2016

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted January 10, 2016 - Charles Miles

Cody Trail - in the snow! January 2016. — Cody Trail – in the snow! January 2016.

Oracle Ridge Trail at the junction with the Cody Trail. January 2016.

Snow near Point 5466 off the Oracle Ridge Trail. January 2016.

Sunset from just off the Oracle Ridge Trail. January 2015.

The elevation in Tucson is around 2,600′ – too low for snow to collect on the ground during the recent storms – but at 4,400′ the American Flag Trailhead outside of Oracle is high enough that there is snow at the trailhead!

At the beginning the Cody Trail alternated between well trodden snow and mud, as I climbed higher the snow became slowly deeper and once I passed the Hijinks Mine there was no trace of anyone coming this way since the storm.

Eventually I reached the junction with the Oracle Ridge Trail – covered in tire tracks – and wandered up to and around point 5466 off the Oracle Ridge Trail before finding a spot to photograph the sunset. Eventually I turned on my headlamp and headed back down the Cody Trail…

The incredible snow in the Santa Catalina Mountains has allowed Ski Valley to open for skiing and snowboarding for the first time this year! But restrictions on travel on the Mount Lemmon Highway have changed a number of times in the past few days – consider calling (520) 547-7510 for ‘nearly current’ road conditions before trying to head up the mountain – Tucson News Now reports that this afternoon there is a long line of cars waiting to go up the mountain and because of over-crowding they are only letting a car go up when one comes down….

Mount Lemmon access restricted due to overcrowding – Tucson News Now
Catalina Hwy closed, 2 feet of snow expected this week – Arizona Daily Star
Snow falls on Mt. Lemmon, more to come – Tucson Sentinel
Mount Lemmon digging out from snowstorms – Tucson Sentinel
PCDOT crews preparing Mt. Lemmon roads for visitors, residents – KVOA.com
Ski Valley could open this weekend – Tucson News Now
Drier weekend in Tucson; Mt. Lemmon road still closed – Arizona Daily Star

Down the Oracle Ridge and Cody Trails – 4/13/2015

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted April 25, 2015 - Charles Miles

After a leisurely start I setup at the Oracle Ridge Trailhead to wait for a friend who is coming up the mountain from the American Flag Trailhead – intermittent clouds and a nice breeze keep things cool on my first miles of the day, walking the top of the trail, waiting…

Soon enough RA appears and after a few minutes of talking, organizing gear and confirming plans I start down the Oracle Ridge Trail.

1504 Oracle Ridge — Oracle Ridge stretching out into the distance – not far from the start of the Oracle Ridge Trail. April 2015.

The trail leaves Dan Saddle and climbs (and climbs!) past good views and thru tunnels made of trees, some alive and full of leaves, some just silvery skeletons.

After the trail re-joins the top of the ridge I am stopped several times by views off both sides – the CDO on one the left and the San Pedro Valley to my right.

1504 Looking Down from the Oracle Ridge Trail — From Oracle Ridge – after the climb out of Dan Saddle where the trail rejoins the top of the ridge – the CDO and Samaniego Ridge below with the Biosphere in the distance. April 2015.

1504 Looking down on the San Pedro — The San Pedro Valley from Oracle Ridge – south of Rice Peak. April 2015.

I chat with a friendly backpacker and share some water to ease his concerns about the dry dusty miles ahead – he is the 2nd and last person I will see today – after Rice Peak the descent towards Oracle begins in earnest. Signs guide me sometimes onto single track and often back to the dirt road – not a purist’s dream perhaps, but out here – alone – it really doesn’t matter.

1504 Late in the day on the Cody Trail — Casting a long shadow on the Cody Trail. April 2015.

The shadows get longer on the Cody Trail – power lines, buildings, roads and houses all come and go but my mind stays on the lovely winding trail – I stretch out and run for a while but I am too tired to run even the slight incline of the final hill and manage only a slow walk to end the day. 15.75 miles, +1,650/-4,800 feet of elevation gain/loss.