These are not the Santa Catalina Mountains – 5/15/2017

A fin of rock below Wolcott Peak in Ironwood Forest National Monument. May 2017.
A fin of rock below Wolcott Peak in Ironwood Forest National Monument. May 2017.

Ironwood Forest National Monument preserves a beautiful piece of the Sonoran desert north west of the Santa Catalina Mountains. This site is focused on the Santa Catalina Mountains, which is already more than I could hope to cover and experience in my lifetime, but everything is connected…

I am not enough of a dreamer to visualize a map of Arizona with more than modest additions to our public lands, but in what what was clearly a bit of laughable optimism, I also never even considered a map where our public lands receive less protection.

Ironwood flowers against a clear blue sky - from a hike around Wolcott Peak. May 2017.
Ironwood flowers against a clear blue sky – from a hike around Wolcott Peak. May 2017.

Ironwood Forest National Monument is included in the Department of the Interior’s Review of Certain National Monuments Established Since 1996. I am disappointed with the government’s decision to conduct this review at all – but the inclusion of Ironwood National Monument is especially exasperating – the area is just so beautiful and important.

More convincing than any words I could write is a visit to the area – the Friends of Ironwood Forest National Monument have a ‘Visit’ section on their website that has useful information – it is a tough time of year for hiking in the desert but even just a drive into the area is a very very very worthwhile activity.

Sun and blooming Saguaro in Ironwood Forest National Monument. May 2017.
Sun and blooming Saguaro in Ironwood Forest National Monument. May 2017.

Comments on the review are open until 7/10/2017, please consider commenting – some links you might find interesting/helpful:

Sun, Ragged Top and a blooming Ironwood - near the parking for Ragged Top in Ironwood Forest National Monument. May 2017.
Sun, Ragged Top and a blooming Ironwood – near the parking for Ragged Top in Ironwood Forest National Monument. May 2017.

PS – The comment period closes 6/2/2017 on Proposed I-11 routes – I-11 could potentially put a major highway between Saguaro National Park and Ironwood Forest National Monument significantly, and I believe, negatively impacting the Avra Valley area – this short post from the Friends of Ironwood Forest National Monument is a very concise summary of the issues with links to more information.

Black Hills Mine Road, Control Road Loop – 7/23/2016

Cactus and stone - exploring near the Black Hills Mine Road. July 2016.
Cactus and stone – exploring near the Black Hills Mine Road. July 2016.

Friends are hiking on the top of the mountain trying to escape the heat – but it is just so hot that it seems like a good day for a slow drive on the east side – sometimes with the windows down, sometimes with the A/C on – beautiful views and short walks from the Black Hills Mine Road and the Control Road.

The ridge north of Edgar Canyon with Point 6053 in the center - from the Control Road. July 2016.
The ridge north of Edgar Canyon with Point 6053 in the center – from the Control Road. July 2016.
Sun thru the Mesquite. July 2016.
Sun thru the Mesquite. July 2016.

Agua Caliente to La Milagrosa Canyon Trail Loop – 2/7/2016

A strange desert monster. February 2016.
A strange desert monster. February 2016.

The La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop is not a pristine wilderness experience – the walk thru the neighborhood at the beginning and end, old fence line, tanks, views of the city – but don’t be be fooled, the saguaros, flowers, water, big canyon walls and fun trails are too good resist…

Falling water in La Milagrosa Canyon. February 2016.
Falling water in La Milagrosa Canyon. February 2016.
Saguaro and Sun from the La Milagrosa Trail. February 2016.
Saguaro and Sun from the La Milagrosa Trail. February 2016.

Sutherland Wash Rock Art District – 1/30/2016

The Sutherland Wash Rock Art District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Located in and around Sutherland Wash the area holds an incredible number of Hohokam petroglyphs. Ceramics and artifacts found in the area indicate that it was inhabited by the Hohokam between 1000 A.D and 1300 A.D. The water in the area would certainly have been an attraction and researchers have identified probable prehistoric trails both to the top of the Santa Catalina Mountains and to nearby locations such as Romo Peak pass thru this area. (The Romo Cache was found on Romo Peak and contains 100,000 beads and a number of copper bells) .

Flower petroglyph. January 2016.
Flower petroglyph. January 2016.

In Flower World Imagery in Petroglyphs: Hints of Hohokam Cosmology on the Landscape by Janine Hernbrode and Peter Boyle the petroglyph above is identified as a flower – from a BorderLore post:

There are more than 600 petroglyph panels in the district, including many representations of flowers, butterflies and birds. Such imagery is characteristic of a spiritual landscape known as the Flower World. In this Uto-Aztecan belief system of ancient Mesoamerican origin, believers evoked a flowery, colorful, glittering paradise through prayers, songs, and other actions. The likelihood of this connection is strengthened by the discovery of Mesoamerican copper bells at Honey Bee Village (a nearby Hohokam settlement) and in a cache of Hohokam artifacts found near the rock art district.

A panel of petroglyphs in the Sutherland Rock Art District. January 2016.
A panel of petroglyphs in the Sutherland Rock Art District. January 2016.
Female anthropomorph and flowers. Januaru 2016.
Female anthropomorph and flowers. January 2016.

Gender in Hohokam Imagery and Landscape: Sutherland Wash Rock Art District, Coronado National Forest, Arizona by Janine Hernbrode and Peter Boyle examines gender in the Sutherland Wash Rock Art District – out of the 419 anthropomorphs at the site 64 male and 65 female figures were identified – the image above clearly matches the female characteristics described in the paper.

Zoomorph. January 2016.
Zoomorph. January 2016.

Even more common than the anthropomorphic petroglyphs at the site are representations of animals – it is difficult to tell what animal is represented above, but interesting to dream about what people were seeing in this area 1,000 years ago…

Prison Camp, Thimble Peak, Bear Canyon – 11/28/2015

The route out to Thimble Peak from Bear Canyon. November 2015.
The route out to Thimble Peak from Bear Canyon. November 2015.

A sea of grass out to the Thimble, a ribbon of color down Sabino Canyon, looking up Bear Canyon to and past the Sycamore Reservoir Dam, back lit Saguaros and sunset light in Bear Canyon – every trip into the mountains is another chance to see something new – even the most familiar places are constantly changing, different light, season, weather, colors, wildlife, plants, friends… – and this was a particularly amazing day.

Looking down Sabino Canyon, a ribbon of color in the desert - from just below the base of Thimble Peak. November 2015.
Looking down Sabino Canyon, a ribbon of color in the desert – from just below the base of Thimble Peak. November 2015.
Saguaros in the sunlight - from the Bear Canyon Trail, above Seven Falls. November 2015.
Saguaros in the sunlight – from the Bear Canyon Trail, above Seven Falls. November 2015.
Bear Canyon - Sunset light and clear blue winter sky - a sea of Saguaros - from the road. November 2015.
Bear Canyon – Sunset light and clear blue winter sky – a sea of Saguaros – from the road. November 2015.