With water flowing all over the range we hiked to Maiden Pools to see the water – rushing, as expected – but the sunset and night in the canyon were the highlights of the hike…
Ventana Canyon Trail – 2/6/2017
ventana canyon trail
Heat, Deaths, Fire, Joining – 7/1/2017
During a tragic weekend in late June record heat was the cause of three deaths in the Santa Catalina Mountains. One female hiker from out of state died on the Finger Rock Trail and two hikers from Germany died on the Ventana Canyon Trail.
- Missing Hiker Found Dead; 4th Victim of Record Heat Wave – Arizona Public Media
- UPDATE: 2 hiker deaths confirmed in record-hot temperatures – TucsonNewsNow
- Record Tucson heat leads to deaths of two hikers – tucson.com
- PCSD identifies hiker who died on Finger Rock Trail – KVOA.com
- Pima County sheriff’s officials release photo of missing hiker – tucson.com
- Hiker missing in Ventana Canyon – KVOA.com
- German hiker found dead off Ventana trail north of Tucson – tucson.com
Heat related deaths seem to happen every year – there have been several articles recently with tips and information on staying safe in the heat – As Heat Wave Causes Hikers’ Deaths, Experts Share Safety Tips, Staying safe on the trails in extreme heat and Desert Heat: Deaths, Rescuers and Ways to Stay Safe – all with good information and smart warnings, but it is hard to convey exactly how serious and intense the heat can be in Tucson in the summer.
With the recent heat related deaths the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board considered a ban on hiking in extreme heat – which was not approved – but did put in place a ban on dogs on city hiking trails when the temperature is over 100 degrees. Phoenix proposal to ban hiking during extreme heat denied, ban of dogs is approved over 100 degrees – abc15.
From the Southern Arizona Rescue Association:
Southern Arizona Rescue Association is looking for hikers who are team players to join our group! If you are interested, please plan to attend one of two Orientations and the Candidate Hike:
Orientation 1 – Thursday, June 23, 7:00pm
Orientation 2 – Tuesday, July 19, 7:00pm
Applicant Hike and selection – Saturday, August 13Attendance at one of the two Orientation meetings and the hike is a MANDATORY first step in joining SARA. Orientations are intended to tell you everything you need to know about the selection process and being in SARA, will last about an hour, and are held at the SARA house at 5990 N. Sabino Canyon Road. We will see you there!
A group of 4 family members out for a hike on the Butterfly Trail were reported missing – they were later found.
- Four Missing Family Members Hiking on Mt. Lemmon Located – Arizona Public Media
- UPDATE: Family found after spending night on Mt. Lemmon – KVOA.com
- Family missing while on Mount Lemmon hike found safe – tucson.com
Mount Lemmon offers relief from the heat – KVOA.com: A short piece on trying to stay cool by escaping up to Mount Lemmon – it is, of course, always cooler at the top of the mountain… But recent temperatures have been high enough that it has been very hot even at higher elevations. If you are considering heading to the top of the mountain here is a short video about the Meadow Trail – Hittin’ the Trails 4 You: Mt. Lemmon’s Meadow Loop Trail – KVOA.com.
Campers recently spotted a black bear on Organization Ridge Road near a dumpster – a good reminder to be ‘bear aware’ when you are on the mountain. From Mark Hart of Arizona Game and Fish: “Overall it’s the heat, the bears are hungry and they are thirsty and some are moving into higher country to escape the heat.” Another sighting on Mt. Lemmon reminder to be bear aware – KVOA.com.
The Race Track Fire started on June 26th near Redington Road– the last update from June indicates the fire is unlikely to grow:
The Racetrack fire’s perimeter remains 80% contained today. All forward progress of the fire has been halted. Three engines and two crews remain on the fire and are mopping up hot spots, rehabilitating control lines to minimize erosion from expected monsoon rains, and patrolling for additional heat. By the end of the work period today, the incident commander anticipates increased containment.
The fire burned approximately 800 acres in an area north of Redington Road, east of Agua Caliente Hill and west of Race Track Tank.
The cause of the fire is listed as under investigation, however I don’t believe there was any weather/lightning in the Redington Road area at the time the fire started so it seems likely it will be labeled human caused.
Milt Jensen, an experienced tower climber, died in an accidental fall while repairing the power to an amateur radio tower on Mount Lemmon. Well-Known DXer, DXpeditioner Milt Jensen, N5IA, Dies in Tower Fall – ARRL.com, Man dies after 50-foot fall off radio tower on Mount Lemmon – KVOA.com, Man killed in tower fall on Mount Lemmon – tucson.com.
The Santa Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project update for the period ending June 22 was released recently and unlike a number of recent updates there were no mortality signals from the remaining collars and the bulk of the report is filled with great pictures and reports from biologists about the Bighorn observed during the period.
Rescues/Accidents/Incidents including information from the SARCI Newsletter:
- Wilderness of Rocks 5/1/2016 – Hikers coming up from Catalina State Park via Romero Canyon were stopped at the junction of the Wilderness of Rocks and Lookout Trail when one member was unable to continue. The group was given help out.
- Butterfly Trail 5/23/2016 – A hiker with an ankle injury was carried out from the Butterfly Trail.
- Box Camp Trail 5/26/2016 – Two members of a group hiking down the Box Camp Trail towards Molino Basin were exhausted when they reached Sabino Basin and were ferried by helicopter to Prison Camp – two other members of the group were given assistance near Shreve Saddle.
Window Rock – 3/26/2016
The bottom section of the Ventana Trail is hot and at Maiden Pools I think about a long stop to enjoy the water, canyon and flowers – but the stiff up-canyon breeze keeps me moving up the canyon towards the Window.
I chat with friendly hikers coming down who encourage me upwards with smiles and promises of great views – and give me an excuse to take short breaks on the steep climb up to the hillside junction where the Ventana Trail ends as it meets the Esperero and Finger Rock Trails.
The Esperero Trail continues climbing, eventually reaching the ridge that leads to Window Rock – the views from this ridge are the highlight of the hike. After a few more short climbs the Window comes into view – just off the trail and easy to find – the other hikers have gone and I sit in silence.
I want to wait for sunset at the Window – my schedule today won’t allow it – but it is impossible to be disappointed by the dark shadows moving across the canyon and sunset lit east ridge on the hike down.
Cholla Flowers in Ventana Canyon – 5/17/2015
January 24 Bighorn Sheep Project Update
- Forest Service updates bighorn sheep management area map – Restrictions remain in effect – an update to the original closure order
Previous closure orders and maps relied heavily on descriptions using township, range, and sections or portions of sections for boundaries. Wilderness visitors often found these confusing and difficult to determine exactly where the boundaries are”, said Deputy District Ranger Shalonda Guy. “The new map makes those boundaries much easier to identify”.Of particular note is the inclusion of the Ventana Canyon Trail in this order – previously excluded until it’s junction with the Esperero Trail.
- Catalina Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Project January 6, 2014 – January 19, 2014 Project Status Update – the latest update document. Note that these contain (as expected) quite a bit of information beyond what is reported in the news including some movement and range information that is very interesting.