Samaniego Peak – 6/2/2013 and 5/2/2018

Samaniego Peak. May 2018.
Samaniego Peak. May 2018.

I have been into and by the CDO a number of times over the past few years, but 2013 was the last time I turned down the Samaniego Ridge Trail towards Samaniego Peak – too long! Samaniego Ridge burned in the 2003 Aspen Fire and while it has received attention since then these days it is overgrown and crisscrossed by downed tree – but with some care you can still follow the trail.

Walnut Spring. May 2018.
Walnut Spring. May 2018.
Walnut Spring 5 years earlier - the far center pine tree is a bit bigger but very much the same today... June 2013.
Walnut Spring 5 years earlier – the far center pine tree is a bit bigger but very much the same today… June 2013.

Walnut Spring largely looks the same as it did five years ago – a little less water in the tank and the trees are a bit bigger, but the same log into the tank, still water in the nearby drainage and green grass, and still a great place for a break before heading up to the peak.

In 2013 part of our ‘hike’ to the top was partly spent more-or-less crawling thru the dense post-fire growth – this trip I found a better route and even though the ‘better route’ is overgrown and loose it made getting to the top quite a bit more fun. It is not completely clear comparing my pictures from 2018 and 2013 but my best guess is that the growth on the hill is taller and drier this year.

Looking at Oracle Ridge and the slopes below Samaniego Peak - note the growth on the slope compared to 2013 (picture below). May 2018.
Looking at Oracle Ridge and the slopes below Samaniego Peak – note the growth on the slope compared to 2013 (picture below). May 2018.
A similar view to the picture above from five years earlier. June 2013.
A similar view to the picture above from five years earlier. June 2013.
Nearly to Samaniego Peak - looking down Samaniego Ridge. May 2018.
Nearly to Samaniego Peak – looking down Samaniego Ridge. May 2018.

The peak and nearby ridge have fantastic views – along the ridge towards Mule Ears, down into the CDO, over to Oracle Ridge, back up to the top of the mountains and down into Catalina State Park and areas north. After finding some friends in the register it was time to make the long climb back up the mountain!

Looking down from Samaniego Peak with Saddle Brooke, the Charouleau Gap Road, Golder Ranch area trails, the Cordones and the Biosphere all in frame. May 2018.
Looking down from Samaniego Peak with Saddle Brooke, the Charouleau Gap Road, Golder Ranch area trails, the Cordones and the Biosphere all in frame. May 2018.
Looking back up at Mount Lemmon from Samaniego Peak - a long climb back up! May 2018.
Looking back up at Mount Lemmon from Samaniego Peak – a long climb back up! May 2018.

Samaniego Ridge and Peak take their name from Mariano G. Samaniego. Mariano Samaniego was born in Sonora, Mexico, in 1844. After his father’s death in 1850 Mariano’s mother Ysabel moved the family to La Mesilla, New Mexico. Mariano became a US citizen via the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. He graduated from St. Louis University in 1862 and worked briefly for the Texas Rangers as an interpreter for the Confederacy before returning to Mesilla. In 1864 he established a freighting company – a business he would continue into his time in Tucson. In 1867 he married Dona Delores Aguirre, the daughter of his business partner Don Pedro Aguirre. In 1869 the Samaniego family arrived in Tucson and in 1883 established the 1,000 acre Canada del Oro Ranch. The ranch had cattle, goats and farm land irrigated by water from the CDO. Apache attacks were a threat at this time and Samaniego was wounded several times in conflicts with the Apache. During the 1892 drought cattle were moved north to the Rancho de San Francisco in the Red Rock area after well-diggers hired Samaniego, neighbor Pedro Charouleau and brother-in-law Yjinio Aguirre were able to establish a well. After Samaniego’s death in 1907 the ranch was sold to his nephews Don Hinginio and Don Epifanio Aguirre – the ranch was sold again in 1927 and part of the land went to George Wilson for his Linda Vista Ranch.

