Forest Road 18 to Radio Ridge, Summer, Winter – MVUM – 5/15/2018, 6/24/2018, 1/14/2019

FR18 - switchbacks and water tanks. May 2018.
FR18 – switchbacks and water tanks. May 2018.

Looking across Carter Canyon from the Mint Spring Trail you can see Forest Road 18 switchbacking up the burned out hillside, past cabins and water tanks, joining and following power lines up to Radio Ridge. It doesn’t have the same appeal as getting up to Radio Ridge on the Aspen or Aspen Draw Trail but summer flowers, winter snow, interesting views… maybe just worth it…

Carter Canyon and Summerhaven from FR18. June 2018.
Carter Canyon and Summerhaven from FR18. June 2018.

East of the Mint Spring Trailhead FR18 leaves Carter Canyon Road as Miners Ridge Road – apparently the road was erroneously classified in the Forest Service Infrastructure Database (INFRA) as open to public motor vehicle traffic – corrected in the recently finalized Santa Catalina Ranger District Motorized Travel System where the note for FR18 reads:

In INFRA road is listed as having ML1 and ML2 portions, however, on the ground the road is currently closed to the public, but utilized by authorized personnel. Error in INFRA that restriction to public access not listed. Redesignate in INFRA as “Restricted to Administrative and Permitted Use Only”. ML 2. Radio Ridge access for Mt. Lemmon water district and TRICO Electric. Restricted to reduce intensity of resource impacts.

I don’t recall ever seeing a gate or signage on Miners Ridge Road indicating that it was closed in any way to the public and I assume the note is mainly referencing the top section (the upper section of the road is labeled Radio Ridge Road in Pima County’s GIS Information and Cap Rock Road by Google Maps) where the road has been gated at the Summit Trailhead to prevent public motor vehicle access for as long as I can remember.

FR18 as shown on the maps in the Santa Catalina Ranger District Motorized Travel System NEPA documents. February 2019.
FR18 as shown on the maps in the Santa Catalina Ranger District Motorized Travel System NEPA documents. February 2019.
Pygmy Bluet on the side of FR18. June 2018.
Pygmy Bluet on the side of FR18. June 2018.
Penstemon off FR-18. June 2018.
Penstemon off FR-18. June 2018.

I’m sure that FR18 is blanketed by snow every year but in previous years it hadn’t occurred to me that the snow covered road would be an interesting hike. This year I was a little smarter – lower on the road there were vehicle tracks, but they eventually disappeared and I plunged into untracked snow up to Radio Ridge – alone for a cold sunset – before making my way down partly by headlamp.

Winter - a snow covered FR-18 with Radio Ridge in the distance. January 2019.
Winter – a snow covered FR-18 with Radio Ridge in the distance. January 2019.
Tree off of Radio Ridge with the Rincons in the background. January 2019.
Tree off of Radio Ridge with the Rincons in the background. January 2019.
Snowy Santa Catalina Mountains from near the start of the Aspen Trail off Radio Ridge. January 2019.
Snowy Santa Catalina Mountains from near the start of the Aspen Trail off Radio Ridge. January 2019.

Aspen Draw, Summerhaven, Mint Spring, Aspen Loop – 5/15/2018

Sun and Shade on the Mint Spring Trail. May 2018.
Sun and Shade on the Mint Spring Trail. May 2018.

Summer temps are making top of the mountain loops very appealing lately – one of my favorite variations: Aspen Draw (best trail on the top of the mountain for getting a taste of how the area looked before the Aspen Fire), a short trip thru Summerhaven, onto the Mint Spring Trail (admire the small stands of Aspen, take in views cleared by the Aspen Fire and enjoy a stop at the spring – the Mint Spring Trail has been in rough condition in previous years but is looking quite good right now!) and up the Aspen Trail (wander up thru the pines and admire the great views from the final climb to the top – on this trip I took note of the view over Summerhaven, along Alder Canyon and Black Hills Mine Road to the San Pedro River with the Galiuro Mountains and Mount Graham in the background!).

New Mexico Raspberry Flower. May 2018.
New Mexico Raspberry Flower. May 2018.

Aficionados of upper mountain loops will probably be well aware of the situation that using the Aspen Draw Trail as your ‘down’ trail presents -> connecting to the Mint Spring Trail or any of the trails that leave from the Marshall Gulch Trailhead will force you to pass the Sawmill Run Restaurant, Stompin Grounds Coffee and Kettle KornThe Mt. Lemmon General Store & Gift shop and the Mt Lemmon Cookie Cabin… Perilous temptation if you goal is a hardcore fitness outing – wondrous distraction on a leisurely day!

Water tank along the Aspen Draw Trail. May 2018.
Water tank along the Aspen Draw Trail. May 2018.
Summerhaven from the Mint Spring Trail. May 2018.
Summerhaven from the Mint Spring Trail. May 2018.
Looking over Summerhaven and the San Pedro River Valley to the Galiuros with Mount Graham in the distance from near the top of the Aspen Trail. May 2018.
Looking over Summerhaven and the San Pedro River Valley to the Galiuros with Mount Graham in the distance from near the top of the Aspen Trail. May 2018.