16th Bighorn Dies
16th bighorn sheep dies in Catalinas and 16th bighorn sheep dies in Ariz. mountains – reported as another Mountain Lion attack.
Author: Charles Miles
2014/3/16 Blackett’s Ridge for the Last Full Moon of Winter
A great group of friends and a fantastic spot to watch the last full moon of winter rise over Tucson – Blackett’s Ridge!
flickr – 2014 March Blackett’s Ridge for the Last Full Moon of Winter
Wind Downs Trees and Closes Highway
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that high winds knocked down ‘numerous’ trees along the highway and that the highway is closed at the base until they are cleared.
Peck Basin and Araster Spring via the Knagge ‘Route’ – 2014/3/12
For several years I have looked down into the Peck Basin Area and wondered what was down there… I suppose that the easiest way to get into that area is via the Davis Spring Trailhead on the north side of the Mountain – but part of my fascination with Peck Basin is a curiosity about a trail that seems to be disappearing back into the mountain: the Knagge Trail…
I was dropped off at the bottom of the Incinerator Ridge Road, walked up to the Trailhead and soon enough I was headed down the Knagge Trail, familiar territory and notably easier to follow than it was last September with the plants along the trail brown and flat.
The Cabin, the mine and the current end of the well established trail all come quickly – and then off onto the ridge below. Unlike my last trip I don’t use any time trying to find the original trail – instead I just work on finding the easiest way down the ridge – an occasional cairn, faint paths that look for a second like a trail, brushy puzzles, beautiful open grassy sections, views down into my destination…
I am counting on water in the South Fork of Edgar Canyon and the canyon does not disappoint – clear rushing water!
I work down canyon trying to find the easiest path – up around a box, past an old shelter, thru a fence – here I see the first signs of the cows who live in this area…
I cut out of the canyon, over the ridge and into the drainage with Araster Spring and Peck Basin (this canyon is referred to as Edgar Canyon in the Cowgill and Glendening guide but the USGS 7.5′ Map labels the canyon to the south as Edgar Canyon…). I see more cows on the ridge above and follow their tracks and dung up canyon to Araster Spring and slightly beyond. Araster Spring is beautiful but slightly trampled.
Originally I had planned to camp here but the cows have made this area a bit less attractive than I imagined – I loop via hillside and ridge up to Point 4863 to spend the night – on the way stumbling across the Knagge and Davis Spring Trail junction sign! I find a good spot near Point 4863 – I only have to move one cow patty to setup where I want – and enjoy the view of the ridge I came from (with the blazing lights of Mount Bigelow) and the day’s journey!
I get moving a little slowly in the AM – lingering to enjoy the view –
And then up up up up back to the Upper Green Mountain Trailhead to meet my ride down! 13 miles and about 4000′ of elevation gain and loss.
flickr – 2014 March Peck Basin and Araster Spring via the Knagge Route
Mount Miguel – 2014/3/9
Years ago our friend Alex told us about Mount Miguel – I was surprised we had not heard about it since the name appears on the USGS map and it is relatively close to Tucson and the Esperero Trail – but it wasn’t until seeing Mount Miguel last week from the Esperero Trail that we really thought about it again…
We started the day in overflow parking for Music in the Canyon (held by the Friends of Sabino Canyon) – there seemed to be quite a few people attending the event! After walking back to Sabino Canyon we headed up the Esperero Trail. Alex told us that he had left the Esperero Trail at the first obvious slope that heads up to Mount Miguel – but recommended instead to stay on the trail longer – so we took the trail up to Cardiac Gap and then hiked south along the ridge to Mount Miguel.
Strong wind at the Gap and on the ridge was a pleasant surprise – we may not have found the best path along the ridge, but the route we took was beautiful (and not too brushy!) – and before long we were at the top! We enjoyed the views into Sabino Canyon and Tucson and watched the light change and shadows grow as the end of the day crept closer. Soon it was it was time to head down – we left San Miguel alone on the top looking over Tucson.
We took a fairly obvious/short line east down to the Esperero Trail – this route looked a little steep at first but was actually quite reasonable. On the Esperero Trail we lost the light and happily put on our headlamps to finish out our hike under the moon and stars.
![]([FileDomain/]/santa-catalina-mountains/mount-miguel/1403MountMiguelViaEsperero-profile.png")
Elevation Profile for Mount Miguel via Esperero – Cardiac Gap