Author: Charles Miles

Fire Near Pusch Peak – Bighorn Mountain Fire – 8/23/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Update 8/26: This fire was called the Bighorn Mountain fire – the Forest Service reports that the fire was caused by lightning and in a fly over on 8/24 (the morning after the fire started) no fire activity was observed (report here). Bighorn Mountain (Wildfire) – WildfireAZ.com,  Wildfire burning on Pusch Ridge – Tucson News Now.

Midnight Update: I could still see two very small/faint orange dots on the mountain, but the fire appears to be very very small at the moment compared to the picture below…

If you are in Tucson you may have seen the smoke and flames near Pusch Peak – I haven’t seen any news yet about this fire but here is a picture from town.

A fire burning just below Pusch Peak in the Push Ridge Wilderness, Santa Catalina Mountains, Coronado National Forest. August 2015.
A fire burning just below Pusch Peak in the Push Ridge Wilderness, Santa Catalina Mountains, Coronado National Forest. August 2015.

Bighorn Pneumonia Deaths, UFOs, Fires, Bowden – 8/16/2015

Posted - Charles Miles

First the first time in months there was some bad news for the Bighorn Sheep in the Santa Catalina Mountains with 3 deaths reported. While some deaths are inevitable Pneumonia has been identified as a cause and that could cause delays in plans for releasing additional sheep – Mark Hart for AZGF: “That doesn’t mean we couldn’t come back later and do an introduction in 2016 or 2017, but until we’re sure how widespread the disease is among the population up there, we’re going to have to take a wait and see attitude.”

 

Wildfire Can Benefit Wildlife; Bighorns Not in Danger – Arizona Public Media, Latest on bighorn sheep from AZ Game and Fish – Tucson News Now: AZGF reports that the Buster Mountain Fire and Finger Rock Fire did not have a negative impact on the Bighorn Sheep in the Santa Catalina Mountains and that in fact these fires will probably improve the habitat for the sheep.

Hiker reported missing in Catalina State Park has been found – Tucson.com: A hiker that was late returning from a few nights on the mountain is located and able to walk out with assistance.

Kerwin Dewberry incoming Coronado National Forest Supervisor and Ken Born new Santa Catalina District Ranger: New personnel in Coronado National Forest and the Santa Catalina Ranger District.

UFO Lights Up Tucson Sky Like Christmas Tree – Huffpost Weird News, UFOs caught on video by two night vision cameras near Tucson, Arizona – OpenMinds UFO News and Investigations:  UFOs filmed from Sabino Canyon over the Santa Catalina Mountains?!?

Late author Chuck Bowden will be honored Saturday – Arizona Daily Star,  Mt. Lemmon center to be dedicated Saturday to late author Chuck Bowden – TucsonSentinel.com: The community center on Mount Lemmon will be named for well known author and journalist Charles Bowden. Supervisor Ray Carol said “we thought it was appropriate to name the Mount Lemmon Community Center for him because of his devotion to the Catalina.” Bowden wrote the brilliant and sad Frog Mountain Blues about the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Injured vulture on Mount Lemmon released into wild – KVOA.com: A nice story about a injured vulture who was caught, allowed to recover and released back on the mountain.

Sabino Canyon remains open while restroom repaired – Tucson News Now, Sabino Canyon Visitor Center restroom to be reconditioned – Coronado National Forest

See a quirky cactus collaboration in Sabino Canyon – Arizona Daily Star: A prickly pear growing on a Saguaro…

 

Other Trail Incidents:

  • Hikers or Bikers loosing the trail: Sutherland Trail (this is likely not the last time this will happen – currently Sutherland is an attractive route up/down the mountain but one of the easier trails to get lost on), Butterfly Trail
  • Heat/Illness: Bear Canyon to Seven Falls and Pima Canyon

City Lights, West of Mount Bigelow – 8/10/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Tucson city lights from one of the dirt roads west of Mount Bigelow. July 2015.
Tucson city lights from one of the dirt roads west of Mount Bigelow. July 2015.

Heading down from Mount Bigelow on the dirt roads to the west –  low hanging clouds around the top of the mountain and a hint of the setting sun thru the trees – the sun fades but damp dirt roads make for easy footing and navigation even by headlamp. Back on the pavement and headed back to the Bigelow Trailhead each breath floats briefly in front of me before falling away or disappearing into the occasional clouds…

Spadefoot Lightning, 8/8/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Rain earlier in the day doused the Finger Rock Fire – nothing to photograph there – onwards to Sabino Canyon – midnight, too late to catch the storm, but as a consolation the parking area was nearly empty and pleasantly quiet. Puddles cover the trail and the sand shows traces of the water that must have flowed just a few hours before – a great night to sit just off off the road and watch the lightning.

Lightning over the Rincons - from Sabino Canyon. August 2015.
Lightning over the Rincons – from Sabino Canyon. August 2015.

After awhile trying to catch the fickle lightning on camera looses it’s appeal, but the sounds of the calling Couch’s Spadefoots pull me just a little farther down the road.

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Listening to the Spadefoots. August 2015.

The Spadefoots are somewhat hidden down in the canyon vegetation – but their calls are so loud, what luck to hear them!

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Couch's Spadefoot - Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. August 2015.
Couch’s Spadefoot – Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. August 2015.