe 2) had brutalized most of these mountains earlier in the year. However, we stayed at Cave Creek Ranch, which remained unscathed from the fire. The only problem with the fire there was the threat of flooding from monsoons further up the mountain.

All of the hummingbirds in this gallery were photographed at Cave Creek Ranch, and many of the other photographs were taken there as well. I have never stayed at a more tranquil setting in my whole life, just being anywhere on that property is breathtaking, as most any view has you looking at a giant red cliff with huge trees all over it, yet the trees look like blades of grass against the huge mountain landscapes.