Vandalized platform off the Pontatoc Canyon Trail. March 2018.
From Alvernon follow the trail until it crosses Pontatoc Canyon, climb to the junction of the Ridge and Canyon trails, turn left, traverse the hillsides north, cross Pontatoc Canyon again and look to your right as you start to climb to catch a glimpse an old earth platform.
I have never heard, or read, anything about the history of this platform – my guess is that it dates to the early to mid 20th and is related to cattle ranching – but maybe it comes from the mining that took place in this area? Or something altogether different, older??
Regardless of its history it had started to fade, slowly, gradually, appropriately, back into the landscape – until earlier this year when it was brutally cleared – cactus, flowers, grass and brushes cut and removed – scraped bare, a table and chairs placed in the center. Clearing this area wouldn’t have been appropriate anywhere in the forest – but it is especially out of place inside the wilderness.
Months later the table is gone – maybe the platform will have a chance to recover from this strange and pointless act of vandalism – and hopefully in a few years the flowers will return.
Brutally cleared. March 2018.Platform off the Pontatoc Canyon Trail. May 2015.Platform off the Pontatoc Canyon Trail. May 2018.Sadly cut. May 2018.Chairs and rusting metal off the side of the Platform. May 2018.
Balloon – trash on a hillside above La Milagrosa Canyon – there was a 2nd balloon below… February 2016.
Balloons floating up into the sky can seem beautiful and symbolic – but after picking up balloons from an astounding number of places in the mountains – including many off-trail destinations with no sign of people/trash for miles – I cringe when I see a piece of floating trash ascending into the sky… For more sad pictures of balloons and a bit more information see Balloons in the Backcountry.
The comment period for the Catalina-Rincon FireScape Project is open and the Forest Service is holding several open houses about this project:
Saturday, February 20, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Chuck Bowden Mt. Lemmon Community Center, 12949 N. Sabino Canyon Parkway., Mt. Lemmon, AZ
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Oracle Fire Department, 1475 W. American Ave., Oracle, AZ
Thursday, February 25 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Morris K. Udall Regional Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd., Tucson, AZ
The press release from the Forest Service provides this quick summary of the project – “The CRFS is a landscape-scale restoration project that focuses on promoting resilient ecosystems; protecting life, property, and natural resources; and encouraging natural wildland fire to function as a healthy process in the ecosystem” – and the Scoping Notice provides background including:
The fire history recorded by tree rings indicates that, since the beginning of the early 20th century, the frequency of natural fire has decreased dramatically. Tree-ring research has shown that for many centuries, the Santa Catalina and Rincon mountains shared broadly similar fire regimes and ecosystem properties. However, since the early 20th century, natural fire regimes have been significantly altered because of grazing (which removes the fine fuels that carry surface fire) and continued fire suppression.
Ewe #39540 died in the first part of February – “she had suffered a severe injury to her left front leg in addition to a superficial wound on her chest, both injuries likely sustained in a fall” – samples have been sent for disease testing.
Test results from Ewe #39554 who died in December indicate that she did not have pneumonia and that injuries sustained in a fall were the likely cause of death.
Coronado National Forest waives fees in honor of Presidents Day – Coronado National Forest: Coronado National Forest will waive fees at most of its day-use recreation sites Monday, February 15, in honor of Presidents Day – Fees are waived generally for day-use areas, such as picnic grounds, developed trailheads and destination visitor centers!
Recreation projects completed on Mt. Lemmon – Coronado National Forest: A recent press release from the Coronado National forest notes several recently complete projects include 22 new interpretive signs along/near the highway and new restrooms at the Cypress Picnic Area and Showers Point Campground.
Rescues/Accidents/Incidents including information from the SARCI Newsletter:
Finger Rock Trail 1/16/2016 – Hikers descending from Mount Kimball ran out of daylight on the way down the Finger Rock Trail, ended up at Linda Vista Saddle and couldn’t find the way down.
Alamo Canyon 1/18/2016 – Hikers returning from Romero Pools ended up in on the slopes of Alamo Canyon.
Blackett’s Ridge 1/20/2016 – A fall results in ankle, knee and face injuries – injured hiker was flown out by helicopter.
