Jim and John Walking to the Broadway Trailhead In Saguaro National Park. — Images by kenne
Yesterday morning and this morning, it’s been cool enough to consider hiking in the desert. So, when Tom called yesterday and asked me to go hiking, I felt a rush of energy pinned up since the spring. Normally the hot desert days drive us up to Mt. Lemmon to hit the mountain trails. However, this summer, the trails have been closed because of the Big Horn Fire. So, this morning Jim, John, Tom, and I met at the usual meeting place outside the Bear Canyon branch of the Pima County Library to mask-up and carpool to one of the many park trailheads.
Here in Tucson, we are not currently experiencing the orange sky the forest fires have created in California. But, we have a haze covered sky coming from the many fires in the western states, making it easy to look directly at the sun.
Signs of our prolonged drought are everywhere. Even normally, drought-resistant plants are struggling.
We spent about 2 1/2 hours hiking various trails and washes in the Park. My friends have been hiking these trails much longer than I, and if you are wondering, I’m the youngest of us.
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.
Smoke from the Oak Forest Fire Framed by a Tree Burned Ten Years Ago in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
The Oak Fire Northeast of the San Pedro Valley as Seen from Oracle Ridge Trail in the Santa Catalina Mountains,
the Smaller of Two Forest Fires Currently Burning in Arizona. A larger wildfire, the San Juan Fire
is Burning near the White Mountains Town of Vernon.
— Images by kenne
View from Tucson Mountains toward downtown Tucson and the Catalina Mountains– Image by kenne
The Coronado National Forest, which includes the Santa Catalina Mountains, is closed because of the extremely dry conditions in southern Arizona. These conditions have led to several wildfires south of Tucson, smoke from which had settled over Tucson as shown in this early morning photo taken from the Tucson Mountains west of Tucson.
The SCVN Friday Hikes began this past Friday (June 7th) with a short hike up to the old ski run. 
As the hikers gathered at the base of the ski run they noticed smoke coming from a camp fire on up the ski slop. 
After getting the fire under control, Ricky continued her narration on the old ski run,
Images by kenne
Monument to a Forest Fire (2002 Bullock Fire, Santa Catalina Mountains)– Image by kenne
Smoke from the Oak Forest Fire Framed by a Tree Burned Ten Years Ago in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
The Oak Fire Northeast of the San Pedro Valley as Seen from Oracle Ridge Trail in the Santa Catalina Mountains,
Forest Thinning On Mount Lemmon — Images by kenne
“The Southwest Is Burning” — Image by kenne
The Southwest Is Burning
Natures Beauty Lost In Time
Dry Eyes Become Glassy
kenne
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