Author: Charles Miles

Campground Changes, 1922, Upchurch, Lambs, Rescue Season – 4/9/2015

Posted - Charles Miles

The summer heat has started and the winter rains are starting to be harder to remember – as in all recent years the forest service is encouraging caution during fire season – no restrictions yet… National forest officials urge caution with fire, April 02, 2015, Douglas Kreutz.

With warmer temperatures coming the lower campgrounds are closing and the upper ones are opening – Mt Lemmon seasonal campground changes, 

Tales from the Morgue: Deer and mountain lions, March 23, Johanna Eubank, Arizona Daily Star – A fascinating look back at an Arizona Daily Star article from 1922 – for 4 years the ‘Catalina Game Reserve’ had been closed to hunting in a reaction to game becoming scarce – the 1922 article reports “The advantage of the game reserve is strikingly illustrated, forest officials state, by the increase of game in this district, since sportsmen had almost exhausted the game here before the reserve was closed four years ago”.

Southern Arizona Utility Company Reports Sufficient Water For Now, Tony Paniagua, KGUN9, March 23, 2015 – From the Mount Lemmon Water District – “the water supply is currently doing well, thanks to a few inches of rain in recent weeks and one snowfall of about eight to 10 inches.”

Upchurch promoted to forester for Southwest Region, Derek Jordan, Herald/Review, [email protected] – Jim Upchurch,  formerly Coronado National Forest Supervisor, is moving to a position as a deputy regional forester for the Southwestern Region. Issues that Upchurch dealt with in the Coronado National Forest include the Rosemont Mine and Tombstone Water Pipelines. 

Bighorn lambs in the Santa Catalina Mountains have been in the news with the count up to 15! Project status updates continue to emphasize that it is unlikely all of the lambs will survive and the importance of the restrictions in place in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area.

Backpacking Romero Canyon, Kurt Papke – a video including some of the great areas above Romero Pools on the Romero Canyon Trail.

‘Search and rescue’ season is underway, April 08, 2015, Caitlin Schmidt, Arizona Daily Star – The Pima County Sheriff’s Department warns that in this “season that can be dangerous and leads to an increase in search and rescue operations”. In the past two months rescue and injury reports include the Phoneline, Romero Canyon, Blackett’s Ridge, Bear Canyon, Pima Canyon, Seven Falls, Ventana Canyon and Finger Rock Trails…

Coronado National Forest – Facebook Page!

 

 

 

Airmen Peak – 4/5/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1504 Red Manzanita Leaves
Red leaves – Manzanita. April 2015.
1504 Sacred Datura
Sacred Datura below the Sun Spot Crags. April 2015.
1504 In the Saddle below Airmen Peak
Below Airmen Peak between Molino Canyon and the West Fork of Molino Canyon. April 2015.
1504 In the West Fork of Molino
In the West Fork of Molino. April 2015.

It was a busy day on the mountain so I decided on a less traveled destination – Airmen Peak. I suspected that there might be an nice path up the ridges between the Molino Basin Parking Area and the peak – I climbed past old mines to the Sun Spot Crags and then up onto the ridge – there were some nice moments on the ridge, but largely not a route I really need to repeat… Down into the West Fork of Molino (still water, and even a little flow, but stretches of dry canyon too) and then cross-country down a small drainage into Molino Canyon (water at the falls, drier than the West Fork) to finish the day. 5.6 miles, +/- 2100 feet of elecation gain and loss.

Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pass – 3/22/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Up the Romero Canyon Trail from Catalina State Park – flowers and pools, steep climbs, stops at the two big fire rings and good memories of past hikes with friends.

1503 Pools in Romero Canyon
Pools in Romero Canyon – above Romero Pools. March 2015.
1503 Scoured Canyon
Following the cairns along a section of washed out trail in Romero Canyon. March 2015.

From Romero Pass I wandered off-trail to random points and points where Bighorn Sheep have stood, slowly collecting vegetation data as a volunteer for a AZGF research project.

1503 Sunset from the Mount Lemmon Trail near Romero Pass
Sunset from the Mount Lemmon Trail, a few minutes above Romero Pass. March 2015.
1503 Looking down from near Romero Pass - Night
Looking down into town from near Romero Pass. March 2015.

The sliver moon disappeared early in the night, with temperatures were the 30s I spent most of my time in my quilt, reading, watching the clouds, looking at the stars and occasionally taking a picture.

1503 Indian Paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush along the Romero Canyon Trail. March 2015.
1503 Poppy 1
A poppy on the Romero Canyon Trail. March 2015.

It was warm on the way down, as the trail went lower I hurried thru the sun back to the car. 20 miles, +/-6000′ of elevation gain and loss.

Flowers, Sunset, Night – 3/14/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1503 Vervain in Agua Caliente Canyon
Vervain in Agua Caliente Canyon. March 2015.

The plan was take pictures of the flowers, I knew Mariposa Lilies were scattered along the ridge… But the wind, blowing relentlessly, didn’t cooperate with our plan… We could have turned around but it was just too beautiful.

1503 Gazing into Gnat Tank
Gazing into Gnat Tank. March 2015.

With the wind keeping us from endlessly taking flower pictures we reached Gnat Tank more quickly than expected – beautiful reflections, and plenty of time to do the full La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyon Trail Loop.

1503 Last light on the climb out of Agua Caliente Canyon
Last light on the climb out of Agua Caliente Canyon. March 2015.

The sun set while we were in Agua Caliente Canyon and on the climb up the colors in the sky were extrodinary – lights came on in the city while we descended the La Milagrosa Trail.

1503 Conjuring Light from the Pools in La Milagrosa Canyon
Conjuring Light from the Pools in La Milagrosa Canyon. March 2015.

Our headlamps were on before we reached the La Milagrosa Canyon crossing – we stopped and watched beetles in the pools and a spider hunting over the water before hiking back into the night.

6.3 miles, +/- 1450′ elevation gain/loss.