Bighorn Sheep

Redington Pass Closure, Shifting Ground, Guided Hikes, Fall Colors, Bighorn Sheep Update

Posted - Charles Miles

Redington Pass shooting area closure extended Cleanup work continues in the area – The Forest Service has extended the closure (details below) indefinitely to allow for clean up of several recreational shooting sites between Mileposts 5 and 7 on Redington Road .  The clean-up – which includes removal of soil with high lead concentrations – is currently expected to be completely mid-November. The press release also mentions that a Redington Pass Collaborative Management Plan is being developed that is “intended to increase visitor safety, enhance multiple uses and recreational experiences, and minimize user conflicts.” The Friends of Redington Pass is one group to explore if you are interested in this area.

Prohibited activities include parking a motorized vehicle between Mile Markers 5.0 and 7.0 along Pima County Road 371, and discharging a firearm, air rifle, paint ball gun, gas gun or archery equipment between Mile Markers 5.0 and 7.0, or within 0.6 miles of that segment of the road.

County testing for shifting ground under Catalina Highway; blame Aspen wildfire, KGUN9, Maggie Vespa – The article expands on the information available on the Pima County Website about construction on the Mount Lemmon Highway and talks specifically about the installation of monitors to detect ground movement. The county states that greater run-off after the fires is creating more stress on the highway infrastructure – but also says there is “no reason to worry”. (Expect construction above San Pedro Vista thru mid-November – delays are expected weekdays between the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. – possibly with a reduction to one lane and temporary closures to safely position heavy equipment.)

Guided Hikes in Catalina State Park in October – on the 12th, 19th and 26th there will be guided hikes in Catalina State Park – hopefully with nice cool temperatures as we move into Fall!

Autumn in Tucson: Lederhosen and leaves – Arizona Daily Star,  Ann Brown – A nice article mentioning a number of reasonably easy to access places on the mountains to see fall colors. The article also mentions the Oktoberfest at Mount Lemmon Ski Valley – Saturdays and Sundays 11:45 a.m.-5 p.m. thru October 12.

The Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project Status update for 9/15 to 9/28 is available (all updates are currently available here) – This updates includes information about Bighorn Sheep populations and translocation efforts that have taken place in other parts of Arizona to give some perspective/comparison to the project in the Santa Catalina Mountains – interesting reading! Also included in this update is another mention of the upcoming research/vegetation sampling and a call for volunteers:

If you’d like to get involved (and enjoy some pretty spectacular hiking along the way), please contact either Research Biologist Andrew Jones ([email protected]) or Larisa Harding ([email protected]) and let us know as we begin to organize this effort. Sampling will most likely occur from early January through the end of February 2015. Come join in the fun and contribute to the research efforts!

Construction, National Public Lands Day, Trail Dust Days

Posted - Charles Miles

Construction – Mt. Lemmon Highway at Mile Post 18.2 – Construction at milepost 18.2 will mean weekday delays accessing trailheads above San Pedro Vista – from the article:

Construction activities will be concluded on weekdays between the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. During these times, traffic control will be necessary. Travel will be reduced down to one lane of travel with flaggers directing traffic. Construction activities will cause temporary delays in traffic so that heavy equipment can be safely positioned. During non construction hours two lanes of traffic (one in each direction) will be restored.

Celebrate National Public Lands Day with fee free day and activities, KVOA.com, Anthony Victor Reyes – “In celebration of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, Sabino Canyon and Mt. Lemmon will offer a variety of activities and waived Forest Service standard amenity fees.” – see the article for more details.

Tucson Rough Riders Trail Dust Days – The Tucson Rough Riders are a 4WD club founded in 1976. Trail Dust Days will be based in Catalina State Park from October 16-19 and feature games, food, a raffle and off-road runs. See the link for more details – registration is required.

Teenager rescued from Sabino Canyon, KGUN9, Shelby Payne – between Tram stops 8 and 9 – “The 16 year old girl slipped while attempting to jump into a pool of water from a cliff and got stuck onto a ledge approximately 10 feet down.”

Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project Status update for 9/1 to 9/14 was recently released and contained no new details.

Bighorns, Dogs, Asteroid, High Water, Rescues, Evening Rides

Posted - Charles Miles

Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project Status updates for 8/4 to 8/17 and 8/18 to 8/31 are available (all updates are currently available here) – there is not much of note in either document except for a very interesting call for volunteers to help with vegetation sampling in the Santa Catalina Mountains:

we’re still looking for more [volunteers] who like to hike and want to be part of this effort, so if you’d like to get involved (and enjoy some pretty spectacular hiking along the way), please contact either Research Biologist Andrew Jones ([email protected]) or Larisa Harding ([email protected]) and let us know as we begin to organize this effort. Sampling will most likely occur from early January through the end of February 2015. Come join in the fun and contribute to the research efforts!

