Storm, Sky Island Traverse, AZTR 300/750 – 5/4/2016

Looking over Peck Basin and Point 5817 and across the San Pedro River Valley to the Galiuro Mountains. April 2016.
Looking over Peck Basin, Point 5817 and the San Pedro River Valley to the Galiuro Mountains from near the San Pedro Vista. April 2016.

The summer will bring plenty of cloudy days, but for now they remain infrequent and good clouds are more than enough of a reason to drive up the mountain – the payoffs on this trip were watching the light on the San Pedro River Valley and Galiuro Mountains from the Incinerator Ridge Trail, seeing the end of the day thru The Window from near the junction of the Mount Lemmon and Sutherland Trails and hiking in the darkness thru the clouds and big pines near the top of the mountain on the Meadow Trail.

The Window from near the Sutherland and Mount Lemmon Trail junction. April 2016.
The Window from near the Sutherland and Mount Lemmon Trail junction. April 2016.
A stormy night on the Meadow Trail - Mount Lemmon. April 2016.
A stormy night on the Meadow Trail – Mount Lemmon. April 2016.

Any ‘big view’ from the Santa Catalina Mountains is going to include at least one – and often more – of the Madrean Sky Islands. Like the Santa Catalina Mountains these ranges soar up from the desert floor to oak and pine forests at higher elevations. Almost anyone who has spent time hiking in Southern Arizona will have driven to some, or many, of the Madrean Sky Islands – some people have also connected these ranges in long distance human powered efforts – two notable recent events:

  • The Sky Island Traverse is an incredibly interesting and rugged route that spirals thru a number of Sky Island ranges in Southern Arizona including the Santa Catalina Mountains – a thru-hike of the SkIT was completed by Ryan “Dirtmonger” Sylva, a rare event, and his blog includes a great post on the SKiT!
  • Readers of this blog are probably intimately familiar with the Arizona Trail – but might not be familiar with the AZTR300 and 750 – probably best described by quoting Scott Morris’ Racing the Arizona Trail page:

    The Arizona Trail Race is an unofficial challenge that takes place every spring on the cross state Arizona Trail. Two distances are available. The Arizona Trail 300 is a 300 mile event that has been held every April since 2006. The Arizona Trail Race is the complete traversal (Mexico->Utah over 750+ miles) and was offered for the first time in 2010. Both events are run concurrently, starting on the same day.

    This is not an organized or sanctioned event in any way. It’s simply a group of friends out to ride their bikes on the same route at the same time. We’ll probably compare times afterwards, but more importantly, we’ll compare experiences — the highs and lows the trail and mountains offered us.

    For a great write up of the 2016 event check out Joe Grant’s series on his Alpine Works blog – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 – a quote from Part 1:

    The 18 miles or so of road climbing up to Mt. Lemmon are as challenging as I thought they would be. Pedaling up a sustained climb in the heat, on pavement, on a loaded mountain bike is a drudging affair. I decide to simply take my time and occupy myself people watching.
    I am passed by a few Tour de France style riders, who zip by effortlessly on their speed machines. I begin this ongoing joke in my head that Neil is up there attacking the climb, dropping all the roadies, while I am just turtle grinding in my lowest gear, waddling up the hill like that Gila Monster.

Death, Rabies, Snow, Dazzling Cactus – 4/28/2016

Storm over Samaniego Ridge - above Rainbows End Wash west of Double Tank. March 2016.
Storm over Samaniego Ridge – above Rainbows End Wash west of Double Tank. March 2016.

Three bighorn sheep die, mountain lion is killed – tucson.com: In the month of April 3 ewes were killed mountain lions and two mountain lions associated with the deaths were killed. Arizona Game and Fish now reports the number of living collared Bighorn in the Santa Catalina Mountains to be 38 while estimating the number of bighorn in the range at 80+.

