Month: January 2017

Developed Recreations Areas Budget Gap – 1/31/2017

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Swirling Saguaros in the waters of Ventana Canyon. January 2017. January 2017.
Swirling Saguaros in Ventana Canyon. January 2017.

Today is the first of nine public meetings that the Coronado National Forest is holding in the Santa Catalina Ranger District to explain the details of the Developed Recreation Program and to gather input on potential solutions for restructuring the program – a quote from the CNF’s information page succinctly explains the issue:

The estimated price tag needed to ensure that the CNF’s 204 developed recreation sites remain open, safe, clean, and in good repair is $3.8 million.  The combined revenue currently received to manage these sites is $1.3 million, leaving a gap of $2.5 million annually.  Without action to close the gap, developed recreation facilities and recreation opportunities are threatened.

The suggested strategies to close this gap are Eliminate developed recreation sites, Transfer management of developed recreation sites to concessionaires or partners,  Increase fees or Increase the number of fee sites with the additional suggestion that: “No single strategy will close the gap. Likely, a combination of strategies will align the CNF more closely with sustainability goals.”

The meetings are listed below and comments can be made online.

  • ORO VALLEY –Tuesday, January 31 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive, Oro Valley, AZ.
  • ORACLE – Wednesday, February 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Mountain Vista School Library, 2618 W. El Paseo, Oracle, AZ.
  • TUCSON EAST – Monday, February 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Murphy Wilmot Library, 530 N. Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ.
  • MARANA – Tuesday, February 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Marana Town Center, 11555 West Civic Center Drive, Marana, AZ.
  • TUCSON NORTH – Saturday, February 11 from 1:00 to 3;00 p.m. at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, 5700 North Sabino Canyon Road, Tucson, AZ.
  • TUCSON CENTRAL – Monday, February 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Himmel Park Library, 1035 N. Treat Avenue, Tucson, AZ.
  • VAIL – Wednesday, February 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Rincon Valley Fire Station #1, 8850 S. Camino Loma Alta, Tucson, AZ.
  • TUCSON SOUTH – Saturday, February 25 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Southwest Community Center, 5950 S. Cardinal Avenue, Tucson, AZ.
  • COOLIDGE/MAMMOTH – Wednesday, February 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Central Arizona College Aravaipa Campus, 8470 North Overfield Road, Coolidge, AZ.
Saguro in the Shadows. January 2017. January 2017.
Saguro in the Shadows. January 2017.

Pontatoc Ridge – 12/18/2016

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
December 2016.
Javelina near the start of the trail. December 2016.

The houses near the Richard McKee Finger Rock Trailhead crowd against the forest boundary and many of the views from the trail include Tucson and the surrounding communities – some days the city pulls me back down with thoughts of friends and the warmth of home, other days it is a sprawling terror that pushes me up the mountain.

I don’t quite make it to the top of the ridge today – too bad since it will be my last chance in 2016, the route up the ridge is not an official Forest Service Trail and it will be closed at the beginning of January to help protect the Bighorn sheep that have been reintroduced in recent years. Something for next year…

December 2016.
End of the day on Pontatoc Ridge. December 2016.
December 2016.
Tucson city lights and the remains of the sunset, coming down the Pontatoc Ridge Trail. December 2016.

2017 – 1/1/2017

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
January 2017.
Light and clouds on the Mountains north of Catalina State Park. January 2017.

Dark pictures, but a happy start to 2017 – what a joy to be outside watching clouds hide and reveal the peaks in the Santa Catalina Mountains – eventually the flat grey of the rain is all around us and, with a smile, we make the short hike out.

Thank you to everyone who visited this site in 2016 – I hope you found it inspiring, useful and informative – I am looking forward to adding more posts and content in 2017!!!

January 2017.
The Cleaver. January 2017.
January 2017.
Rain slowly covering the Santa Catalina Mountains. January 2017.

Bug Spring Route – 9/17/2016

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Nails and debris in the old tank near the highway. September 2016.
Nails and debris in the large old water tank near the highway. September 2016.

Up canyon from the entrance to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site the Bug Spring Route follows, roughly, the path of old pipes that lead up to Bug Spring – at one time these pipes were part of the infrastructure that provided water for the Prison Camp – the original source of labor for the highway up the mountain.

Following the old route is not really the point I think – the line on the map is a good excuse, but there are better ‘trails’ on the mountain – better to just think of this as a good excuse to explore a rather interesting area – the canyon usually has at least some water, it is interesting to think about the history of the area and the Bug Spring area is a nice spot for a break…

A small rainbow!. September 2016.
A small rainbow! September 2016.
May 2015.
The falls – 10 years and 1 month earlier – the area around the falls has grown up since 2006 and there is more green under the falls – but very similar! August 2006.
January 2017.
The Bug Spring Route as shown on the USGS Agua Caliente Hill 7.5′ Topo – January 2017.
Old Bug Spring water works hiding in the shadows. September 2016.
Old Bug Spring water works hiding in the shadows. September 2016.