pusch ridge wilderness

Sunset on the Santa Catalina Mountains from Honey Bee Canyon Park – 12/20/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
A ribbon of sunset light on the Santa Catalina Mountains. December 2015.
A ribbon of sunset light on the Santa Catalina Mountains. December 2015.

Honey Bee Canyon Park in Oro Valley is a small park with trails winding thru beautiful desert squeezed between the many homes in the area – definitely worth visiting and at sunset the views of Pusch Ridge and the west side of the Santa Catalina Mountains are amazing.

Sunset light on the west side of the Santa Catalina Mountains. December 2015.
Sunset light on the west side of the Santa Catalina Mountains. December 2015.
Last light on Table Mountain. December 2015.
Last light on Table Mountain. December 2015.

Prison Camp, Thimble Peak, Bear Canyon – 11/28/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
The route out to Thimble Peak from Bear Canyon. November 2015.
The route out to Thimble Peak from Bear Canyon. November 2015.

A sea of grass out to the Thimble, a ribbon of color down Sabino Canyon, looking up Bear Canyon to and past the Sycamore Reservoir Dam, back lit Saguaros and sunset light in Bear Canyon – every trip into the mountains is another chance to see something new – even the most familiar places are constantly changing, different light, season, weather, colors, wildlife, plants, friends… – and this was a particularly amazing day.

Looking down Sabino Canyon, a ribbon of color in the desert - from just below the base of Thimble Peak. November 2015.
Looking down Sabino Canyon, a ribbon of color in the desert – from just below the base of Thimble Peak. November 2015.
Saguaros in the sunlight - from the Bear Canyon Trail, above Seven Falls. November 2015.
Saguaros in the sunlight – from the Bear Canyon Trail, above Seven Falls. November 2015.
Bear Canyon - Sunset light and clear blue winter sky - a sea of Saguaros - from the road. November 2015.
Bear Canyon – Sunset light and clear blue winter sky – a sea of Saguaros – from the road. November 2015.

Bighorn Capture and Mountain Deaths, Free AZ State Park Entry, Bond Failure – 11/22/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Pusch Ridge - end of the day - from Safford (Sombrero) Peak in the Tucson Mountains. November 2015.
Pusch Ridge – end of the day – from Safford (Sombrero) Peak in the Tucson Mountains. November 2015.

 

The latest Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project update includes information on two deaths:

  • As previously reported during the recent November release one captured Bighorn was not released into the mountains – the Bighorn was unable to exit the transport trailer and was taken to the AZGF Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center where he was found to have a femoral fracture and was euthanized. Captured bighorn euthanized because of fractured leg – Arizona Daily Star.
  • The report also covers the death of Ram #34641 whose remains were found by a “hiker … near a mountain peak in the Catalinas”. The cause of death is currently unknown ” due to the age of the remains”.

With the death of Ram #34641 and the release of 29 new sheep (3 of which were not collared due to age/size) there are now 60 collared sheep believed to be alive in the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Arizona State Parks offer free admission on Black Friday – azcentral.cpm, #Optoutside at Arizona State Parks: AZ State Parks have partnered with REI to offer a free day pass for entry into one of Arizona’s State Parks if you visit an REI in Arizona from Saturday Nov. 21 through Wednesday Nov. 25. AZ State Parks is also giving away 10 Annual Passes to the 10 most liked pictures taken in an Arizona State Park and posted to the AZ State Parks #OptOutside Facebook page from 11/26 to 11/29.

Climbing Costs: Should hikers pay the bill for stupidity? – Tucson News Now: An article about the cost of rescues that asks if hikers/climbers/etc. should be charged for rescues. While the article does include some information about rescues in the area there was very little information from rescuers and no background information about how rescue costs are handled in other areas – for me the most thought provoking part of the article was the quote from Jim Holmes of the Southern Arizona Rescue Association: “We don’t want to do anything that would discourage the public from calling for help, if they delay because they’re afraid there’s going to be an expense associated with the rescue, it makes our job harder.”

County bond plan might have been too big to pass – Arizona Daily Star: In the beginning of November Proposition 430 Natural Area Conservation and Historic Preservation was not approved by voters in Pima County. Bonds and public expenditures are complex issues and it is worth reviewing the Audobon and Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection pages on this failed Proposition.

Sunset on Pusch Ridge – 11/15/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Pusch Ridge in sunset light – taken from Golden Gate Mountain in the Tucson Mountains.

Pusch Ridge – Pusch Peak, Bighorn Mountain, Table Mountain with Rosewood Point on the other side of Pima Canyon and Samaniego Peak and Mule Ears visible on the ridge in the background. November 2015.

Window View, Flight from DFW – 11/14/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Flying into Tucson from Dallas/Fort Worth I had a little luck – window seat facing the mountains, decent light, good weather – and was able to take a few pictures of the Santa Catalina Mountains –

Looking down on Agua Caliente Hill on a flight coming into Tucson from DFW. November 2015.
Looking down on Agua Caliente Hill on a flight coming into Tucson from DFW. November 2015.
Molino Canyon and the Highway with Airmen Peak, Guthrie Mountain, Green Mountain, Barnum Rock and Windy Point in the distance. November 2015.
Molino Canyon and the Highway with Airmen Peak, Guthrie Mountain, Green Mountain, Barnum Rock and Windy Point in the distance. November 2015.
Ventana, Bird, Rattlesnake, Sabino and Bear Canyons with the Summit Crags and top of the mountain in the background. November 2015.
Ventana, Bird, Rattlesnake, Sabino and Bear Canyons with the Summit Crags and top of the mountain in the background. November 2015.
The Cleaver, Bighorn Mountain, Table Mountain, Wolf's Teeth, Prominent Point, Finger Rock, Mount Kimball, Pontatoc Ridge. November 2015.
The Cleaver, Bighorn Mountain, Table Mountain, Wolf’s Teeth, Prominent Point, Finger Rock, Mount Kimball, Pontatoc Ridge. November 2015.
Pusch Peak rising from the southwest corner of the Santa Catalina Mountains. November 2015.
Pusch Peak rising from the southwest corner of the Santa Catalina Mountains. November 2015.