Rabid Skunks have been confirmed in a number of Pima County locations including the Summerhaven area in the Santa Catalina Mountains – avoid contact with and don’t approach wildlife that are behaving abnormally or appear to be ill. If you believe that you see a rabid animal, call AZGFD at 1-623-236-7201 or the Pima County Health Department at (520) 724-7797 immediately. More information on rabies from the CDCAZ Game and Fish expands rabid skunk warning – TucsonNewNow, State issues warning about rabid skunks – KGUN9.

Take a Hike: Seven Falls trail is a great to get out and see Sonoran beauty – The Daily Wildcat, Springtime in Sabino Canyon: An excursion into beauty – tucson.com, Tucson Desert bursts into dazzling cactus bloom – tucson.com: Great hikes, destinations and inspiration in this collection of articles.

Snow on Mount Lemmon, rain for Tucson – tucson.com: Snow! While this article doesn’t have any snow covered pictures of the mountain it does briefly note that in early April a storm managed to bring snow and ice to the mountain – maybe for the last time this season?

In April Mauricio Carreon-Maltos died in the Seven Falls area – there was a large multi-agency search for him – unfortunately with a tragic ending. From a post on the Southern Arizona Rescue Association Facebook page:

On Saturday, April 16, Pima County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue unit and SARA concluded the longest and most intensive search in Pima County since August of 2004. SARA is deeply saddened of the outcome and extends our heartfelt condolences to family of Mauricio Carreon-Maltos.

Ultimately, local Pima County volunteer SAR teams supplied over 1600 person-hours. SARA is especially grateful for the assistance of the volunteer ground, dog, and mounted search teams from Pima, Pinal, Maricopa, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, and Yavapai counties, and for the other agencies involved, all of whom together supplied an additional nearly 1200 hours to the seven-day search effort. Many thanks also to the watchful and attentive public during this time. Thank you.

Search continues for missing hiker in Sabino Canyon – Tucson News Now, Manpower increases in Day 3 of search for missing hiker – KVOA.com, Search continues for hiker missing since Friday – Tucson News Now, Mother of missing hiker speaks out about her son – Tucson News Now, Hiker’s body found in Sabino Canyon – KVOA.com, Family mourns death of missing hiker – KVOA.com.

 

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

  • Ventana Trail 3/3/2016 – A hiker on the trail after dark without a light was unable to follow the trail somewhere below Maiden Pools – a friend was able to help her down the trail.
  • Romero Canyon 3/4/2016 – Two hikers were separated on the way back from Romero Pools – one was reported missing but eventually made it back to the trailhead without assistance.
  • Seven Falls 3/7/2016 – A group of hikers was worried about continuing after sunset in the rain – in the end they made it back to the trailhead without needing assistance.
  • Seven Falls 3/10/2016 – A cardiac arrest resulted in a hiker being declared deceased on the trail and flown out from Seven Falls. Hiker with medical issue dies at Seven Falls – tucson.com.
  • Agua Caliente Canyon 3/15/2016 – A hiker requested help after attempting to hike down canyon – he was met and helped out via trails in the area.
  • Romero Canyon Trail 3/17/2016 – An exhausted hiker is able to hike out with assistance.
  • Seven Falls Trail 3/18/2016 – A hiker with an injured ankle is assisted out by stokes and mule.
Double Tank - State Trust Land outside of Oracle Junction near Rainbows End Wash and Arizona 77. April 2016.
Double Tank – State Trust Land outside of Oracle Junction near Rainbows End Wash and Arizona 77. April 2016.

Window Rock – 3/26/2016

The Window from the Ventana Trail. March 2016.
The Window in Window Rock – from the Ventana Trail. March 2016.

The bottom section of the Ventana Trail is hot and at Maiden Pools I think about a long stop to enjoy the water, canyon and flowers – but the stiff up-canyon breeze keeps me moving up the canyon towards the Window.

I chat with friendly hikers coming down who encourage me upwards with smiles and promises of great views – and give me an excuse to take short breaks on the steep climb up to the hillside junction where the Ventana Trail ends as it meets the Esperero and Finger Rock Trails.

