Month: September 2014

Construction, National Public Lands Day, Trail Dust Days

Posted - Charles Miles

Construction – Mt. Lemmon Highway at Mile Post 18.2 – Construction at milepost 18.2 will mean weekday delays accessing trailheads above San Pedro Vista – from the article:

Construction activities will be concluded on weekdays between the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. During these times, traffic control will be necessary. Travel will be reduced down to one lane of travel with flaggers directing traffic. Construction activities will cause temporary delays in traffic so that heavy equipment can be safely positioned. During non construction hours two lanes of traffic (one in each direction) will be restored.

Celebrate National Public Lands Day with fee free day and activities, KVOA.com, Anthony Victor Reyes – “In celebration of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, Sabino Canyon and Mt. Lemmon will offer a variety of activities and waived Forest Service standard amenity fees.” – see the article for more details.

Tucson Rough Riders Trail Dust Days – The Tucson Rough Riders are a 4WD club founded in 1976. Trail Dust Days will be based in Catalina State Park from October 16-19 and feature games, food, a raffle and off-road runs. See the link for more details – registration is required.

Teenager rescued from Sabino Canyon, KGUN9, Shelby Payne – between Tram stops 8 and 9 – “The 16 year old girl slipped while attempting to jump into a pool of water from a cliff and got stuck onto a ledge approximately 10 feet down.”

Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project Status update for 9/1 to 9/14 was recently released and contained no new details.

Incinerator Ridge to Mount Bigelow – 9/21/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1409 Clouds from the Incinerator Ridge Trail
Clouds from the Incinerator Ridge Trail. September 2014.

The clouds over the mountain looked tempting and tall but I had to drive high on the mountain to get under their shadow – the cloudless blue skies around the mountain hint at higher temperatures to come, I don’t think summer is quite done… Ridgeline Parking Pullout, Incinerator Ridge Trail and Kellogg Trail up to Mount Bigelow. 4 miles, 1000′ of elevation gain/loss.

1409 Indian Paintbrush on the Kellogg Trail
Indian Paintbrush. September 2014.

Prison Camp to Sabino Canyon, a Competition Between Friends – 9/19/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1409 Crossing Bear Canyon on the Sycamore Reservoir Trail
RA crossing Bear Canyon (flowing!) on the Sycamore Reservoir Trail. September 2014.

AT dropped RA and I at the upper parking area of the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site – then we both started towards the Phoneline and Historic Sabino Trail junction. AT’s route was to drive to the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center and then hike/run up the Phoneline Trail. RA and I came down via the Sycamore Reservoir Trail, East Fork Trail, Sabino Canyon Trail and Phoneline Trail.

1409 Scarlet Creeper near Sycamore Reservoir
A Scarlet Creeper among the flowers and green near Sycamore Reservoir on the Sycamore Reservoir Trail. September 2014.

There were amazing flowers near Sycamore Reservoir – both Bear Canyon and Sycamore Canyon were flowing – there were clouds in the distance. We barely paused as we turned onto the Sabino Canyon Trail – as we continued down the trail it seemed like it was getting hotter and hotter.

1409 Richard Consulting with Two Members of the Hat Empire
RA on the Sabino Canyon Trail – we wished for rain from the threatening clouds in the background, but we had very close to zero rain and by the end of our run there were brutally hot patches of full sun. September 2014.

I was surprised by the flowers on the Phoneline Trail – I had expected them near the canyons, but on Phoneline I didn’t expect such a great display. As I approached today’s finish line I was ahead of RA but couldn’t really look for AT – I was tired and the trail was too rocky – but as I got closer and didn’t see AT watching us I hoped I had won…

1409 A present from Alison
Defeat! September 2014.

🙂 12.8 miles, +881’/-2800′ of elevation gain/loss.

Pusch Peak Trail – 9/17/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Clouds were moving in – it was humid, but cooler than many previous days, and it seemed just cool enough for a hike on the Pusch Peak Northwest Side Route – I made it 2 miles and 1700+’ up the trail before the rain and the dark gave me good reasons to stop, take a picture, enjoy a break and return down to the city.

1409 City Lights from the Pusch Peak Trail
City lights from the westside trail up to Pusch Peak – not long after sunset with the rain just starting. September 2014.

Oracle Ridge, Catalina Camp, Red Ridge Loop – 9/12/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1409 Running Down the Oracle Ridge Trail
Running down the Oracle Ridge Trail – massive views, green and flowers! Photo by Korey Konga. September 2014.

When discussing where to go hiking with a visitor to Tucson you can count on the Marshall Gulch Trail and the Aspen Trail getting mentioned in some loop/combination/variation – and certainly there can be NO argument about these being sublime and incredible trails.

But as lovely as those trails are the loop that – for me – has come to best represents the spirit of the Santa Catalina Mountains is the Oracle Ridge – Catalina Camp – Red Ridge loop. This loop has astounding views, steep descents, cows, mines, water, washed out two-track, a bit of pavement, the Arizona Trail, flowers, steep climbing, more steep climbing, bones, big trees, burned areas, One Park Place and even an occasional cactus…

1409 Oracle Ridge Trail two track covered in Flowers
Taking a picture break on Oracle Ridge – flowers covering the old road. September 2014.

The harshness, history and beauty of this loop may be without parallel in the range – 9 miles, 2550′ of elevation gain/loss – with the great company of Korey Konga!

1409 An old mine near the Catalina Camp Trail
Korey checking out a mine not too far from the Catalina Camp Trail. September 2014.