coronado national forest

Crossing Sabino Canyon – 2014/8/19

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

From the Phoneline Trail Sabino Canyon sounded like a raging river – as we descended we wondered if there was a chance that we wouldn’t feel comfortable crossing – but down by the canyon the flow didn’t seem as impressive and the crossing was fine – we enjoyed the cool knee deep water.

A glance at the USGS Guage for Sabino Canyon shows that we were lucky to see higher water levels – the storm fed flow peaked late on the 19th and quickly diminished.

 

1408 Crossing Sabino Canyon
Crossing Sabino Canyon – storms briefly increased the flow and we enjoyed cool knee deep water at the first crossing down from Phoneline. August 2014.

Bighorn Update, Bullock Fire Case, Helicopters

Posted - Charles Miles

The Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project Update Status update for 7/21 to 8/3 is now available (all updates are currently available here). Interesting details:

  • This is the first mention I have seen in awhile of the August release plans: “We are currently putting plans in place for a possible second release this autumn, including the addition of rams. A year from now, it may be possible for people to once again experience the thunderous crack of bighorn sheep rams butting heads together in the Santa Catalina Mountains.”
  • The single remaining ram: “Last week, the ram was observed exhibiting breeding behavior.”
  • As with some previous reports a number of maps are included showing recorded locations and ranges for different individuals and groups of sheep – the southwest corner of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness appears to be heavily used.

Controversy brews over plan for helicopters in wilderness – Arizona Daily Star – A great article by Douglas Kreutz that nicely covers the various for/against views on Arizona Game and Fish’s  request to use helicopters in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness to help manage the recently introduced bighorn sheep.

Photos: Mt. Lemmon Air Force Station – Arizona Daily Star – A set of interesting old pictures of the Mount Lemmon Air Force Station.

Buildings weren’t burned by Forest Service, judge rules – Arizona Daily Star – A lawsuit where landowners were suing the Forest Service for compensation for property burned in the Bullock Fire is decided in favor of the Forest Service.

Lemmon Rock Lookout – Storms – 2014/8/2

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1408 Alisons Footprint on the Lemmon Rock Lookout Trail
We raced to be the first to the top of the Lemmon Rock Trail – all I saw until the top were footprints… August 2014.

Ominous clouds covered the mountain, but when we got out of the car there was no rain or lightning – just wonderful shade and cool temperatures. We took different trails down from the Summit Trailhead – the Mount Lemmon Trail and Aspen Trail, then onto the Wilderness of Rock Trail and up the Lemmon Rock Trail – we raced to be the first up the steep climb to the Lemmon Rock Lookout – I was second up the trail and all I saw were footprints until we met at the top…

1408 Clouds Sun and Curtains of Rain from below the Lemmon Rock Lookout
Curtains of rain moving across Tucson – from just below the Lemmon Rock Lookout. August 2014.

Oracle Ridge, Red Ridge Loop – 2014/7/28

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Oracle Ridge is beautiful today, flowers, green, big views and sections of great ridges.

1407 Oracle Ridge
Near the beginning of the Oracle Ridge Trail. July 2014.

As the Catalina Camp Trail descends the temperature starts to soar, but soon enough One Park Place appears and the trees along the East Fork of the Cañada del Oro provide some relief from the sun – water in the East Fork of the CDO is a surprise and we sit, relax and enjoy.

1407 Water in the East Fork of the CDO
Flowing water in the East Fork of the Cañada del Oro. July 2014.

The loop in this direction ends with the steep climb up the stunning Red Ridge Trail.

1407 Looking down Red Ridge and over to Oracle Ridge
Looking down from the Red Ridge Trail – Red Ridge on the left and Oracle Ridge on the right. July 2014.

The Oracle Ridge – Catalina Camp – Red Ridge loop is approximately 8.6 miles with 2500′ of cumulative elevation gain/loss.