“Teddy Bears On The Rocks” — Teddy Bear Chloë Cactus in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
I always try to have a camera with me, especially when I’m in Sabino Canyon. You never know what you might run across.
Sometime I try to help make things happen, without “chasing after the wind.” The other day I set out to find some deer and lucked out. This video is a series of still images I was able to capture with a “turner” narrative.
Panoramic view with Sabino Canyon on the left, Blackett’s Ridge end of trail in the middle, Bear Canyon on the right. Image by kenne
“What a great idea,” I thought when one of the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) asked if any of the trainees were interested in hiking Blackett’s Ridge late Tuesday afternoon to see the sunset as the full moon begins its rise. Not only would there be great photo opts, but there would also be the experience of hiking down the ridge in the light of the full moon. “Cool!”
On the short drive home after the SCVN training, I thought more about hiking in the light of a full moon. However, I wasn’t sure about the time of the hike nor the name of the naturalist who made the announcement. However, I did recall hearing something about “3:30 pm.”
So, at 3:30 pm the next day, I was at the Sabino Canyon Center. After waiting for a few minutes and not seeing anyone I recognized, I decided to head out — I may have missed the “moonlight” hikers, or if they were leaving later, I could wait for them at the trail end.
Stopping several times along the way to take photos and video, I still completed the upward leg in one hour and thirty-seven minutes, which was faster than when hiking with others, making my arrival sooner than expected. Besides being a warmer than average Tucson day in October, the hiking conditions were excellent in a cloudless sky. Even so, I didn’t pass anyone going up or coming down as I hiked the ridge.
Once reaching the end of the trail, it was clear I was all alone. Still, I had hoped others would be coming up soon, having already concluded I had left about thirty minutes too early — so I waited.
After being at the trail end for thirty minutes, I decided to start the hike down the ridge; even though I would not get sunset photos at the trail’s end, I could still get them on the way down.
I was only a few minutes down the trail when I saw the naturalist who had suggested the moonlight hike. (I now know his name is Phil.) He was alone and on his cellphone — we shared howdy’s as I passed him, continuing down the ridge. I was surprised that no one was with him, even more so having now experienced the moonlight hike — maybe next time!
After stopping to get sunset and full moon shots, I continued down the ridge, now by moonlight.
I always try to be cautious when hiking, especially when alone. The only movement around me was my shadow from the moonlight.
Hiking in the light of the moon is a real adventure — I loved it. However, I must admit that hiking all along at night, and knowing that mountain lions are generally nocturnal, was a little disconcerting. I could almost feel eyes watching me!
About an hour from the center, I called Joy to tell her I should be home a little after seven. Having previously told her I would be hiking with others, I told her I had hiked Blackett’s Ridge alone. Then, of course, I got a real ass-chewing — better on the phone than later.
Wait, there is more to this story.
The following day I was in Sabino Canyon observing one of the SCVN classes for elementary school kids in the riparian area. After the class, I began the walk back to the center parking lot with some fellow SCVN trainees. As we walked, I shared my Blackett’s Ridge moonlight story. Then, of course, there were questions about the moonlight hike’s difficulty, to which I said my only concern was for mountains lions.
“Mountain lions,” said one of my fellow trainees, “I have a story for you about mountains and Blackett’s Ridge!”
It so happens that his wife is a guide at Canyon Ranch Resort. A while back, she was leading a group on Blackett’s Ridge when they came upon a mother mountain lion with two cubs feeding on a recent kill. They promptly stopped and slowly moved back down the trail. As they proceeded down the ridge, they met a young woman and told her about the lion and cubs near the trail, suggesting she turn around. However, she wanted to see the lion and her cubs, so they warned her, whatever she did, not to run from the mountain lion.
The young woman proceeded up the trail — moments later, she was screaming and running back down the trail with the mountain lion coming after her. Obviously, she had not followed their advice about running from the mountain lion. So the group began making all kinds of noise and waving jackets to cause the lion to stop, which she did. After slowing her chase, the mountain lion watched for a moment, then returned to her cubs.
There was a part of me thinking, “I didn’t need to hear that story!”
