Fire, Rain, Rescues, Camping, Trails, Steampump, Buffelgrass, Sheep – 6/29/2015

Forest Service monitoring four small fires – Tucson News Now: “The U.S. Forest Service is watching four lightning-caused fires in the Coronado National Forest” including the Romero Canyon Fire which began on Saturday near the Sutherland Trail. At the time the article was written the fire was being monitored, not actively managed. 

Mount Lemmon gets ‘heavy dose’ of rain – Carmen Duarte – Arizona Daily Star: Beautiful summer storms have started to form over the mountain and there has already been rain!

Elderly hiker awaiting rescue from Finger Rock Trail – Carmen Duarte – Arizona Daily Star: “The 72-year-old hiker began hiking the trail at 6 a.m., but by the afternoon on his way back down from the trail he became tired and ran out of water”, while far from impossible this time of year the heat certainly makes the Finger Rock Trail worthy of caution and careful planning.

The Spencer Canyon Campground was closed for several days while reports of a mountain lion in the area were investigated – after nothing conclusive was found the campground re-opened. The last article linked below mentions that “Arizona Game and Fish estimates about 600 mountain lions live in southeast Arizona”. Spencer Canyon Campground closed after possible mountain lion sighting – Cynthia Washington – Tucson News Now, Mountain lion sighting reports close Mt. Lemmon campground – Anthony Victor Reyes and Matt Fernandez – Tucson News Now, Spencer Canyon Campground re-opens after no cougar found – Curt Prendergast – Arizona Daily Star.

Blackett’s Ridge TrailAspen Draw TrailBug Spring Trail – Doug Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: Three great hikes, three great workouts – a nice bit of inspiration now that the summer heat is here.

OV budget passes after criticisms – Hillary Davis – The Explorer, Steam Pump funds OK’d – Hillary Davis – The Explorer: After budget wrangling “the Oro Valley Town Council voted June 17 to allocate $425,000 for the stabilization of the historic property”.

Camping: Roughing it made easier for families – Angela Pittenger – Arizona Daily Star: A write up about a Family Campout event at Catalina State Park – for a fee tents and equipment are provided, a great way to experience camping for the first time or just an easy way to get outside!

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY MOONLIGHT HIKE: “Join the Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Department for our annual nighttime, flashlight hike, held in partnership with Catalina State Park.” – if you haven’t gotten to hike at night in the desert a hike like this is a great opportunity to see a very beautiful part of the summer.

Sabino Creek dwindles, but tranquil pools remain – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: Lovely pools remain in Sabino but with the flow almost at zero more water will depend on the summer rains…

Forest returning — ever so slowly — after Aspen Fire – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: “Twelve years after the Aspen Fire roared over the Catalina Mountains, once-blackened slopes are showing expanses of bright green new growth.”

Preserving Sabino Canyon means defending against invaders – Mark Hengesbaugh – Arizona Daily Star, Funding boosts battle against buffelgrass – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: Articles about invasive species including buffelgrass and fountain grass in Sabino Canyon – and the great news that the Department of the Interior will provide $150,750 to help with buffelgrass removal in Southern Arizona. Coronado National Forest, Saguaro National Park and the Southern Arizona Buffelgrass Coordination Center (a fantastic resource if you have questions about buffelgrass!) will all receive funds.

Mt. Lemmon a training ground for visiting military – Craig Reck – Tucson News Now: Military High Angle rescue training on Mt. Lemmon.

From the Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project – May 21 – June 3, 2015:

“From June 2-4, a research biologist recorded visual observations of 22 of the 40 collared sheep in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Three notable groups were observed in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness area. The first group included 7 ewes and 7 lambs; the second group was composed of 1 ram, 8 ewes, and 5 lambs; the third group included 5 ewes and 1 lamb. All observed lambs appeared to be between 3-5 months old, with the exception of one lamb that looked to be about 1 month old. Some of these lambs were observed nursing, while the larger lambs in the groups were seen feeding alongside adult sheep. All observed collared sheep as well as the lambs appeared to be healthy and in good body condition.”

Other Trail Incidents:

  • Stranded in the dark – Sabino Canyon Phoneline Trail and Sabino Canyon Historic Trail
  • Hikers in need of assistance due to exhaustion – Green Mountain Trail
  • Ankle injury – Butterfly Trail

Other links:

 

Fires, Disease, Bighorns Thriving, Summer, Climbing Accident – 5/31/2015

No fire restrictions in place on Mt. Lemmon despite recent fire – Monica Garcia – KVOA.com – The article notes that despite multiple fires in Southern Arizona there are no current fire restrictions – and then explains that the Forest Service has a series of tests they use to determine if restrictions are warranted. Current conditions are apparently not (yet!) dry/hot enough yet for restrictions to go into effect.

Delayed Tucson fire season arrives for holiday weekend – Tom Beal – Arizona Daily Star: Today (5/31/2015) Inciweb has 3 fires listed in the Coronado National Forest (Aliso, Oak Tree, Research) – fire season is certainly here…

State trying to protect bighorn sheep from diseases – Cam Chery – Yuma Sun: Domesticated Sheep and Pack Goats can transmit potentially fatal diseases to Bighorn Sheep – deaths in the Silverbell herd of Bighorn are specifically mentioned as being attributed to domestic goats. Spatial separation of the Bighorns and domestic Sheep and Goats is mentioned as the most important management technique for keeping the Bighorn Sheep disease free.