Samaniego was the first Pima County Assessor, served on the Tucson City Council, Board of Supervisors, Territorial Legislature, University of Arizona Board of Regents and was the president of the Arizona Pioneers Historical Society. From Mexicanos: A History of Mexicans in the United States by Manuel G. Gonzales, p. 96:

Throughout his career, Samaniego sought to protect the rights of fellow Mexicanos, a concern that dominated his public career after the 1880s, when the strength of nativist sentiments began to alarm the Mexicano community. … Waging a tireless campaign to combat negative Mexican stereotypes, he defended the rights of his people to retain their own culture, doing everything possible to promote traditional customs and practices, including Mexican patriotic holidays and fiestas. He also sought to ameliorate the deteriorating economic conditions in the fledgling Mexicano barrios by promoting the organization of mutual-aid associations.

Pockets of Fall Color – 10/16/2017

Beautiful colors in Bear Wallow. October 2017.
Beautiful colors in Bear Wallow. October 2017.

In Tucson it is still hot, the only hint of fall a slight cooling trend that takes us down into the low 90s by the end of the week. After being trapped inside for a few days by illness the cool air and fall colors in Bear Wallow were a pleasant surprise. It was great to see so many hikers out and about, many with cameras and tripods capturing the fleeting change of seasons.

Changing colors in Bear Wallow. October 2017.
Changing colors in Bear Wallow. October 2017.

There is more color on the mountain than you might expect – Bear Wallow might be the best single stop in the Santa Catalina Mountains for fall colors, fun to visit camera in hand – but what I really love is stalking the smaller pockets of color scattered across the higher areas of the mountain. Today we hiked around the top of the mountain, wandered down from the Box Elder Picnic Area and pointed at distant hints of color thinking ahead to next week…

Below the Box Elder Picnic Area looking over colorful Aspens at Marble Peak . October 2017.
Below the Box Elder Picnic Area looking over colorful Aspens at Marble Peak . October 2017.
Aspens near the top of Mount Lemmon. October 2017.
Aspens near the top of Mount Lemmon. October 2017.

First Snow – 11/28/2016

The cameras at the top of the mountain showed a nice layer of snow but at 6 AM ‘Closed’ signs blocked the drive up the mountain – instead I drove Redington Road hoping the snow might have made it far enough down the mountain to photograph from one of the view points near the Italian Spring Trailhead, low clouds and a high snow line meant that the lovely sunrise scene didn’t include any snow – but closer to town it was easy to see the first good snow of the winter blanketing the top of the mountain!

November 2016.
Sunset from Redington Road. November 2016.
November 2016.
First snow of the winter! November 2016.
November 2016.
No snow lower on the mountain – but a nice blanket higher on the Mountain. November 2016.

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.

Montrose Fire

Fire Crew Vehicles at the Box Camp Trail for the Montrose Fire. May 2016.
Fire Crew Vehicles at the Box Camp Trailhead for the Montrose Fire. May 2016.

Update 5/17/2016: What looks like the end of the Montrose Fire – from InciWeb:

No smoke has not been observed over the Montrose Fire for two days. Fire managers will continue monitoring the fire area over the next several weeks.
This will be the last update for the Montrose Fire unless circumstances change.

Update 5/15/2016, 4:30PM: The Montrose Fire continues to be listed as 80% contained, from a recent update:

The Montrose Fire, first discovered May 12, on the Coronado National Forest Catalina District, remains 80% contained. It is located near Box Spring 3 miles northwest of Rose Canyon Lake. One hotshot crew remains on the incident. With high winds in the Santa Catalina Mountains, their diligence is intended to prevent the fire from again becoming active. No smoke has been detected today. The crew will spend the remainder of the day and this evening monitoring the fire to ensure the perimeter is secure.

Rose Canyon Lake has been reopened for recreationists. Rose Canyon Campground is also open.

5/14/2016:

The Montrose Fire started on 5/12/2016 and, unlike the Finger Rock Fire in 2015 that was allowed to burn, there was a very prompt effort to suppress the fire – undoubtedly due to it’s proximity to homes and infrastructure on the mountain.

Montrose Fire Map from Inciweb. May 2016.
Montrose Fire Map from Inciweb. May 2016.
Payson Hot Shots vehicle at the Box Camp Trailhead. May 2016.
Payson Hot Shots vehicle at the Box Camp Trailhead. May 2016.