Double Rainbow, Light, Shadows, Linda Vista Trails – 2/19/2017

Double Rainbow from the Linda Vista Trails. February 2017.
Double Rainbow from the Linda Vista Trails. February 2017.

I am constantly amazed how much there is to see on the Linda Vista Trails – it is easy to focus on the noise and proximity to town, but if nothing else the views make the Linda Vista Trailhead a worthy destination…

Cliffs below Pusch Peak from the Linda Vista Trails. February 2017.
Cliffs below Pusch Peak from the Linda Vista Trails. February 2017.
Shadows-light, storm-clouds, Pusch Ridge. February 2017.
Shadows-light, storm-clouds, Pusch Ridge. February 2017.

Bigelow RX Burn, Hilton Horses, Fuelwood – 11/13/2016

Sunrise near Redington Road. October 2016.
Sunrise near Redington Road. October 2016.

Bigelow Prescribed Fire on Mt. Lemmon, Coronado National Forest: On Monday, November 4th, “if conditions such as temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity and fuel moistures are favorable” fire managers will burn a 200-acre area around Mount Bigelow. The fire could cause road and trail closures in the area – the Kellogg Trail, Butterfly Trail and dirt roads in the vicinity seem the most likely to be impacted. From the Forest Service News Release “Prescribed fires are among the most effective tools available to resource managers to restore fire-adapted ecosystems. They mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity.”

Forest Service Bigelow Prescribed Burn Map. October 2016.
Forest Service Bigelow Prescribed Burn Map. October 2016.

Hilton Tucson El Conquistador opens 18-horse stable – AZBIGMEDIA: The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador, located north of the Linda Vista Trailhead, has opened stables and is offering “trail rides, riding lessons and family friendly adventures for locals and visitors looking to explore the spectacular Sonoran Desert.”

Fuelwood Permits (for personal use only) are available for Mt. Lemmon at the Ranger District Office, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road from 11/1 to 12/16 for the 11/1 to 4/16 cutting season. Permits are $20, 1 per household, and “will authorize collection on Mt. Lemmon and in the Oracle area of dry, dead-and-down and dead standing wood (no live branches) less than eight inches in diameter at breast height. Cutting area maps and program regulations will be provided with permits upon request. Permit holders may collect and remove only dry wood from the collection areas.”

Rescues/Accidents/Incidents including information from the SARCI Newsletter:

  • Wilderness of Rocks 10/1/2016: A hiker is stranded off trail by darkness in the area of the Lemmon Rock Trail/Wilderness of Rocks junction.
  •  Windy Point 10/6/2016: A woman injured in the area is carried out.
  • Sutherland Trail 10/8/2016: A hiker is carried out after becoming exhausted on a social trail off the Sutherland Trail.
  • Sabino Canyon 10/13/2016: Three lost hikers in Sabino Canyon below the guaging station, and above the Box Spring Trail, requested helped and were helped upstream.
  • Butterfly Trail 10/17/2016: A biker on the Butterfly Trail was lost in the Novio Spring area and lifted out by helicopter.
Cloud streaks over the edge of the Rincon Mountains from Redington Road, near sunrise. October 2016.
Cloud streaks over the edge of the Rincon Mountains from Redington Road, near sunrise. October 2016.

Sunset and Stadium Lights on the Linda Vista Trail – 4/29/2016

Sunset from the Linda Vista Trails. April 2016.
Sunset from the Linda Vista Trails. April 2016.

A short hike up the trail, pictures of the sunset and watching the dying light – gradually, as it got darker, we noticed a glow – it was too early for the moon and it took us several minutes to realize that nearby stadium lights were illuminating the landscape – lighting up the clouds, cliffs, ridges and saguaros.

Saguaro, clouds, stars and Pusch Ridge from the Linda Vista Trails. April 2016.
Saguaro, clouds, stars and Pusch Ridge from the Linda Vista Trails. April 2016.
Heading down towards Oro Valley by headlamp - Linda Vista Trails. April 2016.
Heading down towards Oro Valley by headlamp – Linda Vista Trails. April 2016.
In the dark, Pusch Ridge Wilderness. April 2016.
In the dark, Pusch Ridge Wilderness. April 2016.

Winter Storm, Pusch Peak – 12/12/2015

A line of rain, hail and snow moving towards the mountain. December 2015.
A line of rain, hail and snow moving towards the mountain. December 2015.
Winter storm on the route up to Pusch Peak. December 2015.
Winter storm on the route up to Pusch Peak. December 2015.
In the clouds on Pusch Peak. December 2015.
In the clouds on Pusch Peak. December 2015.
Light thru the clouds from the overlook off the Pusch Peak route. December 2015.
Light thru the clouds from the overlook off the Pusch Peak route. December 2015.

We watched clouds swirl across the mountain peaks in the AM before we started – but Pusch Peak was clear and it looked like a great place to watch the storm… It didn’t take long for the storm to catch us though, waves of precipitation rolled towards and over us, rain first – then hail – then snow, when we reached the peak it had been eaten by the clouds – too cold to linger we started back down.

The Santa Catalina Mountains had several days of winter storm – while the links below are now ‘old’ a number of them have interesting pictures – some showing the snow on the mountain!