Great weather – Mint Spring (water at the spring!), Marshall Gulch (plenty of water, other friendly hikers), Aspen Trail (great views and new Pines along the trail) and back on the Mint Spring Trail – great weather, but maybe a touch warmer than I thought it would be…
It was bright and sunny – but surprisingly chilly on the Butterfly Trail – even a patch of snow hiding on the side of a hill under Mount Bigelow!
The trail looks like winter but is starting to have hints of the riotous green that will appear later in the year – small flower and green buds – water flowing down Novio Falls –
and views of recent adventures…
We met friends in the parking lot and started for Gibbon Mountain at about 4:30pm – our friends had never been up Gibbon Mountain and we took our time going up to enjoy the views and the light. As we topped out on the last highpoint on the ridge before Gibbon our daylight was starting to fade.
We picked up the pace a bit to get to the official summit of Gibbon just in time for the sunset –
– stayed to enjoy the nearly full moon –
– and finally headed back in the dark…
A great group of friends and a fantastic spot to watch the last full moon of winter rise over Tucson – Blackett’s Ridge!
flickr – 2014 March Blackett’s Ridge for the Last Full Moon of Winter
For several years I have looked down into the Peck Basin Area and wondered what was down there… I suppose that the easiest way to get into that area is via the Davis Spring Trailhead on the north side of the Mountain – but part of my fascination with Peck Basin is a curiosity about a trail that seems to be disappearing back into the mountain: the Knagge Trail…
I was dropped off at the bottom of the Incinerator Ridge Road, walked up to the Trailhead and soon enough I was headed down the Knagge Trail, familiar territory and notably easier to follow than it was last September with the plants along the trail brown and flat.
The Cabin, the mine and the current end of the well established trail all come quickly – and then off onto the ridge below. Unlike my last trip I don’t use any time trying to find the original trail – instead I just work on finding the easiest way down the ridge – an occasional cairn, faint paths that look for a second like a trail, brushy puzzles, beautiful open grassy sections, views down into my destination…
I am counting on water in the South Fork of Edgar Canyon and the canyon does not disappoint – clear rushing water!
I work down canyon trying to find the easiest path – up around a box, past an old shelter, thru a fence – here I see the first signs of the cows who live in this area…
I cut out of the canyon, over the ridge and into the drainage with Araster Spring and Peck Basin (this canyon is referred to as Edgar Canyon in the Cowgill and Glendening guide but the USGS 7.5′ Map labels the canyon to the south as Edgar Canyon…). I see more cows on the ridge above and follow their tracks and dung up canyon to Araster Spring and slightly beyond. Araster Spring is beautiful but slightly trampled.
Originally I had planned to camp here but the cows have made this area a bit less attractive than I imagined – I loop via hillside and ridge up to Point 4863 to spend the night – on the way stumbling across the Knagge and Davis Spring Trail junction sign! I find a good spot near Point 4863 – I only have to move one cow patty to setup where I want – and enjoy the view of the ridge I came from (with the blazing lights of Mount Bigelow) and the day’s journey!
I get moving a little slowly in the AM – lingering to enjoy the view –
And then up up up up back to the Upper Green Mountain Trailhead to meet my ride down! 13 miles and about 4000′ of elevation gain and loss.
flickr – 2014 March Peck Basin and Araster Spring via the Knagge Route