Run

Pusch Peak Trail – 9/17/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Clouds were moving in – it was humid, but cooler than many previous days, and it seemed just cool enough for a hike on the Pusch Peak Northwest Side Route – I made it 2 miles and 1700+’ up the trail before the rain and the dark gave me good reasons to stop, take a picture, enjoy a break and return down to the city.

1409 City Lights from the Pusch Peak Trail
City lights from the westside trail up to Pusch Peak – not long after sunset with the rain just starting. September 2014.

Oracle Ridge, Catalina Camp, Red Ridge Loop – 9/12/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1409 Running Down the Oracle Ridge Trail
Running down the Oracle Ridge Trail – massive views, green and flowers! Photo by Korey Konga. September 2014.

When discussing where to go hiking with a visitor to Tucson you can count on the Marshall Gulch Trail and the Aspen Trail getting mentioned in some loop/combination/variation – and certainly there can be NO argument about these being sublime and incredible trails.

But as lovely as those trails are the loop that – for me – has come to best represents the spirit of the Santa Catalina Mountains is the Oracle Ridge – Catalina Camp – Red Ridge loop. This loop has astounding views, steep descents, cows, mines, water, washed out two-track, a bit of pavement, the Arizona Trail, flowers, steep climbing, more steep climbing, bones, big trees, burned areas, One Park Place and even an occasional cactus…

1409 Oracle Ridge Trail two track covered in Flowers
Taking a picture break on Oracle Ridge – flowers covering the old road. September 2014.

The harshness, history and beauty of this loop may be without parallel in the range – 9 miles, 2550′ of elevation gain/loss – with the great company of Korey Konga!

1409 An old mine near the Catalina Camp Trail
Korey checking out a mine not too far from the Catalina Camp Trail. September 2014.

Bigelow Trail, Butterfly to Mount Bigelow, Bigelow Road and the Highway – 9/12/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1409 Golden Eye
Flowers!!! The flowers along the Bigelow Trail and Butterfly Trail up to Mount Bigelow were spectacular!

Dirt roads and paved mountain roads may not always be my first choice for travel on foot – but I have to admit that some of the most lovely vistas I have ever been to are along roads – and sometimes new routes magically open up once you abandon a strict trails-only approach.

Up the Bigelow Trail – lovely flowers and big trees, onto the Butterfly Trail up to Mount Bigelow, down Bigelow Road – great views and nice to see all the people out camping, onto to highway – Turkeys flying across and on the side of the road – and back to the Bigelow Trailhead – 6.3 miles, 860′ of elevation gain/loss.

Mint Spring, Wilderness of Rock, Aspen, Aspen Draw Loop – 9/7/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
It was raining when I parked at the Mint Spring Trailhead – not hard, but enough to make me reorganize some of my gear into Aloksaks to keep everything dry – just enough effort to keep the rain away for the rest of the evening! Highlights: Mint Spring Trail – The first part of the trail was wonderfully overgrown – in spots the trail was almost a tunnel thru all of the summer growth – the fern covered hillsides with flowers peaking thru were memorable.
1409 Geranium on the Mint Spring Trail
On the Mint Spring Trail – geranium richardsonii – Richardson’s Geranium I believe… September 2014.
Wilderness of Rock Trail – Water! Not the highest/fastest I have seen the water here – but enough that to make it exciting to see – small waterfalls, spills and pools!
1409 Rushing Water Near the Wilderness of Rock Trail
Rushing water near the Wilderness of Rock Trail. September 2014.
Aspen Trail – On the last climb to the ridge, burned years ago and now quite open, the flowers were blooming and beautiful and I had great views of the moon.
1409 Moon and Trees from the Aspen Trail
Moon and trees – near the top of the Aspen Trail. September 2014.
Aspen Draw Trail – Sections of soft trail thru the big trees, it wasn’t long after starting the trail that I had to get out my headlamp to navigate the dark tree covered trail. I finished with a run thru Summerhaven, by the time I arrived nothing was open (not unexpected on a Sunday night – but I was still hoping…), and the streets were nearly empty… 11.75 miles, 2600′ of elevation gain/loss.

Construction, Fire and Flowers

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1409 Middle Bear Canyon Picnic Area Construction
Restroom replacement – Middle Bear Picnic Area. September 2014.

Middle Bear Canyon picnic area is currently closed for construction – the restroom is being replaced – you can see in the picture above that the old restroom (at least the visible portion) has already been demolished.

1409 Prescribed Burn along the Highway
Smoke and small flames – a prescribed burn near the highway. September 2014.

I saw the first sign about the prescribed burns near the Box Camp Trailhead but it wasn’t until I passed the Upper Butterfly Trailhead and Sunset Trailhead that the smoke and small fires along the highway created a fascinating sight.

1409 Stevia
Flowers along the Meadow Trail. September 2014.

A short run – the Meadow and Mount Lemmon Trails to the Sutherland Trail junction from the Summit Trailhead – 3.6 miles, 640′ of elevation gain/loss – clouds kept the temperature wonderfully cool.

There are quite a few great flowers on the mountain right now – on the Meadow Trail I took a picture of the white flowers above. At home I consulted my favorite wild flower book for the Santa Catalina Mountains – Mountain Wildflowers of Southern Arizona by Frank S. Rose – but had trouble confidently identifying it, I think it is a Stevia/Candyleaf but I am not quite sure… However while searching online I did find Frank S. Rose, Flowers and More – a fascinating site by the author of Mountain Wildflowers of Southern Arizona!