14 Bighorn Released, Dark Skies in Oracle State Park

Jack Hanna helps release 14 bighorns into Catalinas – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star, Fourteen bighorn captured for release into Santa Catalinas Thursday – JD Wallace – Tucson News Now, Bighorn Sheep Release in Santa Catalinas Closed to Public – Maria Inés Taracena – Arizona Public Media: On Thursday AM – in a release closed to the public – 14 additional Bighorn Sheep (11 ewes and 3 rams) were released into the Santa Catalina Mountains. The release took place in a residential area that offers access into the areas on Pusch Ridge that the Bighorn remaining from the first release have been using. The release was closed because of “public safety concerns and animal welfare concerns”… Best of luck to the new Bighorn Sheep! (The Friends of Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Facebook Page is currently a good resource for capture and release videos and pictures.) Oracle State Park gains international dark sky status – Yoohyun Jung – Arizona Daily Star: Oracle State Park is the first state park in Arizona to be recognized as an international dark sky park by the International Dark-Sky Association, – the park received Silver Status which means that there are “minor impacts from light pollution and other artificial light disturbance”. The park is normally limited to day use – look for Stargazing and Dark Sky Celebration events in January and March on the Friends of Oracle State Park and Oracle State Park websites. The Bighorn Sheep Restoration Project Status update for 10/27 to 11/12 is now available (all updates are currently available here). The most interesting part of this status update is a small change to the reporting on the lambs where the document simply says “No lambs were observed during this reporting period” – I believe some previous status updates may have simply reported the number of lambs previously observed when there was no reason to suspect any moralities.

Dark Skies, Hiker Death in 1939, Fee Free Days

Dark Skies at Catalina State Park – upcoming dates for Star Parties at Catalina State Park. Tales from the Morgue: Lost in the Catalinas – Articles from the Arizona Daily Star, Monday, Feb. 6, 1939 about the tragic death of a hiker. Coronado National Forest Announces Fee Free Days for Presidents Day Weekend – a press release with the remaining fee waiver dates in 2014:
  • February 15 – 17, Presidents Day Weekend
  • June 14, National Get Outdoors Day
  • September 27, National Public Lands Day
  • November 8 – 11, Veterans Day Weekend

Joe Hoxie

JOE HOXIE 1924-2014 – A post by Pete Cowgill about long time SAHC member Joe Hoxie. The post notes that in the Santa Catalina Mountains “Joe supervised the rehabilitation, with more than a dozen SAHC volunteers, of the Game and Fish cabin at Shovel Springs in the Catalinas, G&F later demolished the cabin.”

Rock Climber found Dead

Rock Climber Found Deceased on Mount LemmonBody of avid rock climber found on Mount LemmonAuthorities identify dead climber found on Mt. LemmonClimber Dies on the Lemmon 10/02/13 – Climber David Webster dies on the mountain. A post on Facebook and Supertopo indicate that it was a heart attack (this was later partly confirmed here Medical examiner: Mt. Lemmon climber may have died from natural causes).