Tortolita Mountain Loop (Wild Mustang and Wild Burro Trails) February 8, 2014

                       Looking east Tortolita Mountain Park

Directions: To get to the Tortolita Mountains travel west on Interstate 10 until you see W Tangerine Road. Take the exit and turn right. Travel on Tangerine until you reach Dove Mountain Road. Take Dove Mountain all the way to the Ritz Carlton Resort. The big parking lot is the trail head for these mountains.

On Saturday morning at around 10:30 Nathan, his uncle and I arrived at the Wild Burro Canyon Trail head. Our objective today was a nine mile loop connecting the Wild Burro, Javelina and Wild Mustang Trails. Elevation gain is around 2000 feet. The view gets absolutely sublime after about two miles of hiking on the Wild Mustang trail. Toward the east is Wild Burro Canyon and the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. To the south is the Tucson valley. Around this time on the hike the vegetation regime also changes with more Yucca, Ironwood, grasses and less Saguaro. The last 0.7 mile to the Wild Burro trail junction is steep as the trail loses about 700 feet. The hike back to the trail head through Wild Burro Canyon is about four miles the first two of which are very scenic. I will definitely be back to explore more of this range in the future.

Special Considerations: During the months of May, June and July the temperatures in the Sonoran Desert can be over 115 degrees. Bring multiple gallons of water. During the fall, winter, and spring the sun can be very intense so still bring at least three nalgenes depending on the distance of the hike. Rattlesnakes are also very active so pay attention.

 

                                  Ocotillo in bloom

                              Yucca upper part of Wild Mustang trail

         Wild Burro Canyon

                       Impressive Saguaro

                     Beautiful Wild Burro Canyon

Picacho Peak February 1, 2014

                                           Looking south from saddle

West of Tucson, Arizona, Picacho Peak rises out of the desert. It looked like a technical climb with ropes and harnesses required when I drove by it on my way to San Diego. After reading online I discovered that this peak is hikable because  boy scouts built cables and bridges in places to aide hikers.There are cables in four sections. One section is relatively scary because it is straight up.

On Saturday Nathan and I climbed Picacho by way of the Hunter Trail. This is a four mile round trip with an elevation gain of around 1600 feet. This hike is strenuous because of the high elevation gain in a short period of time. Even though I had some trepidation about the cables before starting the climb, the rock provided great hand and foot holds and the cable sections were not hard but really fun. I look forward to hiking this trail later this spring.

If you are looking for solitude do not summit Picacho using the Hunter Trail. In fact this year Phoenix rated this hike as one of the best winter hikes in southern Arizona. The view from the top more than makes up for the lack of solitude because it is unobstructed by other mountain ranges.

Directions: Picacho Peak is located west of Tucson, Arizona, directly off of Interstate 10. The Hunter Trail is located in Picacho Peak State Park which charges $10 per vehicle for the day.

                         One of the sections which utilizes cables to aide hikers

                       View on the mountain

                            Me near the top of the vertical cable section

                         Me on top

                   View from the summit looking toward Tucson

                       The summit

                         Train and rockwall

                                  Picacho Peak
                         

Gates Pass Exploration Tucson Mountains January 20, 2014

                         Tucson Mountains above Gates Pass

After lunch on Martin Luther King Day I drove up to Gates Pass in the Tucson Mountains to do some hiking and photograph the Tucson Mountains. There are few trails at Gates Pass but I was able to scramble up to the top of small mountains using unofficial trails (as a result I do not know length or elevation gain). I do not usually go off-trail because it encourages the creation of illegal trails and accelerates erosion in the mountains. Respect wildlife and plant life. Hiking around I did see a disturbing amount of trash some of which I picked up. Enjoy our wild lands but please pack it out.

                     Tucson Mountains looking toward Saguaro Park West

           Extremely windy Gates Pass Road

                       Gates Pass Road at the summit

Cactus Garden Three Tank and Carrillo Trail Loop Saguaro National Park East January 19, 2014

               View from the Three Tank Trail

I arrived at the Douglas Spring Trail head at around 12:30 pm after volunteering at the Pima Air Space Museum. Today my objective was to hike the Three Tank Trail and then return back to the trail head by way of the Garwood Trail. This loop is about 8 miles with 1500 feet of elevation gain. Trails involved include  the Douglas Spring Trail (described in past post), Three Tank Trail, Wildhorse Trail, Carrillo Trail and Garwood Trail.

Highlights on the hike included views on the Three Tank Trail and Little Wildhorse Tank.  After a half mile on the Three Tank Trail, hikers are rewarded with views toward the Catalina Mountains, downtown Tucson and Tucson Mountains to the west. These views are truly splendid and make the 1100 foot climb on the Douglas Spring Trail worth it. Another highlight includes Little Wildhorse Tank. The trail to Wildhorse Tank is accessible from the Carrillo and Wildhorse Trail junction. After a half mile hikers are rewarded with three natural tanks in the desert and another scenic view of the Catalina Mountains and Rincon Mountains.

