Archive for the ‘Trailhead’ Tag
Mexican Garter Snake & Arizona Striped Whiptail Lizard — Images by kenne
This morning while hiking the Crystal Springs trail on Mount Lemmon we saw this Mexican Garter snake having just caught an Arizona Striped Whiptail lizard. The snake was in a hurry to het away from us so he could have breakfast.
Regular hikers on Mount Lemmon should take note, even after all the rain on the mountains, the springs are no more. Maybe it’s time to rename the trail.
Also, the Control Road to the trailhead is in real bad shape from all the mountain rains — lot’s of deep ruts, making for a long 2 1/2 mile drive to the trailhead.
kenne
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Returning to Marshall Gulch for cover — Images by kenne
This week’s hike was from the Sunset trailhead to Marshall Gulch, up to Marshall saddle and back to the Sunset trailhead. Because of heavy rain and unnerving lightning, we turned back before reaching the saddle. Since one of our cars was at the Marshall Gulch trailhead, all the drivers were taken back to the Sunset trailhead, returning to rescue the remaining wet hikers.
This is my fourth or fifth time hiking Sunset trail, which I prefer to call Sunrise, since the hikes are always in the morning, but I’ve never hiked the trail in the sun — it’s always been cloudy with at least a misty rain. Yesterday was the first time for the rain to be heavy on this hike.
It’s nice to get the much-needed rain on the mountains, only if we could get some of it in the valley. At least the rain on the mountains is flowing down to Sabino Canyon and the dam area — the latest report is that the Sonoran Desert Toads are breast-stroking and piggy-back riding around the pools croaking contentedly. There’s a 30 % chance of rain again today.
As with the mountain streams, hiking and life is all about the flow — “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
“The fact that you were completely immersed in what you were doing, that the concentration was very high, that you knew what you had to do moment by moment, that you had very quick and precise feedback as to how well you were doing, and that you felt that your abilities were stretched but not overwhelmed by the opportunities for action. In other words, the challenges were in balance with the skills. And when those conditions were present, you began to forget all the things that bothered you in everyday life, forget the self as an entity separate from what was going on — you felt you were a part of something greater and you were just moving along with the logic of the activity.” — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
kenne
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iPhone image by Jeff
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“Crown of Thorns: Just as the first man Adam through the act of disobedience, sold Mother Nature into slavery.” — Image by kenne
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Trail Head Parking Lot
This weeks Monday Morning Milers hike was in the Kartchner Caverns State Part south of Benson, Arizona.
We met in the Wal-Mart parking lot to carpool to Benson. Because of the threatening weather, only eight of us met at 7:30 a.m.
When we arrived at the trailhead parking lot we were met by a windy misty-rain and a temperature of about 45 degrees.
We could see a lot of rain toward the south and in the Whetstone Mountains to the west.
After some discussion, we decided to head back to Benson and have breakfast at the Horseshoe Cafe.
The Horseshoe Cafe In Benson, AZ
While at the Horseshoe Cafe I received a call from Connie asking where we were. They (Penny and Ron were with her.) had just arrived at the Park trailhead.
They had assumed the usual 8:00 a.m. meeting in the Wal-Mart parking lot rather than the earlier time for the drive to Benson.
The three decided to come to the Horseshoe Cafe for coffee.
View of The Whetstone Mountains In Kartchner Caverns State Park
After breakfast everyone but Connie, Penny, Ron and I decided to drive back to Tucson rather than chance the unstable weather.
Penny, Ron and Connie
Somewhat covered from the occasional rain shower, we began hiking the Foothill Loop trail.
Rainbow Looking North Toward Benson
As time went by the sky began to break up providing some warmth from the sun and occasional rainbow.
Rainbow Looking North Toward Benson
The park trail is located off Highway 90 south of Benson in the Whetstone Mountain foothills overlooking the San Pedro Valley.
If you know where to look, Thomstone is in the distance.
View South Toward Sierra Vista, AZ (HWY 90)
Whetstone Mountains
Connie, Ron and Penny
At time the wind-gusts were challenging.
Whetstone Mountains Near The Foothill Loop Trailhead
Arriving back at the trailhead, more rain was building up in the Whetstone Mountains.
Slideshow — Images by kenne
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Becoming is Superior to Being 