Aspen Draw, Summerhaven, Mint Spring, Aspen Loop – 5/15/2018

Sun and Shade on the Mint Spring Trail. May 2018.
Sun and Shade on the Mint Spring Trail. May 2018.

Summer temps are making top of the mountain loops very appealing lately – one of my favorite variations: Aspen Draw (best trail on the top of the mountain for getting a taste of how the area looked before the Aspen Fire), a short trip thru Summerhaven, onto the Mint Spring Trail (admire the small stands of Aspen, take in views cleared by the Aspen Fire and enjoy a stop at the spring – the Mint Spring Trail has been in rough condition in previous years but is looking quite good right now!) and up the Aspen Trail (wander up thru the pines and admire the great views from the final climb to the top – on this trip I took note of the view over Summerhaven, along Alder Canyon and Black Hills Mine Road to the San Pedro River with the Galiuro Mountains and Mount Graham in the background!).

New Mexico Raspberry Flower. May 2018.
New Mexico Raspberry Flower. May 2018.

Aficionados of upper mountain loops will probably be well aware of the situation that using the Aspen Draw Trail as your ‘down’ trail presents -> connecting to the Mint Spring Trail or any of the trails that leave from the Marshall Gulch Trailhead will force you to pass the Sawmill Run Restaurant, Stompin Grounds Coffee and Kettle KornThe Mt. Lemmon General Store & Gift shop and the Mt Lemmon Cookie Cabin… Perilous temptation if you goal is a hardcore fitness outing – wondrous distraction on a leisurely day!

Water tank along the Aspen Draw Trail. May 2018.
Water tank along the Aspen Draw Trail. May 2018.
Summerhaven from the Mint Spring Trail. May 2018.
Summerhaven from the Mint Spring Trail. May 2018.
Looking over Summerhaven and the San Pedro River Valley to the Galiuros with Mount Graham in the distance from near the top of the Aspen Trail. May 2018.
Looking over Summerhaven and the San Pedro River Valley to the Galiuros with Mount Graham in the distance from near the top of the Aspen Trail. May 2018.

Miami Fire Pictures from Summerhaven – 4/18/2014

It was a beautiful day high on the mountain – we drove to the Summit Trailhead to start a friendly race – Aspen Draw Trail, thru Summerhaven, Mint Spring Trail, Marshall Gulch Trail and the Aspen Trail to Marshall Saddle – I managed to win by about a minute, but not without an all out effort!

While hiking back to the car on the Aspen Trail I noticed smoke below and assumed it was just someone burning brush… But in Summerhaven (to get a cookie!) we were able to see the flames, smoke and orange tint from the Miami Fire.

1504 Hillside Flames
Flames from the Miami Fire on a hillside above Summerhaven. April 2015.
1504 The Miami Fire from Summerhaven
Smoke and flames from the Miami Fire. April 2015.

It was hard to tell how big and close the fire was – but thankfully InciWeb reports that the fire is only 5 Acres and already 20% contained (see updates below). Both Tucson News Now and the Arizona Daily Star report that no structures have burned, there are no current evacuation orders and that while precautions are being taken no structures are currently threatened. The cause is still under investigation but it is believed to be human-caused. The highway was closed at the base.

UPDATE 4/21/2015 – InciWeb now reports that the fire is 100% contained – no structures were damaged and the fire burned 5 acres.

UPDATE 4/19/2015 – Tucson News Now reports that the highway reopened Saturday night and remained open on Sunday.

From InciWeb 4/20/2015: The Miami Fire was 100% contained today at 4:30 p.m. The crew has been released. The fire has transitioned to the Arizona State Forestry Division. This will be the final update for the Miami Fire.

From InciWeb 4/19/2015: Miami Fire is 40% contained. Crews have fireline and are cooling hot spots in the interior (mopping up). Four acres on private land, .6 on Coronado National Forest.
Due to the prompt response of Coronado National Forest, Mt. Lemmon Fire Department and Rural Metro Fire Department, a positive outcome of no structures lost was possible. Close proximity of a helipad and dip site to the fire also contributed to the success.

From InciWeb 4/18/2015: The Miami fire, burning in Carter Canyon near Summerhaven is now 20 percent contained and is 4.6 acres. The fire was active in the afternoon but the fire behavior has now decreased. Firefighters expect to make good progress tonight, but the area has many snags, and heavy mop up is anticipated. There are currently five engines, two water tenders a helicopter, a twenty person handcrew, and various overhead are assigned to the fire. That is more than forty firefighters working to suppress the Miami fire with another twenty person handcrew ordered. The Mt. Lemon Highway remains closed at MP 0.

Aspen Draw, Aspen and Marshall Gulch Trail Loop – 12/19/2014

1412 Enjoying untouched snow on Radio Ridge
Enjoying the snow on Radio Ridge near the Aspen Draw Trail. December 2014.

Winter Wonderland – after months and months (and months) of summer it feels like this has never happened before and might never happen again, hard to remember that every year, sooner or later, the mountain is covered in snow. Summerhaven was full of people – the trails were nearly empty, and the conditions perfect! Aspen Draw Trail, Aspen Trail, Marshall Gulch Trail Loop – 7.4 miles, 1600′ of elevation gain/loss.

1412 Snow and Snow on the Aspen Draw Trail
Sun and snow on the Aspen Draw Trail! December 2014.
1412 Snow on the Aspen Trail with the junction sign in the distance
Snow on the Aspen Trail near the junction with the Wilderness of Rock, Mint Spring and Marshall Gulch Trail. December 2014.

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

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.

Aspen Draw and Lemmon Rock Trails – 2014/5/10

Summerhaven – Turkey Run – Aspen Draw – Radio Ridge – I wonder if the Forest Service or Arizona Historical Society have the brochure that matches the old markers along the trail – it would be fun to hike the trail and read the descriptions…

1405 Old markers on the Aspen Draw Trail
Old markers on the Aspen Draw Trail.

Up to the Summit Trailhead and then down again – Lemmon – Lemmon Rock – Wilderness of Rock junction – back up the Lemmon Rock Trail.

The Lemmon Rock Lookout slowly gets closer, the wind makes the day feel cool, I hear Peregrine Falcons and my own heartbeat when I take a short break.

1405 Lemmon Rock Lookout from the Lemmon Rock Trail
Looking up at the Lemmon Rock Lookout from the Lemmon Rock Trail.

Radio Ridge – Aspen Draw – Turkey Run and back into Summerhaven…