Month: June 2014

News – Fire Prep and Bighorn Update

Posted - Charles Miles

Metro Week: Fire Season Underway, Prep Began Months Ago and Lookouts at Forefront of Fire Spotting – Arizona Public Media – Two articles about the fire season preparations on Mount Lemmon including some interesting details about the Lemmon Rock Lookout.

Bighorn Reintroduction status update for June 9 – June 22, 2014 (updates are currently available here) – no mortalities during this period and the report notes that all 5 of the lambs born this season are alive, healthy and growing. There is a great picture in the report of ram 641 in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness in June and some notes about his movements including that he has covered areas from Sutherland Ridge all the way over to Sabino Canyon!

Sycamore Reservoir, Seasonal Gate Closure – 2014/6/25

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Enjoyed a beautiful night for a run on the Sycamore Reservoir Trail last night – the highlight may have been the beautiful rattlesnake coiled on the trail, what an amazing sight!

If you have not been to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site recently note that the gates to the lower parking are have been closed – the upper parking area is open and there is no closure of trails or of foot/bike/horse travel on road thru the campground – you can still enjoy hiking in the area!

1406 Seasonal Closure
Seasonal Gate Closure in the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area.

Sunset and Marshall Gulch Trails – 2014/6/23

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1406 Sunset Trail
A clear sunny day on the Sunset Trail – nice contrast to my last hike here in a March winter storm… June 2014.

In March of this year I visited the Sunset Trail during a beautiful winter storm – today it was all sun with hardly a cloud in the sky! The Sunset Trailhead was busier than I expected – it was great to see so many people on the trail. I enjoyed the trees, the views, the water in Marshall Gulch and all of the green!

1406 Ferns on the Marshall Gulch Trail
Ferns and Green on the Marshall Gulch Trail! June 2014.

 

1406 Trees and Shade near the start of the Sunset Trail
Trees along the Sunset Trail – both the Sunset and Marshall Gulch Trails have sections of big trees and more open sections cleared by fire. June 2014.

Point 4831 (Weathertop) and Point 4773 (The Ruins) – 2014/6/22

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Southeast, and above, the Molino Canyon Overlook there is an impressive ridge – I have been up to the ridge a number of times to climb at The Ruins, but had never spent any time hiking or exploring in the area… Arriving at the Molino Canyon Overlook at 5pm meant we had just over 2.5 hours to get to Point 4831 and see the sunset on this long summer day – plenty of time for several breaks in the shade along the steep climber’s trail to the ridge.

1406 The Ruins to Point 4831
A view from the ridge – climbing area ‘The Ruins’ on the left, Agua Caliente Hill center, Point 4831 on the right (above the Weathertop climbing area). June 2014.

Ridge – Point 4773 (above the Ruins) – and then on to Point 4831. The trail is – mostly – easy to follow, only occasionally disappearing. The top seems so close! False peak… We continue along the path, under Point 4831 to a great rocky ledge with an old fire ring – a nice spot to sit and enjoy the sunset.

1406 Faint Clouds in the Sunset
Sunset from a rocky ledge below Point 4831. June 2014.

We watch the cars and city light as it gets dark – 

1406 Fading Light from near Point 4831
Watching the fading light – car lights on the highway and the Tucson City Lights in the background. June 2014.

and eventually turn on our headlamps and head down… 3.5 miles, 1000′ of elevation gain/loss – there is a well used climber’s trail from the Molino Canyon Overlook up to the ridge but note that it is not an official trail.

News – Oro Valley Fire, Radios, Rescue…

Posted - Charles Miles

New radios a life saver when it comes to dead spots on Mt. Lemmon – KGUN9 – New radios for the Mount Lemmon Fire Department that will improve coverage!

Oracle brush fire destroys house, sheds – Arizona Daily Star – 20 acres, 1 house and several sheds burned in the fire.

Oro Valley council discusses Steam Pump Ranch plan – The Explorer Newspaper – The Oro Valley town council continues to discuss the plan for the Steam Pump Ranch – no decision was reached.

Catalina State Park offers folk concert – Arizona Daily Star – “The folk band Fried Squirrel will perform at Catalina State Park at 6:30 p.m. July 5.” – there will be free popcorn and a raffle for a Jeep Cherokee ($25, prize awarded in November).

Hikers Rescued in Romero Canyon – PCSD – and a picture from the Southern Arizona Rescue Association – The hikers lost the trail and ended up in Romero Canyon where they eventually called for a rescue.