Hikers stranded due to high water at Catalina State Park – Tucson News Now, Sonu Wasu – the incredible rains on Monday (which also temporarily closed the highway up the mountain and resulted in highwater in many areas) resulted in flooding across the road and Search and Rescue call-outs – including to Romero Pools.

Dogs pose a threat to bighorn sheep survival – Arizona Daily Star, Douglas Kreutz – Information about the year-round rules against dogs in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area.

Close-call asteroid passing Earth discovered from telescopes on Mt. Lemmon – Tucson News Now, Erin Jordan – House sized asteroid 2014 RC will pass close to earth – discovered “by the Catalina Sky Survey, working from a telescope on top of Mt. Lemmon”.

Labor Day weekend helping business in Summerhaven – Tucson News Now, Mauricio Marin – Ski Valley and Summerhaven have a busy Labor Day weekend.

Sabino Canyon evening rides – The Explorer – “During September-November and April-June, Sabino Canyon Tours offers evening rides three nights per month.”

62-year-old woman rescued at Romero Pools – KVOA.com, Alyssa Reilly – A Romero Pools rescue.

Bighorn Update, Bullock Fire Case, Helicopters

Posted - Charles Miles

The Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project Update Status update for 7/21 to 8/3 is now available (all updates are currently available here). Interesting details:

  • This is the first mention I have seen in awhile of the August release plans: “We are currently putting plans in place for a possible second release this autumn, including the addition of rams. A year from now, it may be possible for people to once again experience the thunderous crack of bighorn sheep rams butting heads together in the Santa Catalina Mountains.”
  • The single remaining ram: “Last week, the ram was observed exhibiting breeding behavior.”
  • As with some previous reports a number of maps are included showing recorded locations and ranges for different individuals and groups of sheep – the southwest corner of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness appears to be heavily used.

Controversy brews over plan for helicopters in wilderness – Arizona Daily Star – A great article by Douglas Kreutz that nicely covers the various for/against views on Arizona Game and Fish’s  request to use helicopters in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness to help manage the recently introduced bighorn sheep.

Photos: Mt. Lemmon Air Force Station – Arizona Daily Star – A set of interesting old pictures of the Mount Lemmon Air Force Station.

Buildings weren’t burned by Forest Service, judge rules – Arizona Daily Star – A lawsuit where landowners were suing the Forest Service for compensation for property burned in the Bullock Fire is decided in favor of the Forest Service.

Human Remains, Helicopters, Motorcycles, Lizards

Posted - Charles Miles

Hikers stumble upon badly decomposed body on Mount Lemmon (KGUN9.com) and Hikers Find Human Remains on Mount Lemmon (PCSD) – Human remains were found by hikers a quarter mile from the Marshall Gulch Trailhead – the initial investigation did not reveal any “evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances”.

Gen Hitchcock Hwy on Mt Lemmon closed at MP 17.4, just above the Rose Canyon turnoff, for about an hour (PCSD), Male Injured Falling Off a Cliff on Mount Lemmon (PCSD), Road to Mt. Lemmon has reopened to traffic (TucsonNewsNow) and Man rescued after falling over retaining wall on Mt. Lemmon (KVOA.com)- a brief road closure for the rescue of a man who fell from a retaining wall in the San Pedro Vista area.

Mt. Lemmon a motorcyclist’s playground (KVOA.com) – A report on motorcyclists on the mountain, as usual with any user group there are a variety of opinions and levels of responsibility. Probably the most fascinating part of the article where these stats from 2013: 11 tickets – 12 crashes – 1 fatal – lower than I would have guessed.

Helicopter Use by AZ Game and Fish Dept within Pusch Ridge Wilderness – While the official comment period is apparently over (ended July 30) comments still be accepted and the documents related to this proposal are interesting reading. I share the concern expressed in a recently in an Action Alert from the Arizona Trail Assocation:

The Arizona Trail Association is concerned that increased helicopter traffic in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson would significantly impact the experience of trail users along Passages 11 and 12 of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, especially within a federally designated wilderness area.

Sabino Canyon Lizard Walks – Lead by the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists Lizard walks will take place at 8am on the 2nd Saturday of the month in August, September and October! 2014 Summer Activities.