The Esperero Trail continues climbing, eventually reaching the ridge that leads to Window Rock – the views from this ridge are the highlight of the hike. After a few more short climbs the Window comes into view – just off the trail and easy to find – the other hikers have gone and I sit in silence.

I want to wait for sunset at the Window – my schedule today won’t allow it – but it is impossible to be disappointed by the dark shadows moving across the canyon and sunset lit east ridge on the hike down.

A view from Mount Lemmon  on the right to the Biosphere on the left - from the Esperero Trail between The Window and the junction with the Finger Rock and Ventana Trails. March 2016.
Mount Lemmon on the right – Biosphere on the left. Taken on the Esperero Trail between Window Rock and the junction with the Finger Rock and Ventana Trails. March 2016.
Standing in the Window. March 2016.
Standing in the Window. March 2016.
Descending back into Ventana Canyon. March 2016.
Descending back into Ventana Canyon. March 2016.
Ventana Canyon in Shadow, below Maiden pools just before sunset. March 2016.
Ventana Canyon in Shadow just before sunset – on the Ventana Trail below Maiden pools. March 2016.

Rock Art, Ranch, and Residence: Cultural Resources in the Town of Oro Valley and Its Planning Area – 1/20/2016

Snow and clouds on the top of the mountain. January 2016.
Snow and clouds – looking up at Mount Lemmon from Honeybee Canyon Park. January 2016.

Having taken several trips to Honeybee Canyon Park in the past few months I was looking for a little more information about the area and came across Rock Art, Ranch, and Residence: Cultural Resources in the Town of Oro Valley and Its Planning Area. This document was developed by William Self Associates for Oro Valley and completed in 2010.

The document covers the history of the Oro Valley area from the Paleoindian Period (10,000+ years ago) into the 20th century – some of the included information: Hohokam ruins such as Honey Bee Village and Sleeping Snake Village, early land claims in the area, notable 20th century architecture including the Countess of Suffolk’s Forest Lodge and information about later development in the area. While most of the information is fairly brief the broad overview was very interesting to read.

One of the details that I enjoyed was seeing the General Land Office maps of the Oro Valley Area. The General Land Office was created in 1812 and oversaw the survey, platting and sale of public land – including land in present day Oro Valley. The Oro Valley records are from the beginning of the 20th century when the area began to see a steady stream of homesteaders entering the area –  Rock Art, Ranch, and Residence asserts that:

The relatively late beginning for the settlement along the Canada del Oro can be attributed in large part to a continuing perception of the area as dangerous: it was still considered a place too far from Tuscon and too close to the usual range of the Apaches. (p. 60)

The Bureau of Land Management makes many General Land Office Records, dating back to 1810, available online. The map below, from 1902, shows Pusch and Zellweger’s Steam Pump Ranch (which you can still visit today)  – labeled Pusch Ranch – and another ranch – ‘Mexican Ranch’ – that was probably owned by the Marin family and later patented by Francisco Marin. The roads on the map are a reasonable match for modern roads – the early version of Oracle Road is especially easy to recognize!

Township 12 South, Range 14 East, 1902 - General Land Office.
Township 12 South, Range 14 East, 1902 – General Land Office.

 

After the Storm, Snow on Mount Lemmon – 12/13/2015

Snow on the Santa Catalina Mountains. December 2015.
Snow on the Santa Catalina Mountains. December 2015.

During the storm the snow barely touched the lower elevations of the Santa Catalina Mountains – so the morning after the storm, under a clear blue sky, instead of heading into the Catalinas I hiked out the Garwood Dam Trail, in the shadow of the Rincons, for a view of the snow on the top of the mountain…

Subtle sunrise color on the Mount Lemmon Snow. December 2015.
Subtle sunrise color on the Mount Lemmon Snow. December 2015.
Snow! December 2015.
Snow! December 2015.