Mountain flowers get a boost from the monsoon – Arizona Daily Star – Flowers!
Fire Restrictions in Southern AZ Remain Despite Monsoon Storms – Arizona Public Media – Not enough rain/moisture yet to safely lift restrictions.
Monsoon off to a splashing start – Arizona Daily Star – Article includes rain totals since 7/3 for several points in the Santa Catalina Mountains – over 3″ at the Palisade Ranger Station!
The Oak Fire – currently burning in the Galiuro Mountains – was started by lightning on June 17th and is currently just over 11,000 acres – on Sunday smoke from the fire was clearly visible from the San Pedro Vista and at times on the Incinerator Ridge Trail and Kellogg Trails. InciWeb – Oak Fire.
Metro Week: Fire Season Underway, Prep Began Months Ago and Lookouts at Forefront of Fire Spotting – Arizona Public Media – Two articles about the fire season preparations on Mount Lemmon including some interesting details about the Lemmon Rock Lookout.
Bighorn Reintroduction status update for June 9 – June 22, 2014 (updates are currently available here) – no mortalities during this period and the report notes that all 5 of the lambs born this season are alive, healthy and growing. There is a great picture in the report of ram 641 in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness in June and some notes about his movements including that he has covered areas from Sutherland Ridge all the way over to Sabino Canyon!
New radios a life saver when it comes to dead spots on Mt. Lemmon – KGUN9 – New radios for the Mount Lemmon Fire Department that will improve coverage!
Oracle brush fire destroys house, sheds – Arizona Daily Star – 20 acres, 1 house and several sheds burned in the fire.
Oro Valley council discusses Steam Pump Ranch plan – The Explorer Newspaper – The Oro Valley town council continues to discuss the plan for the Steam Pump Ranch – no decision was reached.
Catalina State Park offers folk concert – Arizona Daily Star – “The folk band Fried Squirrel will perform at Catalina State Park at 6:30 p.m. July 5.” – there will be free popcorn and a raffle for a Jeep Cherokee ($25, prize awarded in November).
Hikers Rescued in Romero Canyon – PCSD – and a picture from the Southern Arizona Rescue Association – The hikers lost the trail and ended up in Romero Canyon where they eventually called for a rescue.On National Trails Day – Saturday, June 7, 2014 – from 8am to 12pm “The Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina Ranger District along with REI and the Arizona Conservation Corps will be hosting a volunteer event Saturday, June, 7 in celebration of National Trails Day. Come join us as we work on brushing, trash clean up, trail restoration, and erosion control on our local hiking and mountain biking trails. Snacks, water and lunch will be provided!” – to get all the details see this page on the American Hiking Society Website. The Upper Green Mountain Trailhead is located just before San Pedro Vista 17.2 miles up the mountain on the up-mountain side of the highway providing easy access to both the Green Mountain Trail and the Incinerator Ridge Trail – both part of the Arizona Trail Wilderness Bypass!
2014/5/19 – Shooters litter national forest land by Catalina Highway – an article about a well known shooting destination just off the highway up the mountain – the site had been cleaned up and boulders/dirt added to discourage access but the site continues to be used and this article reports that trash is already a problem again. While Coronado National Forest officials have indicated shooting here is legal it seems like it might not be appropriate.
Mt Lemmon prepares for wildfire season, fire department worries about campers, Obey fire restrictions, avoid hefty fines – Several articles discussing and re-iterating the fire danger this season.