Mountain Marigold, Madera Canyon (October 27,2014) — Image by kenne
Mountain Marigold
Competing with fall colors,
All winners here.
— kenne
Archive for the ‘Santa Rita Mountains’ Tag
Capturing The Moment — Mountain Marigold 1 comment
Morning Clouds Moving On, Madera Canyon 4 comments
Morning Clouds Moving On, Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains — Images by kenne
An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
— Henry David Thoreau
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The Desert Spiny Lizard’s Cousin 3 comments
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard
Mountain Spiny Lizard at Roger’s Rock In Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains — Images by kenne
(Click on any of the images for larger view in a slideshow format.)
For those of us who live near the Santa Catalina Mountains, Madera Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains is about an hour and twenty minutes drive. There are a lot of reasons to love the canyon, rated the third best birding destination in the United States. Yesterday, the Monday Morning Milers hiked one of the canyon’s many trails to Roger’s Rock where I have captured many vista photographs in the past and did the same yesterday. One of the things that made this hike different from past hikes was seeing the mountain spiny lizard captured in this posting. The colors of this guy were very prominent, sunning in the 6,500 feet elevation cool mountain air. I have learned that every hike, even on the same trail, has something new and impressive to see.
— kenne
You’ve got to get out
and pray to the sky
to appreciate the sunshine;
otherwise you’re
just a lizard
standing there
with the sun shining on you.
— Ken Kesey
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Appalachian Mountain Club Hike Mt Wrightson In Madera Canyon Leave a comment
Mt Wrightson Trailhead Parking Lot
Old Baldy Trail
Old Baldy Trail
Old Baldy Trail
Josephine Saddle
Vista
Vista
Vista
Old Baldy Trail
Old Baldy
Mt Hopkins Observatory
Old Baldy
Old Baldy Trail
Old Baldy Trail
Old Baldy
Old Baldy Trail
Vista
Appalachian Mountain Club Hike Mt Wrightson In Madera Canyon — Images by kenne
(Click on any of the images to see larger view in slideshow format.)
This hike by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) was their last in the Tucson area. We are pleased to have been able to hike with them and share our (SCVN) knowledge and experience of hiking the trails of southern Arizona.
This is the last in a series of postings on the AMC visit to the Sonoran Desert, so let’s remember for a moment . . .
Let’s remember for a moment,
the trail head gatherings,
the greetings, the smiles,
the joy of another hike.
Let’s remember for a moment,
the steep climbs, the switchbacks,
the majestic views at the top,
the masterful returns.
Let’s remember for a moment,
the trail fellowship,
sharing who we are
and common interests.
Let’s remember for a moment,
the pools near mountain trails,
resting tired feet in the cold water,
watching others jump in.
Let’s remember the moment,
the hike alone ridges of granite
and the juxtapositions of water-loving
and drought-tolerating plants.
Let’s remember for a moment,
the rich biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert
which the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
illustrates through its ecological theater.
Let’s remember for a moment,
the images captured by
our mind’s eye,
lasting images to share.
Let’s remember for a moment,
that which we have added
to life’s experiences forming
a better understanding of self.
Let’s remember for a moment,
the desire, the drive to see
what lies just over the next ridge,
on the other side of the mountain.
Let’s remember for a moment,
lots of mountains, few streams —
all dry this time of year, and my
turning back at the base of Old Baldy.
Let’s remember for a moment,
my friends from New England,
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome,
dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” *
— kenne
* Edward Abbey
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Capturing The Moment — New Mexico Groundsel 2 comments
New Mexico Groundsel — Left Image In The Santa Rita Mountains, Right Image In The Santa Catalina Mountains At About 5,000 ft Elevation, April, 2014
Showy spring flowers
Found in the desert mountains
No spring rains needed.
— kenne
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We Scar The Things We Love 2 comments
A Panorama View Down Through Madera Canyon In The Santa Rita Mountains South of Tucson, Arizona.
(Note the light color of mining tailings surrounding ponded water.)
— Image by kenne
We Scar The Things We Love
There is always something worth trekking
in the Sonoran Desert.
Sometimes, the treks start early in the morning,
driving across the Tucson basin over
occasional low water crossings and cattle guards
on narrow roads, stopping for big yellow buses.
A canyon road leads out of Green Valley,
a quiet, peaceful community
along the banks of the Santa Cruz River
covered with oaks and walnut trees
and a rich history with the Tumacacori Mission
to the south and San Xavier del Bac to the north.
Crossing one-lane bridges through a grassland bajada,
the road climbs toward Madera Canyon
nestled between Mt. Wrightson and Mt. Hopkins
on the eastern slope of the Santa Rita Mountains,
forming one of the Sonoran desert’s Sky Islands,
an oasis above this bowl-shaped canyon.
Although some are called “Friends of Madera Canyon”
all visitors, be they hikers, birders, walkers,
or just those relaxing at one of the beautiful vistas
share a love of nature and being outdoors,
forming a friendship that helps bond
memoirs of a shared love.
