Archive for the ‘Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists’ Category
Tim, our lead Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist guide went over the safety rules for the day’s hike.
A short distance into hiking the Box Camp Trail, we stop to take in one of the many views.
The trail leads us through ferns and tall pines.
This section of the trail is a rolling downhill path continuing through the tall trees.
As the trail continues down the mountainside the pine forest opens to a thick oak growth.
The trail becomes steeper and difficult to follow through the thick overgrowth.
Looking down over the oak overgrowth you can see Sabino Canyon and Thimble Peak.
The Box Canyon Trail leads down to East Fork Trail, which runs into Sabino Canyon Trail.
However, this rock lookout is where we had planned to rest
and have a sneak before starting the hike 2.5
miles back up the mountain, which has an elevation change of 1,200 feet.
Before starting back we realized our tail-guide, Jeff, was not with us.
Long story short, he had taken a wrong turn in the area where the trail had a lot of over growth.
We started back using the radios to communicate with Jeff, which were spotty at best.
Even though having hiked the trail many times, the climb back to the trailhead was a real challenge.
I had to really slow my pace with only Sharon behind me
having taken over for the trail-guide task for Jeff.
We soon caught up with the lead group, only because Tim,
our lead-guide was also having some issues,
so Ellen took over as lead. After resting and with the help of GU energy gel
Tim and I were able to continue on.
(The fact that we happen to be the two oldest hikers on the hike had nothing to do with our struggles.)
Meanwhile, we continued trying to locate Jeff. Before returning back to the trailhead,
with radio contact we were able to determine that Jeff was somewhere back on the trail and okay.
Back at the trailhead we kept waiting and he finally showed up as pictured above.
To say the least, the circumstances made for a very interesting hike. — Images by kenne
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The July 5th SCVN Friday Hikes began at the Sky Valley parking lot
where led guide Phil Bentley greeted everyone and covered the SCVN Safety Rules.
This was a six-mile loop connecting three trails, (Aspen Draw, Mt. Lemmon Trail,
and the Meadow Trail) with an elevation gain of 1,200 feet.
One of the interest points on this hike was the Lemmon Rock Lookout staffed by the Forest Service personnel.
The original tower was erected in 1928.
On this day we were able to get a tour of the Lookout
since Phil called ahead and talked to the Forest Ranger on duty at the Lookout this summer.
The Osborne Fire Finder.
View down into the Tucson Basin and the Santa Rita Mountains.
After the tour, we took a snack break before continuing the hike.
A little music from our leader.
Always a fun time hiking in the Santa Catalina Mountains. — Images by kenne
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The SCVN Friday Hikes began this past Friday (June 7th) with a short hike up to the old ski run.
Ricki Mensching loves leading this hike each year
and the opportunity to share some the history of the original ski run on Mt. Lemmon.
As the hikers gathered at the base of the ski run they noticed smoke coming from a camp fire on up the ski slop.
Campers had left the camp fire without making sure the fire was out. Sadly, this kind of happening is not unusual.
We call 911 and the nearby Summer Haven fire department came and extinguished the fire.
On this same day a very large uncontained forest fire began burning in the Tonto National Forest northeast of Phoenix.
This marks the beginning of the fire season in Arizona, most all of which are man-made.
After getting the fire under control, Ricky continued her narration on the old ski run,
before continuing the hike to the top of the ski run.
Images by kenne
HELP PREVENT FOREST FIRES!
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This post first appeared seven years ago. Since the SCVN summer hiking schedule on Mt. Lemmon remains pretty much the same year after year, I’m revising the post in recognition of our new hiking season.
“Upward and Onward” — Image by kenne
The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Nationalists (SCVN) lead the first Friday summer hike on Mount Lemmon yesterday. The schedule will every Friday through August 31st. You can get the complete schedule by going to http://sabinonaturalists
Yesterday’s hike on Butterfly #16 and Incinerator #18A to Leopold Point. This hike is one of my favorites and one of the few that Joy and I have hikes together. If you click here to see my blog posting on our hike a year ago. If you watch the video, you can see why Joy doesn’t hike with me anymore.
