storm

Winter Storm, Pusch Peak – 12/12/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
A line of rain, hail and snow moving towards the mountain. December 2015.
A line of rain, hail and snow moving towards the mountain. December 2015.
Winter storm on the route up to Pusch Peak. December 2015.
Winter storm on the route up to Pusch Peak. December 2015.
In the clouds on Pusch Peak. December 2015.
In the clouds on Pusch Peak. December 2015.
Light thru the clouds from the overlook off the Pusch Peak route. December 2015.
Light thru the clouds from the overlook off the Pusch Peak route. December 2015.

We watched clouds swirl across the mountain peaks in the AM before we started – but Pusch Peak was clear and it looked like a great place to watch the storm… It didn’t take long for the storm to catch us though, waves of precipitation rolled towards and over us, rain first – then hail – then snow, when we reached the peak it had been eaten by the clouds – too cold to linger we started back down.

The Santa Catalina Mountains had several days of winter storm – while the links below are now ‘old’ a number of them have interesting pictures – some showing the snow on the mountain!

Prison Camp to Sabino Canyon – 10/6/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
A wall near the top of the Sycamore Reservoir dam. October 2015.
A wall near the top of the Sycamore Reservoir dam. October 2015.
Looking across the Santa Catalina Mountains - from near Shreve Saddle, looking down on Sycamore Reservoir. October 2015.
Looking across the Santa Catalina Mountains – from near Shreve Saddle, looking down on Sycamore Reservoir. October 2015.
Looking back towards the Prison Camp area from the Bear Canyon Trail - fast moving clouds covering the mountains. October 2015.
Looking back towards the Prison Camp area from the Bear Canyon Trail – fast moving clouds covering the mountains. October 2015.
Looking down Bear Canyon - rain in Tucson and a break in the clouds above. October 2015.
Looking down Bear Canyon – rain in Tucson and a break in the clouds above. October 2015.

Waves of rain and hail were the highlights of the day – it was beautiful to see the mountain covered in clouds and wet with rain!

Storm – 6/30/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Rain! Warm summer rain fell for the first mile of my short loop, just long enough for me to gain some elevation and find a spot to sit and watch the lightning – flashes in the clouds to the south and bright bolts to the west – a beautiful summer storm over the desert!

1506 Lightning from the Phoneline Trail
Looking west into lightning and clouds – from the Phoneline Trail. June 2015.
1506 Night in Sabino Canyon
Heading down to the road – lights from a night-time tram visible below – lightning in the background. June 2015.

End of the day on the Babad Do’ag Trail – 12/25/2014

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1412 Babad Do'ag Vista
Sunlight thru the clouds from the Babad Do’ag Vista. December 2014.

 

Happy Holidays!!! We found time, late in the day, for a hike on the Babad Do'ag Trail – a storm provided beautiful views, and eventually rain on the trail.

Light beaming thru the clouds, headlights screaming down the highway and rain rolling across the Tucson city lights – 4.7 miles, 1250′ of elevation gain and loss.

1412 Rain Rolling Across Tucson
Rain rolling across the Tucson City lights from the Babad Do’ag Trail. December 2014.

 

Snow, Passes Online, Helicopters

Posted - Charles Miles

Mt. Lemmon Highway reopened – Tucson News Now, Rain in Tucson, travel restrictions on Mount Lemmon – Arizona Daily Star, Mt. Lemmon receives first snowfall of season – Rikki Mitchell, Rain in Tucson, snow in mountains likely Saturday – Arizona Daily Star: Several articles from the past week about storms with both rain and snow – with more in the forecast! Remember that on snowy days there is always a chance that the highway will close.

Purchase Coronado passes online Friday – Sierra Vista Herald: “Coronado National Forest day and annual passes will be available for purchase online beginning this week.” Check the Coronado National Forest Homepage for details. In the Santa Catalina Mountains travel on the highway, parking at vistas/observation points along the highway, parking at most trailheads (and hiking!) and parking in Summerhaven does NOT require a pass or fee – however developed areas such, as the picnic areas in Bear Canyon, do require a pass.

Plan to use helicopters in Arizona wilderness draws complaints – Brenna Goth – The Arizona Repulic: An article about the Arizona Game and Fish request filed earlier in the year for a Wilderness Act exception to allow helicopter use in an area including the Four Peaks, Hellsgate, Mazatzal, Salt River Canyon and Superstition Wilderness areas. Arizona Game and Fish has made a similar proposal in the Pusch Ridge wilderness that appears to still be under consideration. Project Page – Pusch Ridge Wilderness, Tonto National Forest – as I understand it the comment period for both of these proposals has already ended. While helicopter use would make capturing and studying Bighorn in these Wilderness Areas easier – and I suspect that these requests will be approved – I lament the disturbance of/intrusion on this small portion of our public lands and don’t think this proposal merits an exception to the Wilderness Act.