“All the while, jumbled memories flirt out on their own,”
intruding on nature’s beautiful vistas
where a river once ran through, now shadowed
by a high wall of tailings surrounding a pond,
altering nature’s beautiful vistas above the canyon,
producing lasting scars on the sky above and the earth below.
— kenneShare this:
Capturing The Moment — Horned Lizard 4 comments
Horned Lizard (Horny Toad) In Madera Canyon (April 11, 2014) — Images by kenne
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Sabino Canyon — Panorama View From Above Rattlesnake Creek Leave a comment
Sabino Canyon – View from Above Rattlesnake Creek — Image by kenne
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May The Spirit Of The Hiking Stick Be With You Always. 7 comments
Monday Morning Milers Celebrate Don Fletcher’s (center) 89th Birthday — Images by kenne
In the spring of 2011, I began hiking with a group called the Monday Morning Milers (MMM). I first learned about the MMM from my neighbor, Louise Glaysher, who invited me to hike with the group. After my first hike with MMM, I wrote in a blog posting on April 13, 2011: “One of the things we love about living in Tucson is if you tire of the desert, within less than an hour, you can be in the tree-line mountains. Madera Canyon, located about 65 km (40 mi) southeast of Tucson, Arizona, makes a large dent in the northwest face of the Santa Rita Mountains.”
Images by kenne
The mountains surrounding Tucson provide many hiking trails for people who love the outdoors. Most in the MMM have been hiking together for many years and know well most trails in southern Arizona — they love hiking so much that some of the guys, now in their eighties, also hike on Fridays. The elder of the MMM is Don Fletcher, who had his 89th birthday this past Sunday, so after this Monday’s hike on the Palisades Trail in the Santa Catalina mountains, we had a surprise potluck luncheon at Middle Bear picnic area. Keeping this a surprise was not easy since Don and some other guys often have lunch at Viv’s Cafe at the base of Catalina highway after hiking in the Catalinas.
Don and the other octogenarians in the MMM set an admirable example to anyone who loves the outdoors and hiking. To see Don and the other octogenarians hiking, albeit at their pace, most with walking sticks, not the more modern hiking poles, sets an example I hope to be doing in my 80s. I’m already looking forward to posting our celebrating his 90th after a Monday morning hike on this blog.
Although only 15 of the MMM could make Monday’s birthday celebration, birthday wishes were passed on from those unable to attend.
The mountains surrounding Tucson provide many hiking trails for people who love the outdoors. Most in the MMM have been hiking together for many years and know well most trails in southern Arizona — they love hiking so much that some of the guys, now in their eighties, also hike on Friday’s. The elder of the MMM is Don Fletcher, who had his 89th birthday this past Sunday, so after this Monday’s hike on the Palisades Trail in the Santa Catalina mountains we had a surprise potluck luncheon at Middle Bear picnic area. Keeping this a surprise was not easy, since Don and some of the other guys often have lunch at Viv’s Cafe at the base of Catalina highway after hiking in the Catalinas.
Don and the other octogenarians in the MMM set an admirable example to anyone who loves the outdoors and hiking. To see Don and the other octogenarians hiking, albeit at their pace, most with walking sticks not the more modern hiking poles, sets an example I hope to be doing in my 80’s. I’m already looking forward to posting on this blog our celebrating his 90th after a Monday morning hike.
Although only 15 of the MMM were able to make Monday’s birthday celebration, birthday wishes were passed on from those not able to attend.
kenne
May the spirit of the hiking stick be with you always, Don.
Related articles
- Hiking The Aspen Draw, Mt. Lemmon Trail And The Meadow Trail (kenneturner.com)
- Hiking To Higher Elevations Above Rose Canyon Lake (kenneturner.com)
- The Sky Above, The Earth Below – An Abundance Of Beauty Between (kenneturner.com)
- Hiking To Rose Canyon Lake In The Santa Catalina Mountains (bell-book-candle.com)
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“Alone Looking At The Mountain” — Li Po Leave a comment
“Only The Mountain And I” — Image by kenne
Alone Looking At The Mountain
All the birds have flown up and gone;
A lonely cloud floats leisurely by.
We never tire of looking at each other –
Only the mountain and I.
— Li Po
Related articles
- A Mountain Bouquet (kenneturner.com)
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Capturing The Moment — Madera Canyon 2 comments
Madera Canyon on the northwestern face of the Santa Rita Mountains in the Coronado National Forest — Image by kenne
Treat the earth well,
It was not given to you by your parents,
It was loaned to you by your children.
Indian Proverb
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Surrounded By Mountains Leave a comment
In The Tucson Mountains Looking Toward The Santa Rida Mountains. — Image by kenne
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Arizona HWY 83 — A Scenic Drive In Southern Arizona 3 comments
Hiking To Barnum Rock In The Santa Catalina Mountains and Meeting Tristan from Whitehorse 13 comments
View of Tucson and the Santa Rita Mountains in the distance. — Images by kenne
The SCVN fall hiking schedule began last Friday (October 5th) at the lower Butterfly trailhead, with our destination, Barnum Rock. As you will see from the photos, it was a beautiful day to be hiking in the Santa Catalina Mountains. There will be two more hikes at the higher elevations (Bug Springs on the 12th and Guthrie Peak on the 19th) with the remaining fall hikes taking place at Sabino Canyon and other desert locations.
