Wild Rasberry On Mt. Lemmon (07/18/14) — Image by kenne
Those who love spending our summers hiking on Mt. Lemmon are saddened by the continued burning
of the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
As I write this post, the Pima County Sheriff has told residents and businesses
to evacuate the Mt. Lemmon, Summerheaven, and Mt. Bigalow areas.
The Catalina Hwy has been close to non-residents and businesses for several days now.
— kenne
At first glance, this may look like a volcano erupting.
But, it’s the Bighorn Wildfire now having worked it’s way
into Pima Canyon and the Finger Rock area of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness (June 10, 2020).
The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists lead hikes twice a year on the Pima Canyon Trail to a natural dam (6 miles round trip).
— — Images by kenne
Sycamore Reservoir Under Construction (1939) — Source Unknown
(Note: Thimble Peak In The Distance Through The Pass)
Sycamore Reservoir was originally constructed to supply water to the Catalina Federal Honor Camp, or Tucson Federal Prison Camp, located in the Santa Catalina Mountains. The camp held men subject to the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. It had no security fence, boundaries were marked with stones painted white. 45 of the 46 prisoners were draft resisters and objectors of conscience transferred from camps in Colorado, Arizona and Utah, although Gordon Hirabayashi, who had challenged the exclusion of Japanese Americans from the West Coast, was also held here.
This small lake has been made even smaller by flash floods which have washed huge amounts of rock and sand into the lake. Still, the reservoir and surrounding area remain a pleasant destination for a day or overnight trip.
The trail to where the dam is located. (October 2012)
Sycamore Dam (October 2012)
Above Sycamore Dam (October 2012) — Images by kenne
Hiking In The Age Of Social Distancing — Image by kenne
I Am Much Too Alone in This World, Yet Not Alone
— Rainer Maria Rilke
On The Tail To Thimble Peak — Image by kenne
— kenne
Hiker On The Phoneline Trail (December in Sabino Canyon) — Image by kenne
The Trail To the Top of Wasson Peak — Panorama by kenne
Wasson Peak is the highest point (4,687 ft) in the Tucson Mountains east of Tucson.
Located in Saguaro National Park-West, it is a popular hiking destination reachable by several trails.
— kenne
A Morning Hike In Saguaro National Park Hike-East (01/03/20)– Image by kenne
— kenne
Pondering the Hiking Moments On the Trail — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Pondering the Hiking Moments
— kenne
* Edward Abbey
Hiking Ventana Canyon — December 13, 2019 — Photo-Essay by Kenne
Ventana Canyon is one of several narrow canyons in the southern front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona. This hike is usually scheduled each fall and spring by the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists, which involves crossing water over a dozen times.
— kenne
After a day of rain in the Tucson basin and snow on Mt. Lemmon, Tom, John, Jim and I
hiked the Wildhorse Trail in the Saguaro National Park-East.
Click Here To See More Wildhorse Trail Images by kenne
— Gary Snyder
The SCVN Friday Nature Hike was Aspen Trail, Marshall Gulch Trail loop,
which would provide an opportunity to see the beautiful fall colors on Mt. Lemmon.
The Aspen Trail has a grove of aspens, which I blogged in a previous posting.
After hiking through the aspen grove, I began to get out in front of the nature hikers.
With less fall color on the remaining part of the Aspen Trail I decided to pick-up my pace.
I knew from past experience there would be plenty of fall color on the Marshall Gulch Trail.
I was aware that my buddies, Jim Thompson and Tom Markey, were hiking the trail;
hence, I might be able to catch up with them.
I first began hiking with Jim and Tom nine years ago. They were part of the Monday Morning Milers (MMM),
the first hiking group with which I started hiking.
Most of the MMM were lifetime hikers in southeast Arizona, many of whom were in their 80’s.
Jim recently celebrated his 90th birthday.
While Tom is a youngster like me, he’s 79.
Images by kenne
It seems, as one becomes older,
That the past has another pattern,
And ceases to be a mere sequence —
Or even development: the latter a partial fallacy
Encouraged by superficial notions of evolution,
Which becomes, in the popular mind,
A means of disowning the past.
The moments of happiness — not the sense of well-being,
Fruition, fulfillment, security or affection,
Or even a very good dinner, but the sudden illumination —
We had the experience but missed the meaning,
And approach to the meaning restores the experience
In a different form, beyond any meaning
We can assign to happiness.
— from “Four Quartets” by T. S. Eliot