There were about 18 people in yesterday’s SCVN hike. While yesterday’s temperature hit a record 107 degrees, the temperature on the mountain was in the upper 70’s, which is way we spend the summer hiking on Mount Lemmon. A slideshow of my photographs can also be seen on my Flickr account;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/sets/72157630015836120/show/
— kenne
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Panning for Garnets in Sabino Creek — Image by kenne
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder . . .
he [or she] needs the companionship of at least one adult
who can share it, rediscovering the joy, excitement, and
mystery of the world we live in.”
— Rachel Carson
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Bruce Garrett with His Talking Stick, Standing On A Gneiss Rock — Image by kenne
Most of this decade SCVN member Bruce Garrett led a geology walk, called “Gneiss Walk” in the Sabino Canyon Recreational Area. It has been a very popular walk, not only because he was very knowledgeable but because he was very entertaining. He loved talking to people.
Bruce will be dearly missed by all who had an opportunity to walk with him in Sabino Canyon and learn about the geology of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
— kenne
Kenne, Bryna, and Bruce in Sabino Canyon
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Each Friday, Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) lead two hikes for the public. One is is a slower-paced nature hike allowing time to identify and discuss desert plants.
Yesterday’s hike was a four-mile hike in Kings Canyon in the Tucson Mountains, which this time of year has a lot of wildflowers. So, I chose to assist in guiding the hike so I could be a part of the wildflower discussion; providing an opportunity to photograph spring flowers.
The majority of hikers on our SCVN hikes are retirees; yesterday’s hike included a young mother and her 2-year-old daughter — they both love hiking.
— kenne
Images by kenne
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Red-tail Hawk Silhouette — iPhone 6 Image by kenne
Yesterday I was walking into Sabino Canyon to teach 1st-grade students how the Hohokam lived in the canyon and the Tucson basin hundreds of years ago when a friend spotted a red-tail hawk atop a tall saguaro cactus. Sadly, I didn’t have my Nikon camera with me, so I made use of my iPhone to capture an image. Not what I would like to capture, but it’s better than not getting an image at all.
— kenne
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Naturalist Debbie Bird Leads 3rd Graders On Nature Walk — Image by kenne
For January, I’m the Thursday Day Coordinator for the SCVN Elementary School Nature Program, which means I’m the one responsible for coordinating with the teacher the class field trip to Sabino Canyon. Once the class arrives, I make sure everything runs smoothly, and the students have a great nature experience. It’s a classic “managing by walking around” experience. During that time I also take pictures — https://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/albums/72157702835523912
One of the nature walks was being led by naturalist Debbie Bird when I noticed she had picked up a couple of hitch-hikers from the north. I can see why they were following Debbie’s group because she is very informative.
As we moved about, I asked the couple, “Now tell me the truth, are following this group of third graders because you want to learn something about nature or is it that you want to be part of the Class of 2028?”
— kenne
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Sabino Canyon Recreational Area in the Coronado National Forest
has been impacted by the government shutdown
yet remains open to the public with the help of volunteer organizations,
Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN)
and the Santa Catalina Volunteer Patrol (SCVP)
continuing to provide their services to the public.
One of the programs provided by the SCVN is daily
environmental education programs for k-6 students.
Each August teachers reserved a date to bring their class
to the Canyon starting in October.
Because of the shutdown, the Forest Service agreed
to make sure all trash is removed and the restrooms are clean
in the areas where the environmental education programs are taking place.
Teachers select from six programs designed to meet “core curriculum” goals.
Images by kenne
This past Thursday’s program was “Back To the Past.”
Students learned about the nature Americans
who lived in Sabino Canyon hundreds of years ago.
— kenne
“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth
who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience,
and just plain loving one another.”
– Erma Bombeck
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Image by kenne
About eighteen hikers took part in the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN)
1st hike of the year (January 4, 2019) on the Pontatoc Ridge trail.
Pontatoc Ridge trail
A steep, rocky canyon hike
Beautiful vistas.
— kenne
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Another Fall of Teaching Children About Nature In Sabino Canyon
For some,
It’s a lot of yada, yada, yada
For others,
A real learning experience
Forming a lifetime of respect.
— kenne
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I have learned a lot from my hiking friends. — Image by kenne
Learning is all about connections,
and through our connections with unique people,
we are able to gain a true understanding
of the world around us.
— Peter Senge
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2019 Packathon at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Tucson (January 6, 2019) — Image by kenne
Santa Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
