horned lizard

Lombar Hill – 10/31/2016

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Lombar Hill from the Control Road. October 2016.
Lombar Hill from the Control Road. October 2016.

Below Marble Peak, at a sharp turn, the Control Road crosses a cattle guard and a fence runs up the ridge towards the top of Lombar Hill. A road on the north side of the fence seems like it might take you to the top, but instead it ends at a fire ring and a trail that quickly disappears into thick vegetation. On the south side of the fence a small, occasionally overgrown, path parallels the fence – it only takes a few minutes on this path to get to the top – a nice break from the long drive up the mountain!

Looking down the mountain into the San Pedro River Valley from Lombar Hill - Alder Canyon and the ridge between Alder and Edgar Canyons are on the right - if you zoom in you can see Black Hills Mine Road and the road to Ventana Windmill descending into Alder Canyon. October 2016.
Looking down the mountain into the San Pedro River Valley from Lombar Hill – Alder Canyon and the ridge between Alder and Edgar Canyons are on the right – if you zoom in you can see Black Hills Mine Road and the road to Ventana Windmill descending into Alder Canyon. October 2016.
Horned Lizard on Lombar Hill. October 2016.
Horned Lizard on Lombar Hill. October 2016.

I am not sure about the who/what/why of the name Lombar Hill (please contact me if you can fill me in on the history of this name!) – the name does not appear on the USGS 1904 Tucson Map, perhaps because it is a smaller feature, but does appear on a survey from the 1920s…

The 1904 Tucson Topo Map (available as a free download from the USGS) - Lombar Hill is in the center of the map but is not labeled. October 2016.
The 1904 Tucson Topo Map (available as a free download from the USGS) – Lombar Hill is near the center of the map but is not labeled. October 2016.
Lombar Hill shown on a Survey from the 1920s, unlike the 1904 Topo Lombar Hill is labeled. The survey document is available from the General Land Office Records (Township 11S Range 16E). October 2016.
Lombar Hill shown on a Survey from the 1920s, unlike the 1904 Topo Lombar Hill is labeled. The survey document is available from the General Land Office (Township 11S Range 16E). October 2016.

Aspen Trail – 2014/4/28

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

I often avoid the Marshall Gulch Trailhead – often uncomfortably jammed with cars and sometimes an inspiring but overwhelming number of people – but it does quickly take you to an amazing area of the mountain – Aspen Trail up and back today.

1404 Horned Lizard
A horned Lizard along the Aspen Trail. April 2014.

 

1404 Antennas on the Ridge from the Aspen Trail
Antennas on Radio Ridge from the Aspen Trail. April 2014.

 

1404 Snow Hiding under a Pine Tree high on the Aspen Trail
High on the trail there was snow hiding under some of the young pines – the storm the previous weekend had dropped the snow, I was surprised to still see it on the mountain. April 2014.