2015

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted February 26, 2015 - Charles Miles

1502 Evening Sky — Beautiful clouds at the end of the day from Pontatoc Canyon. February 2015.

1502 Sunset from Pontatoc Canyon — Sunset on the Pontatoc Canyon Trail, looking down canyon into Tucson. February 2015.

A short walk on the Pontatoc Canyon Trail to the second crossing of Pontatoc Canyon – 3 miles, +/- 700′.

Pontatoc Canyon – 2/14/2015

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted February 24, 2015 - Charles Miles

A bit of rockfall near the first Pontatoc Canyon crossing, Fairy Dusters signal spring and the evening sky – a short stroll on the Pontatoc Canyon Trail.

1502 Rockfall on the Pontatoc Trail near Pontatoc Canyon — Rockfall on the Pontatoc Trail just after the first Pontatoc Canyon crossing – the trail is ever so slightly different here… February 2015.

1502 Fairy Duster and Butterfly — Fairy Duster and Butterfly. February 2015.

1502 Sky from Pontatoc Canyon — Evening sky from Pontatoc Canyon. February 2015.

Prison Camp to Avenida de Suzenu – Molino Basin, Bellota and La Milagrosa Trails – 2/4/2015

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted February 8, 2015 - Charles Miles

1502 Headed down into Tucson — On the ridge between the La Milagrosa and Agua Caliente Canyons. February 2015.

1502 Crossing Milagrosa Canyon — Crossing La Milagrosa Canyon – we kept our feet dry here but they got wet in the crossing close to the road! February 2015.

1502 Gate Down on the Milagrosa Trail — The gate – recently fallen. February 2015.

10am at the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site and there was no need for a jacket – February and it feels like spring!

We descended to the Avenida de Suzenu Trailhead via the Molino Basin Trail, Bellota Trail and La Milagrosa Trail – sun, blue sky and water in all the canyons. 10.6 miles, +1100’/-3100′ of elevation gain/loss.

Knagge Trail to the Cabin, Snow – 1/31/2015

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted February 2, 2015 - Charles Miles

Lower on the highway everything was wet – Seven Cataracts is roaring and all the usual road-cut waterfalls flowing – but somewhere around Barnum Rock the rain turned to big wet snow flakes!

1501 Driving Snow — Snow! Driving up the General Hitchcock Highway. January 2015.

The snow seems like a surprise after the rain – but it has been snowing long enough to cover Incinerator Ridge Road and put snow on the Incinerator Ridge Trail – a frozen sign greets me at the start of the Knagge Trail.

1501 Junction of the Knagge and Kellogg Mountain Trails — The upper Knagge Trail sign covered in snow. January 2014.

Clouds cover the mountain and snow covers the trail – there aren’t any footsteps to follow today but finding the trail isn’t a problem. I start to wonder about snow collecting on the highway – but surely there is time to make it to the old cabin site…

1501 Old Fire New Snow — Snow along a fire-cleared section of the Knagge Trail. January 2015.

1501 Into the Storm — Disappearing into the storm. January 2015.

The snow has turned to rain by the time I finish the hike down to the cabin – out of time I head back up into the snow.

1501 Walking up the highway — Snow on the highway – walking back up to the parking pullout above Incinerator Ridge Road. January 2015.

2.5 Miles, +/- 1100′ of elevation gain and loss.

Bigelow Trailhead to the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site – 1/17/2015

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted January 24, 2015 - Charles Miles

We started at the Bigelow Trailhead, walked past the gate that closes Organization Ridge Road to public motorized traffic in the winter and continued on to the Palisade Trailhead. The road was icy and there was just enough snow at the trailhead to give a pleasant hint of winter, but not enough to require anything other than a little caution.

1501 Snow at the Palisade Trailhead — Palisade Trailhead with snow – Organization Ridge Road is closed seasonally to motorized vehicles so we parked at the Bigelow Trailhead and walked the road. January 2015.

We could hear Palisade Canyon flowing below – it looked like quite a bit of water from the trail – walked snowy sections of Palisade Trail where the shade preserved the remains of the last storm, paused for birds and enjoyed the polished stone in Pine Canyon before reaching Mud Spring.

1501 Cairn and brown ferns near Mud Spring — A cairn marking the Mud Spring Tank is surrounded by dead ferns. January 2015.

The waterfall in Pine Canyon was roaring away – quite a sight – and we paused just before the trail begins to plunge downwards to enjoy the view – Thimble Peak to Brinkley Point!

1501 A View from the Palisade Trail — A impressive view of the mountains – from near the Palisade Trail looking into Tucson – landmarks include Thimble Peak (near the left), Cathedral Rock and Brinkley Point (on the right). January 2015.

Down to the junction with the East Fork Trail and then up – past the Bear Canyon Trail and onto the Bear Canyon Trail, across Sycamore Canyon, past Sycamore Reservoir where Sycamore Canyon and Bear Canyon were pouring an impressive amount of water over the dam, up to Shreve Saddle and then down the Molino Basin Trail to the car we had left at the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site earlier in the day.

1501 Water rushing over the Sycamore Reservoir Dam — Water from Sycamore Canyon and Bear Canyon rush over the Sycamore Reservoir Dam. January 2015.

Descending the Palisade Trail is a great way to see everything from pine forest to cactus and take in quite a few impressive views. Currently miles 4-6 of the Palisade Trail are distinctly more overgrown and less used than the upper sections of the trail – with some attention and effort you should be able to find the trail, but be prepared to use your map and navigate if needed.

12.8 miles, +1,400’/-4,350′ of elevation gain/loss.