Peck Basin and Araster Spring via the Knagge ‘Route’ – 2014/3/12

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted March 15, 2014 - Charles Miles

For several years I have looked down into the Peck Basin Area and wondered what was down there… I suppose that the easiest way to get into that area is via the Davis Spring Trailhead on the north side of the Mountain – but part of my fascination with Peck Basin is a curiosity about a trail that seems to be disappearing back into the mountain: the Knagge Trail…

I was dropped off at the bottom of the Incinerator Ridge Road, walked up to the Trailhead and soon enough I was headed down the Knagge Trail, familiar territory and notably easier to follow than it was last September with the plants along the trail brown and flat.

1403 Near the top Knagge Trail at the end of Winter — Near the top Knagge Trail. March 2014.

The Cabin, the mine and the current end of the well established trail all come quickly – and then off onto the ridge below. Unlike my last trip I don’t use any time trying to find the original trail – instead I just work on finding the easiest way down the ridge – an occasional cairn, faint paths that look for a second like a trail, brushy puzzles, beautiful open grassy sections, views down into my destination…

1403 Open Grassy Area on the Ridge below the Knagge Trail — Ridge below the Knagge Trail. March 2014.

I am counting on water in the South Fork of Edgar Canyon and the canyon does not disappoint – clear rushing water!

1403 Water in the South Fork of Edgar Canyon — Water in the South Fork of Edgar Canyon. March 2014.

I work down canyon trying to find the easiest path – up around a box, past an old shelter, thru a fence – here I see the first signs of the cows who live in this area…

1403 Fallen Shelter along the South Fork of Edgar Canyon — Fallen Shelter. March 2014.

I cut out of the canyon, over the ridge and into the drainage with Araster Spring and Peck Basin (this canyon is referred to as Edgar Canyon in the Cowgill and Glendening guide but the USGS 7.5′ Map labels the canyon to the south as Edgar Canyon…). I see more cows on the ridge above and follow their tracks and dung up canyon to Araster Spring and slightly beyond. Araster Spring is beautiful but slightly trampled.

1403 Araster Spring — Araster Spring. March 2014.

Originally I had planned to camp here but the cows have made this area a bit less attractive than I imagined – I loop via hillside and ridge up to Point 4863 to spend the night – on the way stumbling across the Knagge and Davis Spring Trail junction sign! I find a good spot near Point 4863 – I only have to move one cow patty to setup where I want – and enjoy the view of the ridge I came from (with the blazing lights of Mount Bigelow) and the day’s journey!

1403 Camping above Edgar Canyon with the Lights of Mount Bigelow in the Background — Camping above Edgar Canyon – the lights from Mount Bigelow in the background. March 2014.

I get moving a little slowly in the AM – lingering to enjoy the view –

1403 View from Point 4863 — View from Point 4863. March 2014.

And then up up up up back to the Upper Green Mountain Trailhead to meet my ride down! 13 miles and about 4000′ of elevation gain and loss.

flickr – 2014 March Peck Basin and Araster Spring via the Knagge Route

Mount Miguel – 2014/3/9

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted March 9, 2014 - Charles Miles

1403 Ridge out to Mount Miguel — Ridge out to Mount Miguel. March 2014.

Years ago our friend Alex told us about Mount Miguel – I was surprised we had not heard about it since the name appears on the USGS map and it is relatively close to Tucson and the Esperero Trail – but it wasn’t until seeing Mount Miguel last week from the Esperero Trail that we really thought about it again…

We started the day in overflow parking for Music in the Canyon (held by the Friends of Sabino Canyon) – there seemed to be quite a few people attending the event! After walking back to Sabino Canyon we headed up the Esperero Trail. Alex told us that he had left the Esperero Trail at the first obvious slope that heads up to Mount Miguel – but recommended instead to stay on the trail longer – so we took the trail up to Cardiac Gap and then hiked south along the ridge to Mount Miguel.

Strong wind at the Gap and on the ridge was a pleasant surprise – we may not have found the best path along the ridge, but the route we took was beautiful (and not too brushy!) – and before long we were at the top! We enjoyed the views into Sabino Canyon and Tucson and watched the light change and shadows grow as the end of the day crept closer. Soon it was it was time to head down – we left San Miguel alone on the top looking over Tucson.

We took a fairly obvious/short line east down to the Esperero Trail – this route looked a little steep at first but was actually quite reasonable. On the Esperero Trail we lost the light and happily put on our headlamps to finish out our hike under the moon and stars.

Map via Gmap4 with GPX

Elevation Profile for Mount Miguel via Esperero – Cardiac Gap

flickr – 2014 March Mount Miguel

Ridge East of Guthrie Mountain to Point 6925 – 2014/3/5

Updated July 25, 2014 - Posted March 6, 2014 - Charles Miles

1403 Rocky Point along the Ridge East of Guthrie — Rocky Point along the Ridge East of Guthrie. March 2014.

Upper Green Mountain Trailhead, Green Mountain Trail, Guthrie Mountain Trail – I have been on the Guthrie Mountain Trail a number of times but today I made time for something new – nearly to the top of Guthrie I take a faint old trail and follow cairns along the ridge east of the Guthrie Mountain – this trail is marked as a route on the ‘SAHC’ map but that seems very optimistic at this point…

I skirt Point 7162 (I had been there last March and tag it on the way back) – the cairns disappear – eventually I reach a small rock formation that seems to be the high point of the ridge – this is my original ‘starred’ destination from the ‘SAHC’ map – but after battling thru the brush along the ridge it seems impossible to turn around without going out to Point 6925 –

The ridge out to Point 6925 is a bit of a thrash but the views are interesting and worth it – not sure how many times I need to do this hike – but it was certainly fun!

flickr – 2014 March Guthrie Ridge to Point 6925 and Maverick Spring

Esperero Trail – 2014/3/2

Updated July 25, 2014 - Posted March 3, 2014 - Charles Miles

1403 Sunset Panorama — Sunset. March 2014.

Clouds in the sky – but no real hint of yesterday’s storm (that dropped the first rain in the Tucson area since a small amount fell on February 3! See Drenching rains follow unusually warm Tucson February for more details.) – we had time to hike about 3 miles up the trail and then just barely caught the beautiful sunset!

flickr – 2014 March Esperero Trail

Sunset Trail, Storm – 2014/3/1

Updated July 25, 2014 - Posted March 2, 2014 - Charles Miles

1402 Sunset Trail in the Clouds — Sunset Trail in the Clouds. February 2014.

Clouds covered the upper portion of the mountain and there were forecasts of possible snow – driving up the mountain clouds float thru the ridges above Bear Canyon and rockfall on the road reminds me to pay attention – somewhere before the Palisade Ranger Station the clouds cover the highway – I went higher hoping that fast moving clouds might offer interesting views… Mostly wind at the start of the Sunset Trail – it doesn’t really start to rain and hail until I arrive at the empty Marshall Gulch Picnic Area, and then it really really rains and hails on the way back… The clouds never break – just part of the fun.

flickr – 2014 March Sunset Trail Storm