“Out On the Trail” — Image by kenne
Southern Arizona trails are very busy this time of year and unfortunately keeping search and rescue crews busy. Those of us who are frequently hiking the Santa Catalina Mountains are aware of some of its dangers. However, many of our winter visitors are not prepare for the rough terrain. This past Sunday the DPS copter crew had six rope rescues in the Catalinas, a one-day record.
kenne
Upper Sabino Canyon Panoramas by kenne (February 10, 2017)
— kenne
The SCVN Friday Hike last week was to Hutch’s Pool. This is a hike that is about eight miles from Tram Stop 9, which saves another eight miles by not hiking from the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center. About twenty hikers were hiking the Sabino Canyon Trail to the intersection of West Fork and East Fork trails. The East Fork goes to Sycamore Canyon, the West Fork to Hutch’s Pool. There are two water crossing to Hutch’s Pool, the first providing the lesser challenges of the two. Still, on this day the water was swift, just below the knee and ice cold.
Because of recent rains and snowmelt on Mt. Lemmon, the water flow was much higher than normal causing most hikers to turn back or take the East Fork to Sycamore Canyon. Five hikers decided to go on to Hutch’s Pool. The images and video or of their return crossing at the creek near where the Fork trail connects to the Sabino Canyon Trail.
Crossing Creek On West Fork Trail — Images by kenne
(Click on any of the images for a larger view in a slideshow format.)
Video by kenne
Swollen Streams in the Canyon — Image by kenne
We are children
of the canyon,
enthralled
by nature’s beauty.
Once hearing
the sound of water
rushing over rocks
and around boulders,
carrying the spirit
of the mountains,
we are drawn to
its siren call —
becoming
children of Achelous.
— kenne
A Raven Morning — Grunge Art by kenne
— kenne
Modern Footprints On The Trail — Image by kenne
— John Muir
Hooker’s Evening Primrose (December 12, 2016) — Image by kenne
It has been warmer than average for this time of year.
Except for a few small pools of water, Sabino Creek is dry.
Yet, above the Sabino Dam, a bee and I found this lone
Hooker’s Evening Primrose — a very pleasant surprise.
— kenne
