Month: December 2014

Death, Survey, Slipping, Passes, Warming

Posted - Charles Miles

The Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project Status update for 12/4 to 12/17 is now available (all updates are currently available here). Two reported mortalities – the death of ewe 435 by a mountain lion and ewe 649 who is now presumed dead (a malfunctioning collar delayed confirmation of this mortality – the helicopter survey observed bones  near 649’s last position). On 12/3 a helicopter survey of the Bighorn population was conducted – 15 sheep and 1 lamb were spotted – the survey was conducted without the use of the GPS data from the collars to help establish an observation rate for future years/surveys.

Mt. Lemmon firefighters face unique challenges in the snow – Christina Myers – KGUN9: Interesting details about the winter challenges/duties of the Firefighters with the Mt. Lemmon Fire District – “the most frequent calls in the snow are for hypothermia, people slipping on ice and falling over the edge, and sledding accidents.”

Man falls, injured while hiking in Seven Falls – Brent Corrado – KGUN9: “A man was injured after slipping and falling while hiking in Seven Falls on Sunday morning.”

Coronado Passes and Permits – Annual and Daily Passes for Coronado National Forest are now available for purchase online. When you are purchasing a pass you can either select a ‘self-print’ option or have the pass mailed to you (currently shipping costs start at 4.95) – a $1.95 convenience fee is added per permit (there are a number of self-pay stations (cash and correct change needed) on the mountain where day passes can be purchased without printing/shipping/convenience fee – additional information on fees can be found on the Coronado National Forest Passes and Permits Page). Interagency Annual Passes (which covers standard fees at Forest Service, National Park and BLM sites) and Notice of Required Fee resolution are also available online. Note that most trailheads in the Santa Catalina Mountains do NOT require a fee.

Arizona Game And Fish – materials from meetings of the Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project Advisory Committee: Arizona Game and Fish recently released meeting notes for the Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Advisory Committee meetings in response to a public records request (see Catalina Bighorn Sheep Advisory Committee – Meeting Notes, Public Records Request for more details) – this AZGF page has the notes (as PDFs) and additional information including some responses to criticisms/questions the release of the notes generated.

Presumed death of bighorn brings criticism of state’s tracking – Craig Reck – Tucson News Now: Concerns about counting/tracking sheep in the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Warming trend begins – Arizona Daily Star.

Aspen Draw, Aspen and Marshall Gulch Trail Loop – 12/19/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1412 Enjoying untouched snow on Radio Ridge
Enjoying the snow on Radio Ridge near the Aspen Draw Trail. December 2014.

Winter Wonderland – after months and months (and months) of summer it feels like this has never happened before and might never happen again, hard to remember that every year, sooner or later, the mountain is covered in snow. Summerhaven was full of people – the trails were nearly empty, and the conditions perfect! Aspen Draw Trail, Aspen Trail, Marshall Gulch Trail Loop – 7.4 miles, 1600′ of elevation gain/loss.

1412 Snow and Snow on the Aspen Draw Trail
Sun and snow on the Aspen Draw Trail! December 2014.
1412 Snow on the Aspen Trail with the junction sign in the distance
Snow on the Aspen Trail near the junction with the Wilderness of Rock, Mint Spring and Marshall Gulch Trail. December 2014.

Snow, Passes Online, Helicopters

Posted - Charles Miles

Mt. Lemmon Highway reopened – Tucson News Now, Rain in Tucson, travel restrictions on Mount Lemmon – Arizona Daily Star, Mt. Lemmon receives first snowfall of season – Rikki Mitchell, Rain in Tucson, snow in mountains likely Saturday – Arizona Daily Star: Several articles from the past week about storms with both rain and snow – with more in the forecast! Remember that on snowy days there is always a chance that the highway will close.

Purchase Coronado passes online Friday – Sierra Vista Herald: “Coronado National Forest day and annual passes will be available for purchase online beginning this week.” Check the Coronado National Forest Homepage for details. In the Santa Catalina Mountains travel on the highway, parking at vistas/observation points along the highway, parking at most trailheads (and hiking!) and parking in Summerhaven does NOT require a pass or fee – however developed areas such, as the picnic areas in Bear Canyon, do require a pass.

Plan to use helicopters in Arizona wilderness draws complaints – Brenna Goth – The Arizona Repulic: An article about the Arizona Game and Fish request filed earlier in the year for a Wilderness Act exception to allow helicopter use in an area including the Four Peaks, Hellsgate, Mazatzal, Salt River Canyon and Superstition Wilderness areas. Arizona Game and Fish has made a similar proposal in the Pusch Ridge wilderness that appears to still be under consideration. Project Page – Pusch Ridge Wilderness, Tonto National Forest – as I understand it the comment period for both of these proposals has already ended. While helicopter use would make capturing and studying Bighorn in these Wilderness Areas easier – and I suspect that these requests will be approved – I lament the disturbance of/intrusion on this small portion of our public lands and don’t think this proposal merits an exception to the Wilderness Act.

Box Camp to Sabino Canyon – 12/13/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1412 Rain on the Box Camp Trail
Rain on the Box Camp Trail. December 2014.

The rain turned to sleet sometime after we passed Ski Valley, the drive up had been slightly faster than usual on the empty highway, when we got out of the car at the top of the mountain the area was a wet mess – no winter wonderland, just frozen slush – a change of plans and down…

The clouds were just as solid at the Box Camp Trailhead – but the water falling from the sky was not nearly as frozen. As my ride pulls away the cold makes me shiver, no where to go now but up the trail.

1412 Ridge Disapearing into the Clouds on the Box Camp Trail
On the Box Camp Trail – for an hour all I saw was the trail under my feet and the ridge twisting into the clouds… December 2014.

Lower on the trail, normally home to vast views, I spend a dreamlike hour alternating between watching the loose trail under my feet and the ridge twisting away into the clouds.

1412 Storm from the Box Camp Trail
On the left you can see the saddle where the Sycamore, Bear Canyon and East Fork Trails meet, a bit to the right the East Fork Trail is barely visible as it switchbacks down to the canyon. December 2014.

The grass is heavy with rain and the trail occasionally obscure – lower still the clouds break and views of Palisade Canyon, Sabino Canyon and the East Fork trail emerge. By the time I arrive at the end of the Phoneline Trail the rain is gone – I pull off my shell and head down the empty trail towards the city. Box Camp Trailhead to the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, 12.8 miles, +680’/-5800′ of elevation gain/loss.

1412 Clouds over the Santa Catalina Mountains from Sabino Canyon
Storm – from Sabino Canyon. December 2014.

Milagrosa Loop – 12/12/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1412 Agua Caliente Canyon
Water down-canyon from the trail in Agua Caliente Canyon. December 2014.

In the bottom of Agua Caliente Canyon I leave the trail and spend a few minutes chasing the water down stream across the sand and boulders, surrounded by insects I can not name – in this section of the canyon there are not any towering walls or thundering falls, just intimate moments – a little too soon I find the trail again. Milagrosa/Agua Caliente Loop, 6.9 miles, 1450′ of elevation gain/loss.

1412 Butterfly in Agua Caliente Canyon
Butterfly and flowers in the bottom of Agua Caliente Canyon – lovely to see on a December hike. December 2014.