Three Cochise Stronghold Panoramas by kenne
Cochise Stronghold is located west of Sunsites, Arizona, in the Dragoon Mountains at an elevation of 5,000 ft.
This beautiful woodland area lies in a protective rampart of granite domes and sheer cliffs, once the refuge
of the great Apache Chief, Cochise, and his people. Located within the Coronado National Forest, it is managed
by the Douglas Ranger District. — Source: https://cochisestronghold.com/
Looking Forward to Hiking Soon In The Catalina Mountains
Affective September 21, 2020 some of the trails are now open in the
Santa Catalina Mountains after closure after the Bighorn Fire.
These trails remain closed at the burn scar boundary due to hazards that can cause injuries.
Oracle Ridge Trail #1 (3.2 miles)
Brush Corral Trail #19 (1.75 miles)
Mint Spring Trail #20 (0.3 mile)
Box Camp Trail #22 (3.5 miles)
Sabino West Fork Trail #24 (1 mile)
Esperero Trail #25 (3.3 miles)
Finger Rock Trail #42 (1.5 miles)
Pima Canyon Trail #62 (2.4 miles)
Ventana Trail #98 (2 miles)
Pontatoc Trail #410 (2 miles)
Guthrie trail #704A (0.5 mile)
Arizona Trail (32.5 miles)
— kenne
Giant Two-tailed Swallowtail — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Wildflowers In The Meadow (Mt. Lemmon) — Image by kenne
Wildflower Meadow, Medawisla
Bee On Santa Catalina Prairie Clover — Image by kenne
Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly On Thistle — Images by kenne
May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on.
To bring you luck, happiness, and riches.
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
— An Irish BlessingÂ
Yellow-eyed Junco (Coronado National Forest) — Image by kenne
Yellow-eyed Juncos shuffle through the leaf litter of pine and pine-oak forests with fire in their eyes—
a bright yellow-orange gleam that instantly sets them apart from the more widespread
Dark-eyed Junco. Otherwise, they share many of the markings of the “Red-backed”
form of Dark-eyed Junco, including a gray head, two-toned bill, reddish-brown back,
and white outer tail feathers that flash when they fly. This specialty of the southwestern U.S.
also occurs in mountain forests through Mexico to Guatemala. — Source: allaboutbirds.org
Fly Amanita Mushroom — Image by kenne
Fly amanita is the most iconic toadstool species, with a white-gilled,
white-spotted, usually red mushroom, and is one of the most recognizable
and widely encountered in popular culture.
As the mushroom matures, the can becomes flatter
and recognizable in Victorian literature, including
Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
Ladybug Convention — Image by kenne
Sunset (June 12th, 2020)Â
The Bighorn Fire began June 5th in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. After burning a lot the southwest area of the front ridge,
it has now moved northeast, having burned over 7,000 acres.
Sunrise (June 13th, 2020) — Images by kenne
This morning with little or no wind, evidence of smoke appears to have gone from our viewpoint.
However, looks deceive, since containment remains a 10% and is projected to not be contained before June 25th.
— kenne
Late Wednesday, June 10th. Most of the smoke is from upper Pima Canyon, Finger Rock and Mt. Kimball.Â
Around 6:00 am Thursday, June 11th. The smoke has settled in over
the Catalina Mountains and beginning to move down into the Tucson basin.
The smell from the fire is very noticeable as I leave for my
morning walk in the neighborhood.
I’m now at the back of Tanuri Ridge as more of the smoke appears
to be leaving the mountains spreading over the Catalina Foothills.
I’m beginning to think I should have warned a facemask.
Now at the entrance of Tanuri Ridge and you can bearly make out
the mountains.
I used a Photoshop Dehaze filter on some of these images so in reality,
there was much more smoke and haze.
Tanuri Drive
As I continued my walk, the parts of the fire appeared to be
backtracking to the west.
There’s very little wind this morning, so a lot of the news smoke
coming from downdrafts through where rain would typically
flow off the mountains.
A big plum of smoke coming from the Finger Rock area.
It is now around 8:00 am.Â
It is now around 10:30 am. The fire is now about a mile west of
Pima Canyon trailhead. (Because of my distance from the
mountains, I’m making an educated guess.)
The following copy is from Haidi Chewel, with the National Forest Service.
