In addition to the regular Friday Hikes,
the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) also offer a Friday Nature Hike.
I usually help guide the regular SCVN Friday Hikes; however, last Friday,
I decided to do the Box Camp Trail with David Dean, as our nature guide.
Naturalist David Dean’s Mixed Conifer Forest Display Board
David Dean On Box Camp Trail
David Dean On Box Camp Trail
David Dean On Box Camp Trail Nature Hike
— Images by kenne
The last Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist (SCVN) Lizard took place on October 12th.
It was a perfect fall morning for a lizard walk. However,
some lizards may have not agreed since the number of sightings were low.
Still, it was a beautiful morning for a nature walk.
Naturalists Tom Skinner and Fred Heath welcome the walkers in front of the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center.
Everyone gathers near lizard spotter off the trail,
a common side-blotched lizard.
Naturalists Bill and Lousie Kaufman share information on the common side-bloched lizard.
— Images by kenne
In the parched path I have seen the good lizard (one drop of crocodile) meditating. With his green frock-coat of an abbot of the devil, his correct bearing and his stiff collar, he has the sad air of an old professor. Those faded eyes of a broken artist, how they watch the afternoon in dismay! -- from "The Old Lizard" by Federic Garcia Lorca
Jim and B.J. Martin, May 7, 2018 , were honored by achieving Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist (SCVN) Emeritus Status.
— Image by kenne
I went to another funeral today, something I began doing at an early age while living with my grandparents. Old people’s friends die. Back then I didn’t always know the people and spent my time running around the graveyard across the road from the church with other children, in a small northeast Alabama rural town.
It’s different today being one of the old people whose friends are dying. When I became an SCVN member in 2011, Jim Martin had been an active member for 23 years, teaching elementary school children about nature and conservation, leading and participating in SCVN hikes, and serving a treasurer, VP, and President of SCVN. I first met Jim on one of the SCVN Friday Hikes. He was an 82-year-old active hiker, a quiet, pleasant guy to be around — always smiling!
Jim pasted away at the age of 90, July 16, 2019.
— kenne
Tim, our lead Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist guide went over the safety rules for the day’s hike.
A short distance into hiking the Box Camp Trail, we stop to take in one of the many views.
The trail leads us through ferns and tall pines.
This section of the trail is a rolling downhill path continuing through the tall trees.
As the trail continues down the mountainside the pine forest opens to a thick oak growth.
The trail becomes steeper and difficult to follow through the thick overgrowth.
Looking down over the oak overgrowth you can see Sabino Canyon and Thimble Peak.
The Box Canyon Trail leads down to East Fork Trail, which runs into Sabino Canyon Trail.
However, this rock lookout is where we had planned to rest
and have a sneak before starting the hike 2.5
miles back up the mountain, which has an elevation change of 1,200 feet.
Before starting back we realized our tail-guide, Jeff, was not with us.
Long story short, he had taken a wrong turn in the area where the trail had a lot of over growth.
We started back using the radios to communicate with Jeff, which were spotty at best.
Even though having hiked the trail many times, the climb back to the trailhead was a real challenge.
I had to really slow my pace with only Sharon behind me
having taken over for the trail-guide task for Jeff.
We soon caught up with the lead group, only because Tim,
our lead-guide was also having some issues,
so Ellen took over as lead. After resting and with the help of GU energy gel
Tim and I were able to continue on.
(The fact that we happen to be the two oldest hikers on the hike had nothing to do with our struggles.)
Meanwhile, we continued trying to locate Jeff. Before returning back to the trailhead,
with radio contact we were able to determine that Jeff was somewhere back on the trail and okay.
Back at the trailhead we kept waiting and he finally showed up as pictured above.
To say the least, the circumstances made for a very interesting hike. — Images by kenne
Panning for Garnets in Sabino Creek — Image by kenne
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder . . .
he [or she] needs the companionship of at least one adult
who can share it, rediscovering the joy, excitement, and
mystery of the world we live in.”
— Rachel Carson
Bruce Garrett with His Talking Stick, Standing On A Gneiss Rock — Image by kenne
Most of this decade SCVN member Bruce Garrett led a geology walk, called “Gneiss Walk” in the Sabino Canyon Recreational Area. It has been a very popular walk, not only because he was very knowledgeable but because he was very entertaining. He loved talking to people.
Bruce will be dearly missed by all who had an opportunity to walk with him in Sabino Canyon and learn about the geology of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
— kenne
Kenne, Bryna, and Bruce in Sabino Canyon
A couple of weeks ago some of us did our annual King Canyon trail hike to observe the wildflowers, which in the past was part of our hike on up to Wasson Peak. However, this year the plan was not to go all the way to the Peak. I hate to admit it, but time is beginning to catch up with us. So, the best I can do is to revisit a posting from six years ago. My days of cheating time might be running out.
— kenne
Kings Canyon Trail — Images by kenne
Wildflower Slideshow by kenne
Panorama of Wasson Peak Near The Top
SCVN guided hike to Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon trail, which is about a seven mile (roundtrip) hike and elevation gain of 1,900 ft.
Some of our hikers made only the Kings Canyon trail to the first saddle since we were experiencing unusually warm record-setting temperatures (the mid-90’s).
