Ed Rawl On Wilderness Rocks Trail (June 29, 2012) — Image by kenne
On the morning of May 9, 2020 (6:00 am), we gathered with Ed’s brother, Rick, in the overflow parking lot for entrance into Sabino Canyon to celebrate Ed’s life. Ed died from a stroke on April 18, 2020. The is the third of three postings on Ed’s death:
He had requested that his ashes be spread at a location where one could see both the sunrise and sunset. Because of the pandemic, the main entrance and services in Sabino Canyon were closed, which is why the event was scheduled to begin in the Sabino Canyon overflow parking lot.
After a few words from Rick, a group of about 20 hiked a short distance to a perfect location on the Esperero Trail. Several in the group shared their experiences with and love for Ed.
This video is meant to capture the essence of the celebration without making the video too long. Like his friends, Ed loved nature. It is therefore fitting that the point his ashes were being spread, a rabbit came into the picture, sitting there watching the ceremony.
I walked the trail passing clouds cast their shadows of dark gray on the mountains. All morning I pondered
the thought of a poem I may never write of this moment missing the words like the spring wildflowers
that never bloomed,
the land is bare
birds having migrated south to Mexico.
SCVN Friday Hike on Esperero Trail (February 17, 2017) — Image by kenne
A mostly cloudy morning with sunlight breaking through over the Tucson basin as we begin our hike into the mountains heading into rattlesnake canyon, first hiking up, then down through three canyons creating a breathtaking rollercoaster hike.
Starting as on group, the pace soon divides us into three groups as hikers settle in on their own pace created by elevation changes and stopping to shed layers of clothing as the temperatures increase and the sun begins to break through deep blue cracks in the desert sky.
Members of American Senior Housing Association with SCVN Guides Dan (Dusty) Granger and Ed Rawl (November 7, 2014) — Image by kenne
Creek Crossing
Crossing Sabino Creek
Coming Down Phoneline Trail
Going Up Phoneline Link Trail
Group In Front of Visitors Center
Images by kenne (Click on any of the tiled images for larger view in a slideshow format.)
This past week executives belonging to the American Senior Housing Association (ASHA) attended a conference at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. An arrangement was made months ago for members interested in hiking in Sabino Canyon to be shuttled the short distance from the resort to the canyon. Thirty members spent approximately 2 1/2 hours hiking led by Dan Granger, Ed Rawl, and myself. We divided into three hiking groups, one a less demanding hike led by Dan and two more difficult hikes led by Ed and me. The demanding hikes were four miles, combining several trails (Esperero, Rattlesnake, Phoneline Link, Phoneline, and Bear Canyon trails) looping into the canyon with an elevation change of 600 feet. Ed’s group went counterclockwise, and my group went clockwise around the designed loop. Meanwhile, Dan took those interested in a less demanding hike on trails the lower Sabino Canyon.
ASHA provides leadership for the seniors housing industry on legislative and regulatory matters, advances research, education, and the exchange of strategic business information, and promotes the merits of seniors housing. Located in Washington, DC, the membership represents businesses in North America, and for most, this was a perfect time to be in sunny Tucson. We did our best to add to their brief time in the Sonoran Desert.
Fellow Hikers At Cardiac Gap in Esperero Canyon (January 23, 2014) — iPhone image
Yesterday, Bill Kaufman and I shared the lead hiking the Esperero Trail to “Cardiac Gap” with 22 hikers, which is a seven mile difficult hike with an elevation gain of 1200+ feet.
A couple of weeks back, Bill was dealing with some medical issues, so he asked me to take his place as the lead. By the time of the hike, Bill was better, so we agreed he would lead about 2/3’s of the way, leaving the last third of switchbacks up to Cardiac Gap. Although the temperature was in the 50’s the humidity was higher than normal for the desert. After you climb to the gap, I was sweating — note the drop of sweat on the end of my nose in the above picture.
The view from Cardiac Gap, even on a cloudy day, always makes the climb worth it, where you look down through the deep Esperero Canyon, with Tucson in the distance. The view is framed by a grassy area around the upper edge of the canyon, called Geronimo Meadows.
Each time I have hiked the Esperero Trail to the gap, I have talked about going on for an additional 2.5+ miles and up another 1,500 feet to Bridal Veil Falls, but so far it has only been talk.
Even more challenging would be to take on another three miles, the most difficult part of the Esperero trail, up to the summit, Cathedral Rock. I’m told that this part of the trail is in very poor conditions and would involve some bush wacking. The out and back hike would be over 16 miles with an elevation change of 6,000 — now I have to find someone willing to hike it with me.
When I’m in New Orleans, I love to have chicory and coffee at Cafe Du Monde. But here in the Sonoran Desert, I love my chicory desert type — Desert Chicory. These beautiful desert flowers were captured along the Esperero Trail in Esperero Canyon on the 24th of February.
Show me a piece of land that God forgot— a strip between an unused sidewalk, say, and a bulldozed lot, rich in broken glass— and there, July on, will be chicory,
its leggy hollow stems staggering skyward, its leaves rough-hairy and lanceolate, like pointed shoes too cheap for elves to wear, its button-blooms the tenderest mauve-blue.
How good of it to risk the roadside fumes, the oil-soaked heat reflected from asphalt, and wretched earth dun-colored like cement, too packed for any other seed to probe.
It sends a deep taproot (delicious, boiled), is relished by all livestock, lends its leaves to salads and cooked greens, but will not thrive in cultivated soil: it must be free.
Ed Rawl On Wilderness Rocks Trail (June 29, 2012) — Image by kenne
Esperero Trail In Sabino Canyon — Panorama by kenne
Esperero Trail In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Sabino Canyon Esperero Trail — Panorama by kenne
SCVN Friday Hike on Esperero Trail (February 17, 2017) — Image by kenne
Cairn (on the right) On Trail To Cardiac Gap — Image by kenne
Members of American Senior Housing Association with SCVN Guides Dan (Dusty) Granger and Ed Rawl (November 7, 2014) — Image by kenne
View from Above Esperero Canyon In The Santa Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
Fellow Hikers At Cardiac Gap in Esperero Canyon (January 23, 2014) — iPhone image
Cardiac Canyon (January 13, 2012) Image by kenne
