Author: Charles Miles

4/18 Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project Update

Posted - Charles Miles

Status update for 3/31 to 4/13 (all updates are currently available here).

A few notes:

  • No mortalities
  • 5th Lamb
  • “Females with new lambs are especially sensitive to disturbance” and notes the hiking restrictions and that they are using trailhead postings and volunteers to help remind people about the restrictions
  • A map is included showing the movements of 5 ewes for a previous (unspecified) month with all activity centered around Pusch Peak. 

Sycamore Reservoir – 2014/4/12

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1404 In Bear Canyon Camping off the Sycamore Reservoir Trail
Campfire in Bear Canyon near the Sycamore Reservoir Trail. April 2014.

We hiked in on the Molino Basin and Sycamore Reservoir Trails to Sycamore Reservoir and then camped a short distance up Bear Canyon – great weather for camping in the canyon and plenty of great spots to set up.

1404 Night Across the Santa Catalina Mountains
Looking down into and west across the Santa Catalina Mountains. April 2014.

It had been cloudy all day – but the clouds started to clear just before sunset letting the nearly full moon brighten the night – I hiked out to the Bear Canyon, East Fork and Sycamore Reservoir Trail Junction and then up onto the nearby hills to take advantage of the light – eventually I headed back to camp and enjoyed the company.

1404 A Helicopter Heading to Sycamore Reservoir
Lights from a helicopter heading to the Sycamore Reservoir area – the Sycamore Reservoir Trail visible in the foreground. April 2014.

News Roundup

Posted - Charles Miles
Fifth bighorn lamb spotted in the Catalinas – Tucson News Now – Nice news for the potential herd that a fifth lamb has been born! The Mountain Project (“a feature length documentary film that explores the victories and defeats of western mountain, public land hunts”) posted shopping links to two vinyl die cut decals where “all proceeds from the sale of this decal are being donated to the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society to support the Catalina Restoration Project.” Sabino Canyon Rescue – Pima County Sheriff’s Department Air Rescue – “On April 5th, at approximately 1450 hours, Search and Rescue Deputies from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to a reported stroke victim on Sabino Canyon Trail.” – more information in the description of the video. Rose Canyon Lake reopens – Arizona Daily Star – April 11 – Douglas Kreutz reports that Rose Canyon Lake is open and that in January improvements to the area including work on the trail around the lake were completed earlier in the year. Note that there is currently $10 per vehicle day-use fee and camping fees of $20 per night in Rose Canyon Lake.

Mint Spring, Marshall Gulch, Aspen Trail – 2014/4/10

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1404 Running on the Aspen Trail
Running on the (well named!) Aspen Trail. April 2014.

Great weather – Mint Spring (water at the spring!), Marshall Gulch (plenty of water, other friendly hikers), Aspen Trail (great views and new Pines along the trail) and back on the Mint Spring Trail – great weather, but maybe a touch warmer than I thought it would be…

1404 Thimble and Brinkley from the Aspen Trail
A great view from the Aspen Trail – Thimble Peak on the left, Brinkley Point on the right, Mount Wrightson in the background! April 2014.