Green Mountain – 9/24/2016

September 2016.
Guthrie Mountain from Green Mountain. September 2016.
Views from Green Mountain – from San Pedro Vista the trail climbs to a saddle, from the saddle a set of loose/braided/unofficial half-paths climb first to a rocky overlook and then to the flat tree-covered summit of Green Mountain.
September 2016.
Looking down into Peck Basin from Green Mountain. September 2016.
September 2016.
Airmen Peak (front right), Agua Caliente Hill (middle right), Mica Mountain (left back), Rincon Peak (center distant). September 2016.

Views from Barnum Rock and Leopold Point, News – 5/19/2016

Saguaro just off the General Hitchcock Highway. May 2016.
Saguaro just off the General Hitchcock Highway. May 2016.

The drive up to San Pedro Vista was slightly slower than normal – both because I couldn’t resist stopping and photographing Saguaros near the highway and because a film crew was set up at Windy Point filling part of the parking lot with trailers and vehicles and occasionally stopping traffic. I didn’t see what they were filming – but the motorcycles in a pop-up tent and drone hovering off the side of the highway on my way down did make me a bit curious…

From Barnum Rock: Green Mountain - center, Guthrie Mountain - left, San Pedro Vista - lower left, Mica Mountain in the Rincon Mountains - right. May 2016.
From Barnum Rock: Green Mountain – center, Guthrie Mountain – left, San Pedro Vista – lower left, Mica Mountain in the Rincon Mountains – right. May 2016.

From San Pedro Vista I intended to take the Incinerator Ridge Trail and Kellogg Trail up to Mount Bigelow – my idea was a good workout with great views – but the views quickly won out over the workout – I sat on the top of Barnum Rock and watched the sun and clouds create shapes of light and shadow on Green and Guthrie Mountains and then admired Kellogg Mountain, Mount Bigelow and the San Pedro Valley from Leopold Point.

Kellogg Mountain and Mount Bigelow from Leopold Point near the Incinerator Ridge Trail. May 2016.
Kellogg Mountain and Mount Bigelow from Leopold Point near the Incinerator Ridge Trail. May 2016.

The Mount Lemmon Skycenter Facebook page recently featured a number of images of the recent transit of Mercury across the sun – a number of them were collected by Tucson News Now in Mercury images from Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter.

Rider Carol Fontana and her horse Tiki passed thru the Santa Catalina Mountains in May as part of their thru-ride of the Arizona Trail – see more about their journey on SaddleUpAz. The ride is to support and raise awareness of the Prescott Area Shelter Services whose mission is “serve homeless women, families, and veterans by providing temporary shelter, resources, individualized case management, and a pathway to permanent housing.”

Bighorns spotted, photographed, on Pontatoc Ridge – Arizona Daily Star: A local hiker had a great encounter with two Bighorn Sheep on the Pontatoc Ridge Trail!

 

Storm: Point 5506, San Pedro Vista, Meadow Trail Loop – 10/9/2014

1410 Storm over the Molino Basin Trail and Shreve Saddle
Looking down on the Molino Basin Trail and Shreve Saddle from Point 5506. October 2014.

The rain started late Tuesday night and by the end of the day on Thursday the Pima County Regional Flood Control District ALERT System reported that 5.35″ of rain had fallen near the top of the Santa Catalina Mountains (the same guage would report just over 6″ for the work week!) – but on Thursday in Tucson blue skies were starting to show thru the clouds and by Friday there would be no weather to enjoy on the mountain…

1410 Blazing Star
Blazing Star coated pants from my hike from the highway up to Point 5506 – the summer heat largely kept me (and pants and socks!) away from the Blazing Star, no longer I guess… October 2014.
1410 A Stormy view from San Pedro Vista
A stormy view from the San Pedro Vista. October 2014.
1410 Meadow Trail covered in Clouds
The Meadow Trail covered in clouds. October 2014.

Oracle Ridge Trailhead to San Pedro Vista – 8/24/2014

Oracle Ridge Trailhead – down the Control Road – Crystal Spring Trail (overgrown and beautiful – a number of the drainages flowing) – Butterfly Trail (a stop at the crash – more climbing than I remember!) – Kellogg Mountain TrailIncinerator Ridge Trail San Pedro Vista. The trails are beautiful, green and overgrown right now – what a great day! 13.5 miles, +2800/-3200′.
1408 Green and Overgrown
Green and overgrown – the Crystal Spring Trail in amazing summer form! August 2014.

Oak Fire from the Kellogg Trail – 2014/6/29

1406 Oak Fire in the Galiuro Mountains from the Kellogg Trail
The Oak Fire in the Galiuro Mountains from the Kellogg Trail. June 2014.

The Oak Fire – currently burning in the Galiuro Mountains – was started by lightning on June 17th and is currently just over 11,000 acres – on Sunday smoke from the fire was clearly visible from the San Pedro Vista and at times on the Incinerator Ridge Trail and Kellogg Trails. InciWeb – Oak Fire.