Month: May 2015

Fires, Disease, Bighorns Thriving, Summer, Climbing Accident – 5/31/2015

Posted - Charles Miles

No fire restrictions in place on Mt. Lemmon despite recent fire – Monica Garcia – KVOA.com – The article notes that despite multiple fires in Southern Arizona there are no current fire restrictions – and then explains that the Forest Service has a series of tests they use to determine if restrictions are warranted. Current conditions are apparently not (yet!) dry/hot enough yet for restrictions to go into effect.

Delayed Tucson fire season arrives for holiday weekend – Tom Beal – Arizona Daily Star: Today (5/31/2015) Inciweb has 3 fires listed in the Coronado National Forest (Aliso, Oak Tree, Research) – fire season is certainly here…

State trying to protect bighorn sheep from diseases – Cam Chery – Yuma Sun: Domesticated Sheep and Pack Goats can transmit potentially fatal diseases to Bighorn Sheep – deaths in the Silverbell herd of Bighorn are specifically mentioned as being attributed to domestic goats. Spatial separation of the Bighorns and domestic Sheep and Goats is mentioned as the most important management technique for keeping the Bighorn Sheep disease free.

Reintroduced Bighorns Thriving in Santa Catalina Mountains – AZPM, Positive signs for bighorns: breeding and lamb survival – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: 40 of the released Sheep are known to be alive, no deaths in 5 months, lambs being born/surviving and evidence of breeding in the Santa Catalina Mountains – very positive news for the Santa Catalina Bighorn!

100 days of summer June 25-July 1 – Arizona Daily Star: A 9PM Tram Ride up Sabino Canyon and a trip up to Summerhaven are both mentioned – probably nothing new to anyone reading this but both such good ideas!

Rock climber injured in accident on Mt. Lemmon – Arizona Daily Star, Injured man rescued near Windy Point – Brent Corrado – KGUN9: A rappelling accident in the Windy Point area – 45ft fall, non-life threatening injuries.

The June SARCI SARNews Newsletter reports incidents on the Phoneline, Bear, Ventana Canyon and Green Mountain Trails and at Seven Falls and Tanque Verde Canyon.

Pontatoc Canyon – 5/24/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

The water seems to be almost gone from Pontatoc Canyon – there was only a single small pool along the Pontatoc Canyon Trail, crowded with Water Striders – waiting for the summer rains I guess.

1505 Water Strider in Pontatoc Canyon
A Water Strider in a shrinking pool in Pontatoc Canyon. May 2015.

After crossing Pontatoc Canyon for the last time the trail becomes increasingly faint – for awhile I lost the trail, eventually wandering back onto the thin track thru the Shin Daggers – after a short break at the end of the trail it was time to head down…

1505 Point 5391 from the Pontatoc Canyon Trail
Looking up at Point 5391 from the Pontatoc Canyon Trail. May 2015.
1505 Old Platform off the Pontatoc Canyon Trail
An old platform near the Pontatoc Canyon Trail. May 2015.

Sycamore Reservoir and Bear Canyon, Racing with Friends – 5/23/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1505 Richard on the way down to Sycamore Reservoir
RA running down the Sycamore Reservoir Trail. May 2015.

The gate at the entrance to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site is closed, the sun is hot and Sycamore Canyon is dry – summer! And a simple day out with friends enjoying the trails!!

1505 Butterfly Weed
Butterfly Weed along the Sycamore Reservoir Trail. May 2015.
1505 Bear Canyon and the Bear Canyon Trail
Looking at the Bear Canyon Trail disappearing down towards Seven Falls. May 2015.
1505 The Blue Line
The ‘Blue Line’ – a well known landmark along the Bear Canyon Trail. May 2015.