Reintroduced Bighorns Thriving in Santa Catalina Mountains – AZPM, Positive signs for bighorns: breeding and lamb survival – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: 40 of the released Sheep are known to be alive, no deaths in 5 months, lambs being born/surviving and evidence of breeding in the Santa Catalina Mountains – very positive news for the Santa Catalina Bighorn!

100 days of summer June 25-July 1 – Arizona Daily Star: A 9PM Tram Ride up Sabino Canyon and a trip up to Summerhaven are both mentioned – probably nothing new to anyone reading this but both such good ideas!

Rock climber injured in accident on Mt. Lemmon – Arizona Daily Star, Injured man rescued near Windy Point – Brent Corrado – KGUN9: A rappelling accident in the Windy Point area – 45ft fall, non-life threatening injuries.

The June SARCI SARNews Newsletter reports incidents on the Phoneline, Bear, Ventana Canyon and Green Mountain Trails and at Seven Falls and Tanque Verde Canyon.

Bowden, Rescues, 16th Lamb – 4/19/2015

Mt. Lemmon center renaming considered for author Bowden, Patrick McNamara, Arizona Daily Star  – The Pima County Board of Supervisors is considering renaming the Mount Lemmon Community Center after well-known author Charles Bowden who passed away in 2014. Bowden’s Frog Mountain Blues is about the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Hikers were rescued after dehydration ended a hike up the mountain on the Sutherland Trail – high temperatures and scarce water this time of year are worthy of caution and careful planning. UPDATE: Two hikers rescued from Catalina State Park, Colton Shone and Shelley Shelton, Tucson News Now; Two hikers rescued from Catalina State Park, Arizona Daily Star; Hikers rescued on Sunday after potentially life-threatening situation, Domenica Fuller, KVOA.com.

Hiker rescue underway near Sabino Canyon, Jackie Kent, Tucson News Now – “The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said a 73-year-old man with a possible leg injury is about six miles up a trail at Esperero Canyon.”

Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project March 26 through April 8, 2015 – Another lamb has been reported to bring the total to 16 for the season!

 

 

2 Ranges, Kannally, Miraval, Horses, Lambs

Move Across 2 Ranges is a great event that challenges people to get out on the trails and complete one of several trail challenges that cover between 5 to 21.5 miles on trails in both the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Tortolita Mountains! The 2015 event will on held on Saturday, Feb. 28. Packet pickup and food and drinks after the event will be at Summit Hut‘s Oro Valley location.

Kannally family left lasting legacy in Oracle – Gabrielle Fimbres – Arizona Daily Star: An interesting article about the Kannally family who came to Arizona in the early 1900s and eventually owned 50,000 acres – part of which is now Oracle State Park.

Miraval Spring Hiking Week, March 23-28: Starting on March 23rd Miraval has scheduled a series of hikes for their guests that include Window Rock, Prison Camp to Bear Canyon, Catalina State Park to the top of Mount Lemmon and a Finger Rock to Mount Kimball hike.

2 riders hurt when horse rolls onto them – Carmen Duarte – Arizona Daily Star: Two riders were injured in Catalina State Park in a horse riding accident.

The most recent Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project Status update reports that there have been nine confirmed lambs in the Santa Catalina Mountains and has links to three videos of the Bighorn on Youtube: IMG 0410IMG_0425, IMG_0429.

Lambs, Funds, Star Party, Oracle State Park, Winter Weather

The Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project Status update for 1/15 to 1/28 is now available (all updates are currently available here):

  • Five lambs have been sited! The update links to a video of several of the previously sited lambs: Bighorn lambs & ewes in Santa Catalinas.
  • Residents in the area of Ina Road and 1st Avenue reported 3 Bighorn to AZGF. GPS data confirms that these Bighorn have moved into the edge of the urban area bordering the Pusch Ridge Wilderness several times and also notes several other urban sightings: a Ram was seen several times last year by Oracle Residents and two ewes documented in the Ventana Canyon and Finger Rock Estates areas. “Our intent is to encourage the Catalina bighorn sheep to use appropriate habitat removed from the urban interface and hope that incursions into urban areas will be rare if at all.”
  • The report breaks has some information on the funding sources for this project:
    • 31% State Tag Funds
    • 23% Private Grants and Donations with most of the donations “from sportsmen oriented groups and individuals” including large donations by the Arizona Chapter of Safari Club International, the Wild Sheep Foundation, the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society and Safari Club International Foundation.
    • 46% From the Pittman-Robertson fund – this is a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, accessories and achery equipment that provides funds to manage wildlife.

Catalina State Park will host a Star Party on Feb. 21 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm – the event will start with a presentation by Jim O’Connor with excerpts from his book, Native American Night Sky Stories, and there will be a variety of telescopes at the event. See the Arizona Star Party Astronomy Events page for more details and for other dates at throughout the year at Arizona State Parks!

Arizona hike: Oracle State Park – azcentral.com – Mare Czinar: A short article about the hiking in Oracle State Park – the days that the park are open to the public are limited (currently Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm) but it is well worth finding an open day to visit!

Winter weather! There was rain and snow that temporarily closed the highway and caused 3 hikers to be stranded due to rushing water in the Sabino Canyon Area. Winter weather closes highway up Mt. Lemmon – Carissa Planalp – TucsonNewsNow.com, Snow in mountains, rain in Tucson valley expected – tucson.com, Three hikers stranded because of rushing waters – Ina Ronquillo – KGUN9.