Mountain flowers get a boost from the monsoon – Arizona Daily Star – Flowers!
Fire Restrictions in Southern AZ Remain Despite Monsoon Storms – Arizona Public Media – Not enough rain/moisture yet to safely lift restrictions.
Monsoon off to a splashing start – Arizona Daily Star – Article includes rain totals since 7/3 for several points in the Santa Catalina Mountains – over 3″ at the Palisade Ranger Station!
The Oak Fire – currently burning in the Galiuro Mountains – was started by lightning on June 17th and is currently just over 11,000 acres – on Sunday smoke from the fire was clearly visible from the San Pedro Vista and at times on the Incinerator Ridge Trail and Kellogg Trails. InciWeb – Oak Fire.
Metro Week: Fire Season Underway, Prep Began Months Ago and Lookouts at Forefront of Fire Spotting – Arizona Public Media – Two articles about the fire season preparations on Mount Lemmon including some interesting details about the Lemmon Rock Lookout.
Bighorn Reintroduction status update for June 9 – June 22, 2014 (updates are currently available here) – no mortalities during this period and the report notes that all 5 of the lambs born this season are alive, healthy and growing. There is a great picture in the report of ram 641 in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness in June and some notes about his movements including that he has covered areas from Sutherland Ridge all the way over to Sabino Canyon!
Enjoyed a beautiful night for a run on the Sycamore Reservoir Trail last night – the highlight may have been the beautiful rattlesnake coiled on the trail, what an amazing sight!
If you have not been to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site recently note that the gates to the lower parking are have been closed – the upper parking area is open and there is no closure of trails or of foot/bike/horse travel on road thru the campground – you can still enjoy hiking in the area!
New radios a life saver when it comes to dead spots on Mt. Lemmon – KGUN9 – New radios for the Mount Lemmon Fire Department that will improve coverage!
Oracle brush fire destroys house, sheds – Arizona Daily Star – 20 acres, 1 house and several sheds burned in the fire.
Oro Valley council discusses Steam Pump Ranch plan – The Explorer Newspaper – The Oro Valley town council continues to discuss the plan for the Steam Pump Ranch – no decision was reached.
Catalina State Park offers folk concert – Arizona Daily Star – “The folk band Fried Squirrel will perform at Catalina State Park at 6:30 p.m. July 5.” – there will be free popcorn and a raffle for a Jeep Cherokee ($25, prize awarded in November).
Hikers Rescued in Romero Canyon – PCSD – and a picture from the Southern Arizona Rescue Association – The hikers lost the trail and ended up in Romero Canyon where they eventually called for a rescue.