sabino canyon trail

Palisade Trailhead to the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, Pines to Cactus – 11/6/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1410 Trail Sign on the Palisade Trail
Stopping at a trail sign to enjoy the views. November 2014.

We started the day at the Palisade Trailhead – it was cold when we stepped out of the car, but we knew we would warm up quickly on the Palisade Trail. We paused occasionally for pictures, stopped to enjoy Pine Canyon above the falls (still flowing), peered into the Mud Spring tank (filled with water and leaves) and nearly ran into the old phoneline that still angles across the trail.

1410 Richard and Devin descending thru the grass on the Palisade Trail 02
A grassy descent on the Palisade Trail. November 2014.

The grass covered trail as we descended – below Mud Spring the trail is not as frequently used and more than once we had to pause to find our way – well worth the effort, the last part of the descent to the junction with the East Fork Trail is so beautiful!

1410 Phoneline Trail
Looking up Sabino Canyon – from the Phoneline Trail. November 2014.

Sabino Canyon was full of cold water near the East Fork Trail/West Fork/Sabino Canyon junction – a nice break before finishing along the Sabino Canyon and Phoneline Trails.

Pines to Cactus run – Palisade Trailhead – Palisade Trail, East Fork Trail, Sabino Canyon Trail and Phoneline Trail – Sabino Canyon Visitor Center. 15 miles, +600’/-5400′ of elevation gain/loss.

Prison Camp to Sabino Canyon, a Competition Between Friends – 9/19/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1409 Crossing Bear Canyon on the Sycamore Reservoir Trail
RA crossing Bear Canyon (flowing!) on the Sycamore Reservoir Trail. September 2014.

AT dropped RA and I at the upper parking area of the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site – then we both started towards the Phoneline and Historic Sabino Trail junction. AT’s route was to drive to the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center and then hike/run up the Phoneline Trail. RA and I came down via the Sycamore Reservoir Trail, East Fork Trail, Sabino Canyon Trail and Phoneline Trail.

1409 Scarlet Creeper near Sycamore Reservoir
A Scarlet Creeper among the flowers and green near Sycamore Reservoir on the Sycamore Reservoir Trail. September 2014.

There were amazing flowers near Sycamore Reservoir – both Bear Canyon and Sycamore Canyon were flowing – there were clouds in the distance. We barely paused as we turned onto the Sabino Canyon Trail – as we continued down the trail it seemed like it was getting hotter and hotter.

1409 Richard Consulting with Two Members of the Hat Empire
RA on the Sabino Canyon Trail – we wished for rain from the threatening clouds in the background, but we had very close to zero rain and by the end of our run there were brutally hot patches of full sun. September 2014.

I was surprised by the flowers on the Phoneline Trail – I had expected them near the canyons, but on Phoneline I didn’t expect such a great display. As I approached today’s finish line I was ahead of RA but couldn’t really look for AT – I was tired and the trail was too rocky – but as I got closer and didn’t see AT watching us I hoped I had won…

1409 A present from Alison
Defeat! September 2014.

🙂 12.8 miles, +881’/-2800′ of elevation gain/loss.

News Roundup

Posted - Charles Miles
Fifth bighorn lamb spotted in the Catalinas – Tucson News Now – Nice news for the potential herd that a fifth lamb has been born! The Mountain Project (“a feature length documentary film that explores the victories and defeats of western mountain, public land hunts”) posted shopping links to two vinyl die cut decals where “all proceeds from the sale of this decal are being donated to the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society to support the Catalina Restoration Project.” Sabino Canyon Rescue – Pima County Sheriff’s Department Air Rescue – “On April 5th, at approximately 1450 hours, Search and Rescue Deputies from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to a reported stroke victim on Sabino Canyon Trail.” – more information in the description of the video. Rose Canyon Lake reopens – Arizona Daily Star – April 11 – Douglas Kreutz reports that Rose Canyon Lake is open and that in January improvements to the area including work on the trail around the lake were completed earlier in the year. Note that there is currently $10 per vehicle day-use fee and camping fees of $20 per night in Rose Canyon Lake.

Box Camp, Sabino Canyon, Phoneline to Sabino Canyon Visitor Center – 2014/1/12

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1401 Box Camp Trail almost down to the Saguaro
Box Camp Trail – almost down to the Saguaro. January 2014.

Top to bottom classic! There were patches of snow at the start of the trail but hints of winter disappeared quickly into shorts and t-shirt weather. Still a thrill after more than a decade to start high on the mountain and end down in town!