sunset

Snow on the Butterfly Trail – 12/16/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Snow on the Butterfly Trail! December 2015.
Snow on the Butterfly Trail! December 2015.

Somewhere after the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site I started to notice the snow in the shade and by the time I was in Bear Canyon there were small piles of snow on the side of the Highway!

Enjoying the snow on the Butterfly Trail. December 2015.
Enjoying the snow on the Butterfly Trail. December 2015.

Higher on the mountain I watched sledding and snow ball fights – it was great to see people out and enjoying the snow – but it was also beautiful to leave the people behind and enjoy the nearly empty Butterfly Trail – I hiked out to Butterfly Peak, watched the sunset and hiked back in the quiet snow under a sliver moon.

Watching the sunset from Butterfly Peak - looking into the San Pedro Valley and across to the Galiuros. December 2015.
Watching the sunset from Butterfly Peak – looking into the San Pedro Valley and across to the Galiuros. December 2015.

 

Prison Camp, Thimble Peak, Bear Canyon – 11/28/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
The route out to Thimble Peak from Bear Canyon. November 2015.
The route out to Thimble Peak from Bear Canyon. November 2015.

A sea of grass out to the Thimble, a ribbon of color down Sabino Canyon, looking up Bear Canyon to and past the Sycamore Reservoir Dam, back lit Saguaros and sunset light in Bear Canyon – every trip into the mountains is another chance to see something new – even the most familiar places are constantly changing, different light, season, weather, colors, wildlife, plants, friends… – and this was a particularly amazing day.

Looking down Sabino Canyon, a ribbon of color in the desert - from just below the base of Thimble Peak. November 2015.
Looking down Sabino Canyon, a ribbon of color in the desert – from just below the base of Thimble Peak. November 2015.
Saguaros in the sunlight - from the Bear Canyon Trail, above Seven Falls. November 2015.
Saguaros in the sunlight – from the Bear Canyon Trail, above Seven Falls. November 2015.
Bear Canyon - Sunset light and clear blue winter sky - a sea of Saguaros - from the road. November 2015.
Bear Canyon – Sunset light and clear blue winter sky – a sea of Saguaros – from the road. November 2015.

Agua Caliente Hill Trail, Point 3321, Sunset and Night – 10/4/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Sunset from the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. October 2015.
Sunset from the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. October 2015.
Tucson City Lights from Point 3321 off the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. October 2015.
Tucson City Lights from Point 3321 off the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. October 2015.
Mount Bigelow in the Stars - looking up from Point 3321 off the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. October 2015.
Mount Bigelow in the stars – looking up from Point 3321 off the Agua Caliente Hill Trail. October 2015.

Brush Corral Shortcut Loop – 7/15/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

There is basically no end to the great ‘workout’ hikes in the Santa Catalina Mountains – one fun option is a short loop using the Upper Green Mountain Trailhead, Green Mountain Trail, Brush Corral Trail, Brush Corral Shortcut Trail, Green Mountain Trail back to the Upper Green Mountain Trailhead.

Short with a nice bit of elevation, not very heavily used (for much of the loop anyway) and easily extended a few more miles to the Maverick Spring Trail or Guthrie Mountain. 4.5 miles, +/- 1500′ elevation gain/loss.

Fallen leaf in a drainage on the Brush Corral Trail.
Fallen leaf in a drainage on the Brush Corral Trail. July 2015.
Madrone berries along the Green Mountain Trail.
Madrone berries along the Green Mountain Trail. July 2015.
Sunset over Mount Bigelow - from the Green Mountain Trailhead.
Sunset over Mount Bigelow – from the Green Mountain Trailhead. July 2015.