A Night on Guthrie Mountain – 5/9 and 5/10/2019

Light from Tucson, taken on Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.
Light from Tucson, taken on Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.

On Guthrie Mountain cloudy grey skies block the stars, light from Tucson reflects off the clouds and floods into the mountains. Thru the camera lens the city lights are white hot metal, the clouds rising steam – the energy coming from the city is unfathomable, tonight it seems like Moloch’s incomprehensible prison is Howling out into the mountains.

Moloch whose eyes are a thousand blind windows! Moloch whose skyscrapers stand in the long streets like endless Jehovahs! Moloch whose factories dream and croak in the fog! Moloch whose smoke-stacks and antennae crown the cities!
Moloch whose love is endless oil and stone! Moloch whose soul is electricity and banks! Moloch whose poverty is the specter of genius! Moloch whose fate is a cloud of sexless hydrogen! Moloch whose name is the Mind!
Clouds, city and headlights on the highway from Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.
Clouds, city and headlights on the highway from Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.

The images and thoughts above are fleeting – most of my overnight is the simple joy of being outside, nothing to do with Ginsberg’s anger and frustration – old graffiti and new flowers on the Green Mountain Trail; thick lines of black ants, new ferns and water at Maverick Spring; blackened trees, new views and fresh flowers in the Burro Fire burn that covers most of Guthrie Mountain and the ridge out to and past Point 7162.

Sunset over Green Mountain - from Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.
Sunset over Green Mountain – from Guthrie Mountain. May 2019.
Flowers growing in and area burned by the Burro Fire. May 2019.
Flowers growing in and area burned by the Burro Fire. May 2019.
Below Point 7162 in an area burned by the Burro Fire. May 2019.
Below Point 7162 in an area burned by the Burro Fire. May 2019.
Tank with water at Maverick Spring. May 2019.
Tank with water at Maverick Spring. May 2019.
Coralbells on the Green Mountain Trail. May 2019.
Coralbells on the Green Mountain Trail. May 2019.
Coralroot on the Green Mountain Trail. May 2019.
Coralroot on the Green Mountain Trail. May 2019.

Brinkley Point, Full Moon – 4/19/2019

Ridge out to Brinkley Point. April 2019.
Ridge out to Brinkley Point. April 2019.

Brinkley Point, perched in the middle of the Santa Catalina Mountains, is protected by an off trail approach and a modest distance and elevation profile that don’t really lend themselves to bragging. A beautiful sunset, a wait in the fading light, and then the real show begins – moonlight on the inner basins, ridges and canyons. Alone on the small point I take pictures, briefly watch headlamps on the East Fork Trail and let my mind wander. Early in the AM I wake up to take a few more pictures and find the sky covered by clouds reflecting the city lights.

Sunset - looking across the Santa Catalina Mountains and over Agua Caliente hill to the Rincons. April 2019.
Sunset – looking across the Santa Catalina Mountains and over Agua Caliente hill to the Rincons. April 2019.
Night on Brinkley Point. April 2019.
Night on Brinkley Point. April 2019.
Camped under the full moon on Brinkley Point . April 2019.
Camped under the full moon on Brinkley Point . April 2019.
Moonlight and clouds - looking towards the city lights from Brinkley Point. April 2019.
Moonlight and clouds – looking towards the city lights from Brinkley Point. April 2019.

Pontatoc Ridge – 12/18/2016

December 2016.
Javelina near the start of the trail. December 2016.

The houses near the Richard McKee Finger Rock Trailhead crowd against the forest boundary and many of the views from the trail include Tucson and the surrounding communities – some days the city pulls me back down with thoughts of friends and the warmth of home, other days it is a sprawling terror that pushes me up the mountain.

I don’t quite make it to the top of the ridge today – too bad since it will be my last chance in 2016, the route up the ridge is not an official Forest Service Trail and it will be closed at the beginning of January to help protect the Bighorn sheep that have been reintroduced in recent years. Something for next year…

December 2016.
End of the day on Pontatoc Ridge. December 2016.
December 2016.
Tucson city lights and the remains of the sunset, coming down the Pontatoc Ridge Trail. December 2016.

Sunset and Night from Windy Point – 12/22/2016

December 2016.
Sunset light on Tucson and the Tucson Mountains – from Windy Point. December 2016.

I often avoid Windy Point – sometimes because it is too crowded, and sometimes because the changes to the area over the last decade not my favorite – but I have to admit that when I have stopped here to photograph the sunset it has been absolutely spectacular!

December 2016.
Looking over the Santa Catalina Mountains to the Rincon Mountains. December 2016.
December 2016.
The General Hitchcock Highway winding down towards a cloud covered Tucson. December 2016.

Honey Bee Canyon Trail Access Issue – 9/4/2016

Pusch Peak from Honeybee Canyon Park in Oro Valley. August 2016.
Pusch Peak from Honeybee Canyon Park in Oro Valley. August 2016.

Bicycle Tucson recently made two posts – Honeybee neighborhood to attempt bike ban Oct. 1 and Show your support for trail access at OV town council – that you should read about an access issue in the Honeybee Canyon/Rancho Vistoso/Oro Valley area.

Access has been an issue in this area before – see After 30 years of fighting and compromise, Rancho Vistoso nearly complete for some details back into the 1990s and HONEYBEE CANYON/TORTOLITA MOUNTAIN ACCESS UPDATE for more recent history – and it appears that there may be an upcoming chance to influence future access – posted to Facebook by The Damion Alexander Team:

The Home Owner Association at Honeybee Ridge has put up a sign saying that trail access via the easement off of Quiet Rain Dr. will be closed as of October 1, 2016.

There are differences of legal opinion as to if the HOA has the authority to do this. Regardless of if they have the law on their side, what is clear is the community needs to create a permanent access to these trails.

We need the elected officials to know how important this for the kids and families, businesses, tourism, health and vitality of Oro Valley and the region. HoneyBee/Rail X Ranch Trails offer some of the best beginner trails in the region and are often used in the National promotion of our region.

At the city council meeting on September 7th at the call to the audience the cycling community and other trail users need to show up and tell the mayor and council how important this access point is. We also need to make them aware of other options (AND THE CURRENT LACK THERE OF) for accessing Honeybee trail.

With the current election many in candidates are calling for a new and improved Oro Valley. One that is not known as just a retirement community. Because of this our voice will resonate louder. Please take your time and show up for this meeting. If you can’t make this one, show up at the next one. We are going to need to keep a constant vigil to save our trails.

The meeting is at 6:00 PM on September 7th. at the Oro Valley Town Hall. 11000 N La Canada Drive Oro Valley, AZ 85737