A Night on Guthrie Mountain – 5/9 and 5/10/2019

Light from Tucson, taken on Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.
Light from Tucson, taken on Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.

On Guthrie Mountain cloudy grey skies block the stars, light from Tucson reflects off the clouds and floods into the mountains. Thru the camera lens the city lights are white hot metal, the clouds rising steam – the energy coming from the city is unfathomable, tonight it seems like Moloch’s incomprehensible prison is Howling out into the mountains.

Moloch whose eyes are a thousand blind windows! Moloch whose skyscrapers stand in the long streets like endless Jehovahs! Moloch whose factories dream and croak in the fog! Moloch whose smoke-stacks and antennae crown the cities!
Moloch whose love is endless oil and stone! Moloch whose soul is electricity and banks! Moloch whose poverty is the specter of genius! Moloch whose fate is a cloud of sexless hydrogen! Moloch whose name is the Mind!
Clouds, city and headlights on the highway from Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.
Clouds, city and headlights on the highway from Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.

The images and thoughts above are fleeting – most of my overnight is the simple joy of being outside, nothing to do with Ginsberg’s anger and frustration – old graffiti and new flowers on the Green Mountain Trail; thick lines of black ants, new ferns and water at Maverick Spring; blackened trees, new views and fresh flowers in the Burro Fire burn that covers most of Guthrie Mountain and the ridge out to and past Point 7162.

Sunset over Green Mountain - from Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.
Sunset over Green Mountain – from Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.
Flowers growing in and area burned by the Burro Fire. May 2019.
Flowers growing in and area burned by the Burro Fire. May 2019.
Below Point 7162 in an area burned by the Burro Fire. May 2019.
Below Point 7162 in an area burned by the Burro Fire. May 2019.
Tank with water at Maverick Spring. May 2019.
Tank with water at Maverick Spring. May 2019.
Coralbells on the Green Mountain Trail. May 2019.
Coralbells on the Green Mountain Trail. May 2019.
Coralroot on the Green Mountain Trail. May 2019.
Coralroot on the Green Mountain Trail. May 2019.

Brush Corral Loop and Maverick Spring – 2014/7/22

1407 Brush Corral Trail near the Brush Corral Shortcut Trail
Brush Corral Trail – near the junction with the Brush Corral Shortcut Trail. July 2014.

At approximately 4.5 miles and 1500′ of elevation gain and loss from the Upper Green Mountain Trailhead the Green Mountain – Brush Corral – Brush Corral Shortcut loop is both beautiful (especially on the Brush Corral side of the loop – beautiful green ferns and trees right now) and quite a good workout – maybe if you are training for the Grand Canyon a loop at the top of the mountain to start the day, a nice break in Summerhaven and then this loop on the way down the mountain for a bit more vertical…

1407 Running on the Maverick Spring Trail
Running up the Maverick Spring Trail – sun and shade in the pines. July 2014.

If you want just a bit longer hike the Maverick Spring Trail is an obvious out-and-back extension to this loop that adds approximately 1.6 miles, 500′ of elevation gain and loss and – this time of year – a beautifully green destination.

1407 Ferns and Green near Maverick Spring
Green! Maverick Spring Area. July 2014.