A view of the Tucson basin from near Windy Point Vista with thimble peak in the center-right. — Image by kenne
— from The Explorer by Rudyard Kipling
Thimble Peak View Over The Tucson Basin — Image by kenne
— – John Ruskin
A Grassy Meadow Known as Thimble Flat (Thimble Peak On the Left) — Image by kenne
Thimble Flat
We gathered early one November morning,
now we were going to turn words into action
by hiking six miles to climb Thimble Peak.
Starting at the Gordon Hirabayashi Campground,
we hiked the Sycamore Canyon trail to the
Bear Canyon trail, then leaving the trail at a flat
grassy meadow called Thimble Flat to traverse
around a deep gulley, making our way through rocks
and brush to the base of Thimble Peak, where we paused
to determine the best way to climb this pinnacle on a
mountain ridge, overlooking Tucson known as Thimble Peak.
— kenne
Lower Box Camp Trail in the Santa Catalina Mountains (09/06/19)– Image by kenne
When hiking the Box Camp Trail, the top part of the trail is in the Pine Forest biome,
where the dominant plants are AZ Pine, SW White Pine, Ponderosa Pine, and
occasional Douglas-Fir. This image shows a view of the Tucson basin and the
Santa Rita Mountain to the south, where the Oak Woodland biome takes over (5,000′ – 6,000′).
— kenne
Thimble Peak As Viewed From Catalina Highway — by Alexa Von Bieberstein
(Alexa is Leaving Today To return To Germany. Looking Forward To Your Return Next Fall.)
On The Tail To Thimble Peak — Image by kenne
— kenne
Thimble Peak In The Santa Catalina Mountains — Photo-Artistry by kenne
— kenne
Sycamore Canyon Panorama — Image by kenne
Sycamore Canyon Trail — Computer Painting by kenne
Yesterday’s (April 28, 2017) hike from the Gordon Hirabayashi Campgrounds (4,880′ elevation) to the Sycamore Reservoir was the last SCVN Friday hike on our Spring schedule. Eleven people, including three guides, took #39 trail out of the campgrounds to the Sycamore Reservoir, a somewhat out of the way riparian area in the Sycamore Canyon in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. The trail is 3.25 miles one way with an accumulated gain of 821 feet. The trail is also a segment of the Arizona Trail, providing majestic views, including Thimble Pear and Cathedral Rock.
This is one of my favorite hikes at the mid-level elevation of the Santa Catalina Mountains, so I was pleased to be the lead guide for the eleven hikers, which included three women from Germany.
The SCVN guided hikes will start again in June on Mt. Lemmon.
kenne
Sabino Canyon Picnic Site with View of Thimble Peak (February 2017) — Image by kenne
Thimble Peak (Elevation 5,323 ft.) is a landmark in the Santa Catalina Mountains on the ridge that divides Sabino Canyon and Bear Canyon.
— kenne
Thimble Peak — Computer Painting by kenne
— Paul Klee
View from the Green Mountain Trail with Thimble Peak & the Tucson Basin in the Background.
— Adapted from “Poem of October” by Dylan Thomas
“Beveled Heaven” (Thimble Peak View from behind Palo Verde Blossoms in Sabino Canyon))
— Image by Kenne
— kenne
Alexa Von Bieberstein (December 17, 2014) — Images by kenne
Alexa Von Bieberstein has been a Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist since 2007, and I have had the pleasure of working with her since 2011 in the SCVN elementary school program on Thursdays. Last Thursday, we said goodbye to Alexa since she will be returning to Germany, although she and her husband will be keeping their home here in Tucson. As a “going away” gift, the Thursday group of naturalists gave her a print of Phil Bentley’s photo of Sabino Canyon with snow on the mountains. Although Alexa loves the Sonoran Desert, she also loves snow.
Phil and Alexa with Thimble Peak backdrop
Alexa is also an enthusiastic hiker. A little over a year ago, we hike to Thimble Peak, high above Sabino Canyon. Here Phil is taking her picture with Thimble Peak in the background.
On the Arizona Trail
In addition to Alexa, Phil, and I, Ed Rawl and Tim Ralph, completed the group hiking to Thimble peak. (Click here to see my posting on the Thimble Peak hike.) We will all miss her cheerful smile and look forward to seeing her again soon. Knowing Alexa has helped keep my thimble full.
A Thimble Full Of Life
All one needs
in life is
a thimble full of
this and that
to experience life.
We determine
what makes up
THIS,
what makes up
THAT.
Do you have a thimble full?
– kenne
Alexa Goodbyes
Sabino Canyon with Fog in the Valley and Snow on Mt. Lemmon (12/12/07) —
This image by naturalist Phil Bentley captures the essence of Walt Whitman’s poem,”Kosmos”.
Sabino Canyon – View from Above Rattlesnake Creek — Image by kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 