romero canyon trail

Death, Wildflowers, Rescues, Falls – 2/28/2016

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
A Saguaro floating above the shadows on the slopes of Pontatoc Canyon. February 2016.
A Saguaro floating above the shadows on the slopes of Pontatoc Canyon. February 2016.

The latest Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project update was recently released:

  • Ewe #39555 was killed by a mountain lion 2/14 or 2/15 – the lion was pursued but not found/killed.
  • 44 collared sheep are known to be alive – with a number of collars out of battery life and continued breeding in the range this count is less relevant than it was 12+ months ago – although the information from this subset of the population is still very interesting.
  • 18 lambs have been seen this season!

Look beyond poppies for additional worthy wildflowers – Arizona Daily Star, Best places to see Arizona’s wildflowers – Arizona Republic: Wildflowers!!! Notes on some of the flowers that are blooming and a mention for Catalina State Park as a great place to see wildflowers.

Hiker injured, rescued from Seven Falls on horseback – Tucson News Now: A leg injury left a hiker unable to walk in the Seven Falls Area – the hiker was taken out on horse by the Southern Arizona Mounted Search and Rescue.

PCSD rescues hiker off of Windy Point – KVOA.com: A hiker fell and suffered a broken leg in “a remote rocky area” near Windy Point – the hiker was flown out by the Sheriff’s Department’s helicopter “SHERIFF 1” – video from the helicopter of the nighttime pick up.

Seven Falls: A magnet for waterfall watchers – Arizona Daily Star: Some details on the popular hike to Seven Falls with a few pictures.

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

  • Sutherland Trail 2/12/2016 – A hiker intended to go up Sutherland and then come back down via the Mount Lemmon Trail and Romero Canyon Trail but lost the Sutherland Trail in the snow and was not prepared for night hiking – the hiker was able to hike out with an escort.
  • Romero Canyon Trail 2/21/2016 – A hiker called saying he was ill and in Romero Pass – the hiker was able to hike down and refused help other than gatorade.
Sunset in Pontatoc Canyon. February 2016.
Sunset in Pontatoc Canyon. February 2016.

Campground Changes, 1922, Upchurch, Lambs, Rescue Season – 4/9/2015

Posted - Charles Miles

The summer heat has started and the winter rains are starting to be harder to remember – as in all recent years the forest service is encouraging caution during fire season – no restrictions yet… National forest officials urge caution with fire, April 02, 2015, Douglas Kreutz.

With warmer temperatures coming the lower campgrounds are closing and the upper ones are opening – Mt Lemmon seasonal campground changes, 

Tales from the Morgue: Deer and mountain lions, March 23, Johanna Eubank, Arizona Daily Star – A fascinating look back at an Arizona Daily Star article from 1922 – for 4 years the ‘Catalina Game Reserve’ had been closed to hunting in a reaction to game becoming scarce – the 1922 article reports “The advantage of the game reserve is strikingly illustrated, forest officials state, by the increase of game in this district, since sportsmen had almost exhausted the game here before the reserve was closed four years ago”.

Southern Arizona Utility Company Reports Sufficient Water For Now, Tony Paniagua, KGUN9, March 23, 2015 – From the Mount Lemmon Water District – “the water supply is currently doing well, thanks to a few inches of rain in recent weeks and one snowfall of about eight to 10 inches.”

Upchurch promoted to forester for Southwest Region, Derek Jordan, Herald/Review, [email protected] – Jim Upchurch,  formerly Coronado National Forest Supervisor, is moving to a position as a deputy regional forester for the Southwestern Region. Issues that Upchurch dealt with in the Coronado National Forest include the Rosemont Mine and Tombstone Water Pipelines. 

Bighorn lambs in the Santa Catalina Mountains have been in the news with the count up to 15! Project status updates continue to emphasize that it is unlikely all of the lambs will survive and the importance of the restrictions in place in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area.

Backpacking Romero Canyon, Kurt Papke – a video including some of the great areas above Romero Pools on the Romero Canyon Trail.