Bighorn Fire – June 11th, 2020 Morning Update
Pima County Sheriff’s Department issues “SET” notice
Acres: 4,769 Percent Containment: 10%
Start Date: June 5th, 2020 Cause: Lightning
Origin Location: Santa Catalina Mountains
Jurisdiction: Coronado National Forest, including portions of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness
Personnel: 391
Resources: 6 hotshot crews, 3 Type 2 hand crews, 7 Type 3 engines, 1 Type 4 engine, 7 Type 6 engines, 4 Type 1 helicopters, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 2 Type 3 helicopter, 10 water tenders
The Bighorn Fire remained active overnight, with flames being pushed downhill by downslope winds. Temperatures up to 106 degrees today and continued low humidity will increase fire activity. The fire will again be highly visible on the front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Crews will work to hold the fire perimeter and continue building fire lines, tying into control features such as roads and rock outcroppings. Additional aerial resources will support the crews on the ground with water and retardant drops.
Over the next several days’ communities can expect to see crews and apparatus working in an around subdivisions in the Catalina Foothills. Members of the public are advised to drive with caution and leave roadways clear for emergency vehicles and equipment to pass.
The Bighorn Wildfire burns in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness near Oro Valley on Saturday, June 6, 2020.
The fire was caused by lightning on the evening of June 5, 2020. — Christopher Conover/AZPM
The Bighorn Wildfire grew to about 200 acres on Saturday. Officials with the Coronado National Forest said Saturday afternoon
that three hotshot crews were on scene working to contain the fire.
Tanker planes and helicopters have been dropping fire retardant and water on the fire burning less than a mile from La Reserve.
The wildfire has impacted several trails in the Catalinas: Romero Canyon; Pusch Peak; Pima Canyon; Finger Rock; Ventana Canyon.
Bighorn Wildfire smoke glows red and orange in the setting sun. — Image from his patio by kenne
Clouds Above, Mountains Below — Photo-Artistry
— kenne
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Main Entrance — Image by kenne
The Sabino Canyon Recreation Area has been closed since March 20th and will remain so till further notice.
Ed Rawl Over Looking the San Pedro Valley — Image by kenne
Edgar (Ed) Rawl passed away on April 18, 2020, after suffering a stroke. A celebration of life memorial service for Ed is planned for Saturday, May 9, 2020 (a simple ceremony in the desert was his expressed desire). We will meet in the overflow parking lot of Sabino Canyon at 6:00 am to beat the heat and walk a short distance from there. Ed’s friends are invited, and you may share your memories of him if you wish to do so. We will try to maintain social distancing and encourage everyone to wear a mask or other face covering.
“He was a soft-spoken, kind man who was always positive despite chronic health problems. He was good with the kids and a great colleague. He will be missed very much.” — Jan Labiner
“. . . a beautiful remembrance and tribute to our good friend.” —Â Phil Bentley
“Ed was a special person. I always think of him when I discuss with children why they should not get closer to the edge of a cliff (such as the dam overlook) than they are tall. Ed taught me that. His vast experience as a Park Ranger gave him the knowledge that never ceased to amaze me. RIP, my friend.” — Bill Kaufman
“Oh, I am so very sad…what a loss…he was such a special..pleasant person.” — Becky DuncanÂ
“Ed deserves this kind of tribute. Thank you!” — Dan Granger
“I remember so vividly our good friend Ed, our wonderful naturalist and hiker. It made me so sad to see our beautiful hike together….. and also glad ….. when I look at these mountains, I think Ed will be there somewhere!” — Alexa Von Bieberstein
“. . . a kind and gentle soul. Miss him greatly.” — Debbie and Jerry Bird
“. . . this special man who has been a treasure both for SCVN and all the people for whom he shared his love. I remember with special fondness the day Ed led us on our hike to Thimble Peak. I think of him and the rest of our small band every time I glimpse the peak.” — Tim Ralph
“Ed was an incredible, kind, calm, and positive person. I knew the kids were lucky when they had him for their trip. I will miss him and remember him. Coming into the canyon will always invoke his memory to me, and his spirit will exist there for me.” — Roberto Veranes
“He was a wonderful man.” — Linda Procter
“He was such a gentleman with a wonderful sense of humor. Â He rarely spoke of his medical challenges, which were progressive. Â Such an honorable man. Â He will be missed.” — Nancy Murphy
“Ed has a style with children that was gentle, but firm. His ability to balance these two paradoxical qualities is what made him an exceptional man to be around. He had health issues for some time, but for the longest time, he fought them off, so to keep hiking. He was a fighter. ‘Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.'” — Kenne Turner
“It is still difficult for me to process this, and I suspect friends and many Nats must be dealing with a terrible sense of loss and sadness. Ed was a second mentor to me when I began in Elementary Program on Thursdays. I still use his “Lizzie” device with the NYSI kit…haven’t found anything better. He was knowledgeable, patient, possessed a wonderful dry wit, and thought deeply about many things, such as international affairs, and the role of the US in them. His depth and breadth was astounding. He could be counted on to be there every week, and seldom made any mention of his health issues because, I think, he didn’t feel comfortable putting himself first.
Becoming is Superior to Being 