2016

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted March 25, 2016 - Charles Miles

Cliffs below Pusch Peak and Bighorn Mountain in the sunset from the Linda Vista Trails. March 2016.

The Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project update for the period ending March 9 was released earlier in the month – it reports that 19 lambs have now been observed this season and estimates the population could be up to 87 sheep! However the most fascinating Bighorn news for the month was probably Domestic sheep, goats pose threat to Catalina bighorns from the Arizona Daily Star. Signs have been posted at several trailheads warning that domestic sheep and goats can transmit diseases to bighorns – apparently there was a report of someone walking a goat on the Finger Rock Trail. Walking the goat is legal – the signs are meant to discourage people from unknowingly endangering the bighorn sheep in the area.

Hiker with medical issue dies at Seven Falls, Arizona Daily Star: A 62-year-old hiker died on a trip to Seven Falls.

Firefighters extinguish small brush fire on Mt. Lemmon – TucsonNewsNow: A human caused fire near the Butterfly Trail was put out by Mount Lemmon Fire District Crews – a camp grill left burning and unattended has been indicated as the cause.

The plans for Improvements at the Marshall Gulch Trailhead and Picnic Area – “replace restrooms, renovate picnic sites and trailheads, install vehicular bridges over stream, naturalize stream channel, and improve roads and parking areas” – is now listed as expected in July 2016 – Schedule of Proposed Actions for the Coronado National Forest.

Partners continue Lower Bear Canyon restoration – Coronado National Forest: “The Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest and the Sky Island Alliance will continue work on a project in Lower Bear Canyon to remove invasive fountain grass and restore native plants for pollinators and other wildlife. The year-long project is funded by the National Forest Foundation, and is expected to continue through May.”

Some seasonally-closed gates reopen on Mt. Lemmon – Coronado National Forest: This release was from the beginning of March and notes some gates as still closed – while these gates may be open now this is a good reminder that there are a number of gates that close seasonally and warm weather in Tucson may not always be a good indicator about the ice/snow/conditions of road thousands of feet higher up the mountain.

7 runs: Break a sweat, enjoy the party, Arizona Daily Star: A schedule of selected runs including a long running, and quite fun, trail run in Catalina State Park.

A colorful spectacle: Canyons in bloom, Arizona Daily Star: Great wildflower pictures and a call out for the flowers along the Ventana Canyon Trail.

Brief snowstorm blankets Mount Lemmon, KVOA.com – Despite overnight snowfall, Catalina Highway is open, TucsonNewsNow: In early March there was a wonderful storm that, briefly, brought new snow to the mountain!

Introduce the family to camping in a state park, TucsonNewsNow: The Arizona Family Campout Program is taking place in Catalina State Park April 16 and 17 – the program is for families that have little or no camping experience, families are asked to bring some equipment but tents, sleeping mats, chairs, help, knowledge and activities are provided! Registration is required – see the Arizona Family Campout Program page for information.

One of the many rocky points on the ridges below Pusch Peak. March 2016.

Sabino Canyon – 3/15/2016

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted March 24, 2016 - Charles Miles

End of the day near the Phoneline Trail looking towards Rattlesnake Peak. March 2016.

A reflection in Sabino Canyon in the old 'lake' area. March 2016. — A reflection in Sabino Canyon in the old ‘lake’ area. March 2016.

A guage behind the dam in Lower Sabino Canyon -apparently to measure the level of the sand... March 2016. — A guage behind the dam in Lower Sabino Canyon -apparently to measure the level of the sand… March 2016.

End of the Day Sun in Pontatoc Canyon – 3/13/2016

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted March 23, 2016 - Charles Miles

End of the day glow in Pontatoc Canyon. March 2016.

We have been returning to the Pontatoc Canyon Trail more frequently lately – it has been interesting to watch the sun changing angles on the landscape and the subtle changes of the the desert seasons – in spite of the beauty I suspect the heat may keep us away during the summer months…

Sun and Saguaro in Pontatoc Canyon. March 2016.