‘Search and rescue’ season is underway, April 08, 2015, Caitlin Schmidt, Arizona Daily Star – The Pima County Sheriff’s Department warns that in this “season that can be dangerous and leads to an increase in search and rescue operations”. In the past two months rescue and injury reports include the Phoneline, Romero Canyon, Blackett’s Ridge, Bear Canyon, Pima Canyon, Seven Falls, Ventana Canyon and Finger Rock Trails…

Coronado National Forest – Facebook Page!

 

 

 

Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pass – 3/22/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Up the Romero Canyon Trail from Catalina State Park – flowers and pools, steep climbs, stops at the two big fire rings and good memories of past hikes with friends.

1503 Pools in Romero Canyon
Pools in Romero Canyon – above Romero Pools. March 2015.
1503 Scoured Canyon
Following the cairns along a section of washed out trail in Romero Canyon. March 2015.

From Romero Pass I wandered off-trail to random points and points where Bighorn Sheep have stood, slowly collecting vegetation data as a volunteer for a AZGF research project.

1503 Sunset from the Mount Lemmon Trail near Romero Pass
Sunset from the Mount Lemmon Trail, a few minutes above Romero Pass. March 2015.
1503 Looking down from near Romero Pass - Night
Looking down into town from near Romero Pass. March 2015.

The sliver moon disappeared early in the night, with temperatures were the 30s I spent most of my time in my quilt, reading, watching the clouds, looking at the stars and occasionally taking a picture.

1503 Indian Paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush along the Romero Canyon Trail. March 2015.
1503 Poppy 1
A poppy on the Romero Canyon Trail. March 2015.

It was warm on the way down, as the trail went lower I hurried thru the sun back to the car. 20 miles, +/-6000′ of elevation gain and loss.

Night at Romero Pools – 3/11/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1503 Romero Pools by Headlamp
Devin exploring Romero Pools by headlamp. March 2015.
1503 Night Hike to Romero Pools
Looking down Romero Canyon. March 2015.

A night hike to Romero Pools – sunset, centipede, sounds of water, red spotted toad, the pools by headlamp, stars, great company – 5.9 miles, +/- 1300′ of elevation gain/loss.

Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection Fundraising, Rescue, Bighorn Protest, Winter Fires

Posted - Charles Miles

The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection has a $60,000 year-end fundraising goal and has a donor who has pledged a $15,000 matching gift which is currently (11/29/2014) doubling donations. In a recent mailing the Coalition indicated that in the upcoming year donations will support: a campaign to help pass a new Open Space Bond in Pima County, a re-vegetation project adjacent to the Oracle Road Wildlife Crossing and a new Wildlife Crossing Steward Program.

Stop bighorn relocation project – Green Valley News and Sun, Wildlife group to protest AZ Game & Fish Department – Tucson News Now: Two pieces about the Friends of Wildlife and their protest/opinion that the Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction effort should be stopped.

Hiker rescued out of Romero Pools – KVOA – Jessica Gutierrez: Sprained ankle leads to a flight out.

Coronado National Forest Selects Accela Civic Platform for Recreation and Resource Management – A press release about the Coronado National Forest selecting the Accela Civic Platform, from the press release it is impossible to know if Coronado will/can/has plans to leverage this in the Santa Catalina Ranger District in any meaningful way.

Monsoon-nurtured grasses could fuel winter wildfires – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: I suppose the straight to the point quote in the article is “The potential for winter wildfire on the Coronado National Forest exists” – the article mentions monsoon rains as a factor in the creating the current “abundance of grasses and other fine fuels” but it would be interesting to know how unusual this year is…

Scenic Sabino is the spot for a stroll – Kristen Cook – Arizona Daily Star: Always great to remind people about the great opportunities to explore the outdoors in Sabino Canyon!

OFF-ROAD CYCLISTS Riding trails of advocacy – Nick Meyers – Aztec Press Online: Nice post about TORCA – Tucson Off-Road Cyclists and Activists. An exceprt from TORCA’s About page: “TORCA’s Mission is to take an active and strategic role in the mountain biking community in the maintenance of the resources available to us. We are focused on the All-Mountain and Downhill disciplines of mountain biking with a focus on the Santa Catalina Mountains.”