Ventana Canyon Trail – 2/6/2017

February 2017.
Rushing water in the Maiden Pools area. February 2017.
February 2017.
Maiden Pools. February 2017.

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…

February 2017.
Fading sunset before the steep descent back down to the canyon. February 2017.
February 2017.
Saguaro and Stars – looking up from the Ventana Canyon Trail. February 2017.

Window Rock – 3/26/2016

The Window from the Ventana Trail. March 2016.
The Window in Window Rock – from the Ventana Trail. March 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.

A view from Mount Lemmon  on the right to the Biosphere on the left - from the Esperero Trail between The Window and the junction with the Finger Rock and Ventana Trails. March 2016.
Mount Lemmon on the right – Biosphere on the left. Taken on the Esperero Trail between Window Rock and the junction with the Finger Rock and Ventana Trails. March 2016.
Standing in the Window. March 2016.
Standing in the Window. March 2016.
Descending back into Ventana Canyon. March 2016.
Descending back into Ventana Canyon. March 2016.
Ventana Canyon in Shadow, below Maiden pools just before sunset. March 2016.
Ventana Canyon in Shadow just before sunset – on the Ventana Trail below Maiden pools. March 2016.