Month: June 2016

“CENTS FOR SEEDS” – 1968, Oracle – 6/3/2016

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
A humming bird perches in the shade near the Lower Oracle Ridge Trailhead. June 2016.
A hummingbird perches in the shade near the Lower Oracle Ridge Trailhead. June 2016.

In Oracle on an errand I hiked from the Lower Oracle Ridge Trailhead on the Oracle Ridge Trail – it was a hot day and I didn’t have time to go very far, but it didn’t matter – it was just great to spend a few minutes on the trail.

Cents for Seeds sign at FR4454. June 2016.
“CENTS FOR SEEDS” sign at FR4454. June 2016.

There is an interesting Coronado National Forest sign on the Cody Loop Road – the sign, on a small road in Oracle, and information, about a project from the late 1960s, seem, at best, obscure – but old newspaper articles quickly fill in the gaps – from the Tucson Daily Citizen, Friday, January 12, 1968, Page 13:

The second “cents-for-seeds” marker, sponsored by the Arizona Federation of Women’s Clubs (AFWC) and the Arizona Federation of Junior Women’s Clubs (AFJWC), will be unveiled and dedicated Wednesday at 2 p.m. The ceremony will take place near Camp Sue, Arizona Children’s Colony Lodge, Oracle. The day’s program will begin at 11 a.m. and Clyde W. Doran, forest supervisor, Coronado National Forest, will be master of ceremonies. Mrs. E. M. Bredwell, president of the AFWC, will talk on the “cents-for-seeds” project. Mrs. James R. Higgs, president of the AFJWC, will speak on the conservation activities of the AFJWC. Luncheon will be served by the Arizona-New Mexico Forest Products Industries Committee. Members of the Oracle Woman’s Club will be luncheon hostesses. The combined membership of these two statewide organizations is over 6,000. [?]11 member clubs support the “cents-for-seeds” project, which involves collecting funds for the reseeding of Arizona National Forests damaged by fires. Markers are erected to remind the traveling public of its responsibility to protect the land.

And more information about the fire from The Arizona Republic, Wednesday, January 17, 1968, Page 9:

The U.S. Forest Service will erect a large redwood sign commemorating the reseeding of the burn, which blackened more than 1,450 acres of grass and scrub oak near Oracle last May 20. The fire, which cost $80,000 to suppress, was started by children. It burned for two days and at one time threatened Oracle. No buildings were destroyed although the flames came as close as a quarter-mile to some Oracle homes.

Balloons - now trash - near the Arizona Trail outside of Oracle. June 2016.
Balloons – now trash – near the Arizona Trail outside of Oracle. June 2016.

More balloon trash – Balloons in the Backcountry…

Ray Spring Hill and Ray Spring – 6/3/2016

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Looking towards the Mountains with American Flag Hill, Rice Peak and Apache Peak (left to right) visible. June 2016.
Looking towards the Santa Catalina Mountains from Ray Spring Hill with American Flag Hill, Rice Peak and Apache Peak (left to right) visible – trash in the foreground. June 2016.

Thru Oracle, onto Mount Lemmon Road, past Oracle State Park and the C.O.D. Ranch is a rough dirt road that leads to the top of Ray Spring Hill. ‘Hill’ is good description, it is neither particularly high nor steep – but it does have a nice view of the San Pedro River Valley and the Santa Catalina Mountains. Unfortunately the short drive from the highway has probably contributed to the state of the hill – moderately trashed: beer cans, liquor bottles, the odd shell casing, broken glass, a few last pieces of trash cleared out of the back of a truck. The trash takes some of the joy out of visiting this little hill – it needs some love…

Ray Spring Hill, Ray Spring Wash and Ray Spring south of the Kannally Ranch in Oracle State Park and East of the C.O.D. Ranch on Mount Lemmon Road. June 2016.
Ray Spring Hill, Ray Spring Wash and Ray Spring south of the Kannally Ranch in Oracle State Park and East of the C.O.D. Ranch on Mount Lemmon Road. June 2016.

Ray Spring Wash is below the hill to the north – less used than the hill my short walk in the bottom of the wash is a much nicer experience – Fried Eggs, Cholla, Cottonwoods and small path of dry sand eventually lead to what I assume is Ray Spring – a dry but interesting landmark at the head of the wash. Be respectful of land ownership boundaries while exploring in this area – only a small part of Ray Spring Wash is on Forest Service land – private land, State Park Land and State Trust Land all claim parts of the wash…

Fried Egg in Ray Spring Wash near Ray Spring. June 2016.
Fried Egg in Ray Spring Wash near Ray Spring. June 2016.
Ray Spring. June 2016.
Ray Spring. June 2016.