bear canyon

Prison Camp, Thimble Peak, Bear Canyon – 11/28/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
The route out to Thimble Peak from Bear Canyon. November 2015.
The route out to Thimble Peak from Bear Canyon. November 2015.

A sea of grass out to the Thimble, a ribbon of color down Sabino Canyon, looking up Bear Canyon to and past the Sycamore Reservoir Dam, back lit Saguaros and sunset light in Bear Canyon – every trip into the mountains is another chance to see something new – even the most familiar places are constantly changing, different light, season, weather, colors, wildlife, plants, friends… – and this was a particularly amazing day.

Looking down Sabino Canyon, a ribbon of color in the desert - from just below the base of Thimble Peak. November 2015.
Looking down Sabino Canyon, a ribbon of color in the desert – from just below the base of Thimble Peak. November 2015.
Saguaros in the sunlight - from the Bear Canyon Trail, above Seven Falls. November 2015.
Saguaros in the sunlight – from the Bear Canyon Trail, above Seven Falls. November 2015.
Bear Canyon - Sunset light and clear blue winter sky - a sea of Saguaros - from the road. November 2015.
Bear Canyon – Sunset light and clear blue winter sky – a sea of Saguaros – from the road. November 2015.

Window View, Flight from DFW – 11/14/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Flying into Tucson from Dallas/Fort Worth I had a little luck – window seat facing the mountains, decent light, good weather – and was able to take a few pictures of the Santa Catalina Mountains –

Looking down on Agua Caliente Hill on a flight coming into Tucson from DFW. November 2015.
Looking down on Agua Caliente Hill on a flight coming into Tucson from DFW. November 2015.
Molino Canyon and the Highway with Airmen Peak, Guthrie Mountain, Green Mountain, Barnum Rock and Windy Point in the distance. November 2015.
Molino Canyon and the Highway with Airmen Peak, Guthrie Mountain, Green Mountain, Barnum Rock and Windy Point in the distance. November 2015.
Ventana, Bird, Rattlesnake, Sabino and Bear Canyons with the Summit Crags and top of the mountain in the background. November 2015.
Ventana, Bird, Rattlesnake, Sabino and Bear Canyons with the Summit Crags and top of the mountain in the background. November 2015.
The Cleaver, Bighorn Mountain, Table Mountain, Wolf's Teeth, Prominent Point, Finger Rock, Mount Kimball, Pontatoc Ridge. November 2015.
The Cleaver, Bighorn Mountain, Table Mountain, Wolf’s Teeth, Prominent Point, Finger Rock, Mount Kimball, Pontatoc Ridge. November 2015.
Pusch Peak rising from the southwest corner of the Santa Catalina Mountains. November 2015.
Pusch Peak rising from the southwest corner of the Santa Catalina Mountains. November 2015.

Prison Camp to Sabino Canyon – 10/6/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
A wall near the top of the Sycamore Reservoir dam. October 2015.
A wall near the top of the Sycamore Reservoir dam. October 2015.
Looking across the Santa Catalina Mountains - from near Shreve Saddle, looking down on Sycamore Reservoir. October 2015.
Looking across the Santa Catalina Mountains – from near Shreve Saddle, looking down on Sycamore Reservoir. October 2015.
Looking back towards the Prison Camp area from the Bear Canyon Trail - fast moving clouds covering the mountains. October 2015.
Looking back towards the Prison Camp area from the Bear Canyon Trail – fast moving clouds covering the mountains. October 2015.
Looking down Bear Canyon - rain in Tucson and a break in the clouds above. October 2015.
Looking down Bear Canyon – rain in Tucson and a break in the clouds above. October 2015.

Waves of rain and hail were the highlights of the day – it was beautiful to see the mountain covered in clouds and wet with rain!

A Short Hike Above Bear Canyon, Points 6702, 7135 and 6810 – 8/23/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
A Gopher Snake in a wash above Bear Canyon - after spotting us he disappeared into cracks below a small rock face. August 2015.
A Gopher Snake in a wash above Bear Canyon – after spotting us he disappeared into cracks below a small rock face. August 2015.

Points 6702, 7135 and 6810 east of Bear Canyon are, in many ways, ‘nothing special’ – but marks on a map are a great excuse to wander away from well trodden paths – and more often than not thru spots of subtle beauty, sometimes surrounded by sublimely devilish brush…

Summer rains filling Bear Canyon with beautiful running water. August 2015.
Summer rains filling Bear Canyon with beautiful running water. August 2015.
Juniper Berries. August 2015.
Juniper Berries. August 2015.
Wet mushrooms near the ridge east of Bear Canyon. August 2015.
Wet mushrooms near the ridge east of Bear Canyon. August 2015.
Looking across Bear Canyon from Point 6810 on the ridge east of Bear Canyon. August 2015.
Looking across Bear Canyon from Point 6810 on the ridge east of Bear Canyon. August 2015.

Lower Green Mountain Trailhead, Green Mountain Trail, off trail up onto the ridge, Point 6702, Point 7135, Point 6810, Bug Spring Trail, Lower Green Mountain Trailhead. 3.9 miles, +/- 2000′ of elevation gain/loss.

Bear Canyon to Seven Falls – 7/19/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

In the shade of the canyon walls the temperature was a bit more forgiving – some relief, but it was still hot and even in the dark at the finish you could feel the summer heat lingering into the night…

Sunset - looking down Bear Canyon from Seven Falls.
Looking down Bear Canyon from Seven Falls, sunset, Tucson in the distance. July 2015.
Sitting in the dark at the finish - near the Sabino Canyon Parking Area. July 2015.
At the finish, sitting next to the Sabino Canyon Parking Area. July 2015.