A section of the Pontatoc Ridge Cliffs. March 2016.

Beautiful Flowers, Beautiful Views, Catalina State Park – 3/12/2016

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted March 23, 2016 - Charles Miles

Lupine and Poppies in Catalina State Park. March 2016.

Penstemon just off the Canyon Loop Trail in Catalina State Park. March 2016.

Romero Canyon - marked by the shadow in the middle of the picture - exiting the mountains and heading into Catalina State Park. March 2016. — Romero Canyon – marked by the shadow in the middle of the picture – exiting the mountains and heading into Catalina State Park. March 2016.

Leviathan and Wilderness Domes. March 2016.

USGS Guthrie Mountain, 3/9/2016

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted March 20, 2016 - Charles Miles

The Guthrie Mountain Trail ends near Point 7281 – the highest peak in the area – but if you look at the USGS 7.5′ maps you might notice that Point 7281 is not labeled ‘Guthrie Mountain’.

The end of the Guthrie Mountain Trail shown on the USGS 7.5' topo map - note that this point is not labeled 'Guthrie Mountain'. — The end of the Guthrie Mountain Trail shown on the USGS 7.5′ topo map – note that this point is not labeled ‘Guthrie Mountain’.

However if you look around on the USGS 7.5′ maps for the Santa Catalina Mountains you will eventually find a point well to the south of the ending of the Guthrie Mountain Trail labeled ‘Guthrie Mountain’.

The two Guthrie Mountains - Point 7281 where the Guthrie Mountain Trail Ends and Point 6466 where Guthrie Mountain is labeled on the USGS Maps. — The two Guthrie Mountains – Point 7281 where the Guthrie Mountain Trail ends and Point 6466 where Guthrie Mountain is labeled on the USGS Maps.

From the 3rd edition of the [GuideYellowBook/], p. 75:

Guthrie Mountain was named for an early forest supervisor in the southwest and is located on the U.S.G.S. quadrangle map as a 6464-foot-high point on the ridge just east of Molino Canyon. It is the opinion of the authors that this is an error and that Guthrie Mountain is the prominent 7300-foot-high point just north of Burro Canyon and about a mile southeast of Bear Saddle.

While I think that the ending point of the Guthrie Mountain Trail makes the most sense as ‘Guthrie Mountain’ the Guthrie Mountain label on the USGS maps provides an excellent excuse to visit another point on the map…

We approached the USGS Guthrie Mountain from the Molino Basin Parking Area, starting on the Bellota Trail but quickly turning onto the route up Molino Canyon. We hiked several miles up the beautifully rugged canyon bottom to a point west of the USGS Guthrie Mountain and, after some debate about what would be the best way up onto the ridge, we began our ascent. What started as a smart/clean way to the ridge quickly devolved into a slow crawl (occasionally literally) thru the Manzanita – thankfully the ridge was fairly close soon we had our first good look at the USGS Guthrie Mountain.

A small trail along the ridge took us quickly to the top – the peak is fairly open on top and there are great views! Not, I think, the ‘real’ Guthrie Mountain – but certainly a beautiful destination.

Piety Hill from the USGS Guthrie Mountain. March 2016.

Looking up towards the 'real' Guthrie Mountain from the USGS Guthrie Mountain - Point 7135, Point 6742 and the 'real' Guthrie Mountain are the highpoints. March 2016. — Looking up towards the ‘real’ Guthrie Mountain from the USGS Guthrie Mountain – Point 7135, Point 6742 and the ‘real’ Guthrie Mountain are the highpoints. March 2016.

Looking across Point 6069 down into Tucson from the USGS Guthrie Mountain - part of Airmen Peak is visible on right edge of the picture. March 2016. — Looking across Point 6069 down into Tucson from the USGS Guthrie Mountain – part of Airmen Peak is visible on right edge of the picture. March 2016.