Box Spring Trail – 2014/5/5

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted May 6, 2014 - Charles Miles

The Box Spring Trail appears on many maps – but it is fading back into the mountain. The sign that used to mark the junction with the Box Camp Trail is gone, the start of the trail has been obscured and the original track no longer exists.

1405 Obscured start of the Box Spring Trail — The start of the Box Camp Trail – obscured – and with good reason, this ‘trail’ is now at best a rugged off-trail adventure. May 2014.

The first part of the Box Spring trail is very overgrown, but it is still somewhat reasonable up to a small (rather nice) saddle (where you leave the trail for Brinkley Point) – below the saddle you can follow a path and cairns, but the trail quickly becomes much more aggressively overgrown, the footing loose and the route obscure. Eventually the route starts to follow a rugged drainage.

1405 Alison working down the drainage — Working down the drainage that takes you down to Sabino Canyon – not the original path of the trail, but now probably the best option… May 2014.

Sections of the drainage are filled with debris, part very overgrown and occasionally it is filled with Poison Ivy – barely a route except for the cairns I suppose… but the reward…

1405 Looking up Sabino Canyon — Clear water flowing in Sabino Canyon! May 2014.

Sabino Canyon! The Arizona Daily Star reported today that Sabino Creek stops flowing 3 weeks earlier than last 2 years at Sabino Dam – but here, high in Sabino Canyon, there is clear water, pools and flow…

1405 Pools and Cliffs in Sabino Canyon below Box Spring — Pools and cliffs below the junction of the Sabino Canyon and the Box Spring route. May 2014.

Sutherland, Trail Link, 50 Year, Bridal Trail Loop – 2014/4/26

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted April 27, 2014 - Charles Miles

A storm coming thru the area allowed us to enjoy another day at lower elevations – cool weather and even some rain! This loop is about 10 miles and 1000 feet of cumulative elevation gain/loss starting/finishing at Catalina State Park – Sutherland Trail, Trail Link, 50 Year Trail, Bridal Trail – many other options in the area…

1404 Clouds over Pusch Ridge from the 50 Year Trail — Clouds over Pusch Ridge – the peak of Pusch Peak still visible on the right. April 2014.

1404 Cactus Flower in the Rain — The storm brought cool temperatures and rain – rain drops on a Prickly Pear flower. April 2014.

1404 Golder Dome and Grey Sky — Golder Dome – climbing information on Mountain Project and ClimbAZ. April 2014.

Mint Spring, Marshall Gulch, Blackett’s Ridge – 2014/4/19

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted April 21, 2014 - Charles Miles

1404 Mint at Mint Spring — A small mint growing near Mint Spring. April 2014.

The gray overcast sky was a surprise and a delight when we looked outside – the temperatures have started to soar, reminding us of summer, but today was quite cool. Summerhaven was not as crowded as I expected for a holiday weekend and we were alone at the Mint Spring Trailhead. We hiked slowly – our friend was testing out a new pack and had it loaded with his overnight gear – savoring the views, watching birds and enjoying the clouds. We turned onto the Marshall Gulch Trail – plenty of water here – and eventually took the road back to the car.

1404 Alison and Bill on the Mint Spring Trail — Arriving at the Mint Spring, Aspen, Wilderness of Rocks, Marshall Gulch junction. April 2014.

In the evening I met a friend and we ran/hiked up Blackett’s Ridge catching a great sun set from the ridge – a lovely trail with superb conversation – a perfect way to end the day!

1404 Ending the Day on Blackett's Ridge — End of the day on Blackett’s Ridge – the clouds kept the day cool and created an incredible sunset! April 2014.

Crystal Spring Trail – 2014/4/16

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted April 20, 2014 - Charles Miles

It was cool at the trailhead and for a few minutes I contemplated switching to a long sleeve shirt, but I am glad I did not – it was hot in the sun! Butterfly Trail to start and then onto the Crystal Spring Trail – such a lovely shaded forest start to the trail – the Keebler Tree came more quickly than I expected today, but I continued on without taking a real break. Ferns and other plants are starting to grow along the trail – already almost covering it in tiny sections – but still plenty of brown.

1404 Brown along the Crystal Spring Trail — Brown along the Crystal Spring Trail with just a few green Ferns starting to appear. April 2014.

1404 Gopher Snake on the Crystal Spring Trail — A Gopher Snake on the Crystal Spring Trail. April 2014.

Some of the (many) drainages were dry – but I was glad to see Alder Canyon, the next small falls and the pools/falls just before the Control Road all had some flow.

1404 Yellow Monkey Flower — Monkey Flowers near the Crystal Spring Trail! April 2014.

1404 Small Falls off the Crystal Spring Trail — Enjoying the cold water in the pools and small falls off the Crystal Spring Trail near the Control Road. April 2014.

At the Control Road I turn around and head back – in the burned sections of the trail it is hot – a nice day to be higher on the mountain!

While driving down the mountain I spot a Mountain Biker sitting by the side of the highway in a small patch of shade waving a water bottle – I pull into the Bug Spring Trailhead to make sure I have a little water left and then drive back up to add a little water, ice and soda to his supplies. He is appreciative and friendly – another car pulls up so I don’t hang out and chat, but a few miles down the mountain I think about the cue sheets on his handle bars… and at home I find Aaron among the 2014 AZT750 racers!

Sycamore Reservoir – 2014/4/12

Updated May 26, 2019 - Posted April 18, 2014 - Charles Miles

1404 In Bear Canyon Camping off the Sycamore Reservoir Trail — Campfire in Bear Canyon near the Sycamore Reservoir Trail. April 2014.

We hiked in on the Molino Basin and Sycamore Reservoir Trails to Sycamore Reservoir and then camped a short distance up Bear Canyon – great weather for camping in the canyon and plenty of great spots to set up.

1404 Night Across the Santa Catalina Mountains — Looking down into and west across the Santa Catalina Mountains. April 2014.

It had been cloudy all day – but the clouds started to clear just before sunset letting the nearly full moon brighten the night – I hiked out to the Bear Canyon, East Fork and Sycamore Reservoir Trail Junction and then up onto the nearby hills to take advantage of the light – eventually I headed back to camp and enjoyed the company.

1404 A Helicopter Heading to Sycamore Reservoir — Lights from a helicopter heading to the Sycamore Reservoir area – the Sycamore Reservoir Trail visible in the foreground. April 2014.