“I do not accept any absolute formulas for living. No preconceived code can see ahead to everything that can happen in a man’s life. As we live, we grow and our beliefs change. They must change. So I think we should live with this constant discovery. We should be open to this adventure in heightened awareness of living. We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore and experience.” — Martin Buber
In the first Tanuri Ridge newsletter (Spring),
I wrote of taking walks by the Tanque Verde Wash, located south of Tanuri Ridge,
and shared some photos of artwork along the trails.
David Berg Relaxing In Berg Canyon
It was back in late July, early August of last year
that I discovered the Tanuri Ridge trail art, and posted an entry on my blog titled, “Art is Where You Find It,” in which I wrote:
Before reaching the river, I noticed several trails, so I decided to do some exploring, choosing the most foreboding trail to follow.
Much to my wonder, I begin to come upon works of art left for passersby
to contemplate in nature’s gallery, as if in competition with nature’s own work.
Making no judgment as to their artistic worth,
only being grateful for their existence,
I began staging myself to capture images of the art.
I have chosen to share them in black & white.
With the images in mind, and as we met people in our new community, I would ask about the art and its creator, but no one had an answer.
It was not until this past February,
when hiking with Bryna Ben-Asher
and others in Sabino Canyon, I learned that most of the art was
the work of Margarita and David Berg. What had been my mystery was now solved,
which is why I ended the newsletter article, “The Berg’s did it!”
One Man’s Mystery Is Another Man’s Sanctuary
In the early ’90s, Margarita and David Berg moved
from Los Angeles to Tanuri Ridge (David was originally from Tucson.) They loved living here,
and the time they would spend walking their dogs together down the small canyon (which I have named, ‘Berg Canyon’)
behind their house, continuing on river trails below.
As many now know, Margarita was diagnosed with brain cancer
in early 2010 and passed away last October. David and Margarita spent her remaining days together
walking the canyon and river trails with their dog Tucker,
and creating art from dead tree branches and rocks.
Before the spring newsletter was published while running early one morning, I saw David walking with Tucker. We talked briefly,
about the trails, its art, Margarita,
and what I had written for the newsletter. We agreed to meet again and go down along the trails together.
Even though I now know more about David and Margarita, I must acknowledge that I know very little. What I have learned from David,
and many others,
who, after introducing myself as being new to Tanuri Ridge, would respond by saying, “I know someone who lives in Tanuri Ridge, Margarita Berg.”
Although everyone had wonderful things to say about her, it was the feeling in the words
that made one appreciate fully how exceptional she was. Of course, no one knows this better than David.
As we walked together, we talked
about the trails, the art, floods, and fires, all of which make the Tanuri Ridge riverside so special. But, what was most special came as a surprise to me as we walked the trail near the river.
Walking to my left, David crossed in front of me,
stopping at a two-trunked mesquite tree, one trunk of which was now a stump,
upon which David had placed a wooden plaque
in memory of Margarita.
Whispering softly as he looked down on the plaque;
pausing, he reached into his pocket, sprinkling flower petals on this blessed place. I stepped back, taking a few photos as he gently moved his fingers across the plaque.
When I took this photo, August 3, 2010, I did so trying to capture the feel
of the trail and this old mesquite tree.
Little did I know that this place along the trail
had been captured before by Margarita and David Berg.
Again, my camera has taught me how to see without a camera.
My experience has taught me how to feel
the moments captured before by others, so I can focus on capturing the moment.
As we head into the warmer days of summer, most of the hiking groups start taking to the higher elevations. Today’s hike was a move in the direction of Mt. Lemmon, which is where some of our hiking will be this summer. The Babad Do’ag (Tohono O’odham for “Frog Mountain”) trail off the Catalina Highway is a nice low-mid elevation hike, with quality views of the Tucson valley and the Rincon Mountains at the higher elevations — even on a very windy cool day like today.
A hiking we will go, a hiking we will go . . ., yes we are slowly getting in more time hiking. Most of our hiking has been closer to home in the canyons in the southeastern Catalina’s. This time we headed about 30 minutes to the northwest to Oro Valley, just east of Marana. The landscape is just a little different with a lot of boulder debris. Hope you enjoy the approximately two and a half-minute video containing still photos and video clips.
“Teddy Bears On The Rocks” — Teddy Bear Chloë Cactus in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Images by kenne