Tristan, from Whitehorse, Yukon
Before beginning our hike at the trailhead, we met a young man, Tristan, from Whitehorse, Yukon. Working only with his name, where he was from, where he had been and where he was going, I began an Internet search. I found a blogger, Gypsy by Trade — Ridin’ Bikes and Travelin’ Light, that sounds a lot like Tristan. He writes: “In Whitehorse, I met Tristan at the Icycle Sports bicycle shop. Nearly a small warehouse, the shop is well stocked and rents space to a coffee roaster that operates a small coffee bar. Bikes and espresso– just about perfect. Tristan will be in Banff around August 1 to ride the Divide, and beyond. He shared a sampling of local Whitehorse singletrack with me, including the famed Yukon River Trail on a sandy embankment above the river.”
Next, I was able to find a reference to a Tristan Geisel in Explore Mag.com — “During the summer we can go out for two rides after work, because it barely gets dark,” says bike mechanic Tristan Geisel.” With a full name, I went to Facebook — every young person has a Facebook account, right? Of course! Tristan is on Facebook, so I sent him a message. I would love to get a message back at some point in the future, but we will see.
All of us have a Tristan in us, so you can’t help but admire this young man. I can’t help but think about his travels everyday — wonder where he is today?
Ride on Tristan, ride on!
kenne
Post Note: I left out one important detail — Tristan started his six month venture in July, traveling from Whitehorse and was on the return leg following the Arizona Trail, hitting all the states north to the Canadian border. Sorry about that! Now you know why I have impressed!
(Click on any of the gallery photos for a larger view.)
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Hiking Aspen Loop From Marshall Gulch On Mount Lemmon 5 comments
It’s the time of year when the Monday hiking group take to the higher elevations — this Monday (Memorial Day) was the Aspen Loop out of Marshall Gulch picnic area on Mount Lemmon. There were eleven of us, Jim leading five in the loop’s clockwise direction and Edi leading the other six in counter-clockwise direction .
The normal snow and rain fall this past winter was below normal, so the trail was very dusty, even in this young aspen grove.
There were very few wildflowers to photograph — this American vetch was an exception.
Jim discussed with us our interest in leaving the trail to bushwack up to Marshall Peak — “Why not?” was our reply.
Parts of the area were destroyed by the Aspen Fire, which burned for about one month in June and July of 2003. Now some nine years later, many of the large trees have begun to fall with fast growing ground cover, such as New Mexico Locust and Aspen taking over much of the once shady area.
In some places the thorny New Mexico Locust had to be cut so we could reach the top of Marshall Peak.
Once reaching the top, Jim found the registry and recorded our names. It was also a time for some equipment repair.
This was one of the views looking toward the Tucson basin area with the Rincon Mountains to the east and the Santa Rita Mountains to the south.
Leaving the top, we bushwacked a more direct route back to the Aspen Loop.
Although shorter, the route was steeper with a lot of fallen dead logs and plenty of thorn-covered brushes. When I took this photo, I didn’t realize I was photographing where I would fall after stepping into a hole between two logs.
At this point, we are not far from the Aspen Loop trail, which can be seen to the left in this photo. With the other half of our Monday hiking group having just passed along the trail, we decided to follow them back to Marshall Gulch.
Finally, we are back on the loop trail.
Marshall Gulch is a popular place this time of year, even more so on this Memorial Day weekend.
The New Mexico Locust are coming into bloom on the mountain.
Jim stops to rest in a chair cut from one of the large logs along the trail.
Back at Marshall Gulch, my bandaged right wist and bloody legs are evidence of my fall (while protecting my Nikon) going down from Marshall Peak.
kenne
Images by kenne
The above images capture the rolling hills of grasslands, through which trees provide a deeper contour for the splendid mountain backdrop of the Whetstone and Huachuca Mountains to the east and the Santa Rita peaks to the west, which depict the area along Arizona HWY 83, sometimes called the “Mountain Empire.” This scenic drive is one of the National Geographic’s, Drives of a Lifetime: 500 of The World’s Most Spectacular Trips — “Road Trip: The New Old West, Arizona.”
The area is also home of the Rosemont Copper Project, where Augusta Resource Corp., a Canadian investment company plans to dig a giant copper pit. Although the basic character of the land would be changed forever, leaving a huge open-pit that would remain after the mine’s closure, the major issue of this Arizona Ecocide proposal is water. While the natural flow of water is downhill, it will always flow uphill towards money!
kenne
Related Links:
http://kenneturner.com/2012/10/23/disappearing-water-an-anecdotal-poem/
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/new-old-west-arizona-road-trip/
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/stop-this-mine/Content?oid=3243987
http://freshwatersocietyblog.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/studies-predict-water-shortfall-in-southwest/
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/2012/03/26/are-we-doomed-to-wage-wars-over-water/
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