On this hike I met a number of incredible people. On the Three Tank Trail I met a group from the Czech Republic. They were extremely friendly and we talked about Tucson as well as their home country. They had a map of trail in Saguaro National Park but no idea how to use it. Luckily I was able to give them some guidance on how to complete the loop for which they wanted to hike. On the Garwood trail I met a couple who like to hike at night looking for animals with flashlights. What was strange is that the wife enjoyed it more than her husband. They have gotten many different species of wildlife on film including Jackrabbits, Coyote and Mountain lion. They did tell me a disturbing story about three teenagers who tagged Saguaros and cut Barrel cacti with a machete all along the Garwood Trail. Luckily the three individuals were photographed on wildlife cameras and arrested by police.

                           Desert vegetation with Rincon Mountains in the background                             

                     Me on the Three Tank Trail

                                Little Wildhorse Tank

                           Scenic view from Little Wildhorse Tank

                              Saguaros, Mesquite and Palo verde from the Garwood Trail

Starr Pass January 18, 2014

               Looking toward the Catalina Mountains from Starr Pass trail

Location: Starr Pass is located in the Tucson Mountains west of Tucson. To get to the trail head take I-10 south of the University of Arizona toward El Paso, Texas. Turn right onto Starr Pass Blvd and drive until you see Avenida del Correcaminos on your left. Turn left and drive another mile until you arrive at the trail head. This part of the Tucson Mountains has classic Sonoran Desert vegetation and wildlife. Every plant has some sort of thorn or spine on it that will hurt. Be especially careful when around Teddy bear chollas. I would also keep an eye out for rattlesnakes on the trail or in the bushes.

My cousin Franak and I arrived at the trail head at 9:45 am. Neither of us had hiked here before so we didn't have a specific distance or hike in mind.  We started hiking on an unnamed connector which after a mile intercepted the Yetman and Starr Pass Trails. After talking with another hiking group we decided that Starr Pass would be a worth while destination.  The Starr Pass Trail gains elevation moderately as it winds its way to Starr Pass. In this area be careful for illegal trails which can make route finding more difficult.  At Starr Pass Franak and I spent about a half an hour eating lunch and scrambling up some of the surrounding rocks. On our way back we missed a trail junction and ended up at a subdivision near the Starr Pass Resort. We walked on sidewalks for forty minutes before deciding to retrace our route to try and find a familiar trail junction. None of the junctions were signed so neither Franak nor I had any clue as to the correct way back to our car. Finally, two mountain bikers stopped and not only described the route but also walked almost all the way back with us. It turns out at an unsigned trail junction we went right instead of left. Needless to say I was embarrassed.  Before hiking here make sure to have an excellent map of the area and go with someone who has intimate knowledge of Starr Pass trails. Even a good map will not show the illegal mountain bike trails in Tucson Mountain Park. Total mileage including walking aimlessly was about seven miles.

                                           Looking west from Starr Pass

                Scenery near the resort

       Tucson Mountains scenery

Sabino Canyon Loop Phoneline Trail & Sabino Creek January 13, 2014

                  Palo verde nursing two Saguaros

Upon completion of this hike on December 6, 2013, this 3.5 mile loop quickly became one of my favorite short hikes in Tucson. In a relative short time it gives visitors a chance to see two different desert habitats the Sonoran Desert bajada and desert riparian. As a result, the plant and animal life change. Early evening is also a good time to photograph desert landscapes. 

On January 13 I returned to Sabino Canyon and completed the hike after an hour and half. I was able to photograph a great sunset and even spend more time at Sabino Dam.

Short description: Trails involved included the main trail to Bear Canyon, Phoneline Trail and Sabino Creek Trail. The hike is 3.5 miles with moderate elevation gain. Finally, trails begin and end at the Sabino Canyon Visitor at the end of Sunrise BlVD. For more detailed information on the route please consult my December 10, 2013, post.

                        Phoneline Trail scenery
              

                          Golden Saguaros

         Last light on the Catalinas

            Evening glow

Hutch's Pool West Fork Sabino Creek January 11, 2014

                                   Map showing Sabino Canyon and the wilderness

Directions: Sabino Canyon is at the end of Sunrise Road at the base of the Catalina Mountains.  To get to Sabino Canyon from the University of Arizona take Campbell Road all the way to Skyline Road. Turn right onto Skyline and drive all the way until Sabino Canyon. Skyline will become Sunrise. A pass to the Coronado National Forest cost about $20 for the year. $5 for one day.

Today I wanted to hike to Hutch's Pool in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. To bypass some of the lower trails which I have I hiked I decided to pay $8 to ride the tram to stop #9 at the top of Sabino Canyon. The last tram leaves stop #9 at 4:50 pm. From stop #9 Hutch's Pool is a 7.5 mile roundtrip hike with approximately an elevation gain of 1300 feet. I want to hike another 1.5 miles passed Hutch's Pool to see more of the wilderness which will extend the trip to ten miles. Trails involved include Sabino Canyon and West Fork of Sabino Canyon. This hike required very little route finding. At the trail junction of West and East Fork Trails make sure to take the West Fork. There is no sign for Hutch's Pool.

Trail Description: The first two miles of the trip the trail is above the creek. Here the canyon is very dramatic with steep walls on the western side. The view opens up to the north as well with the towers on the top of Mount Lemmon visible in the distance. Before the trail junction the trail descends to the creek.  The West Fork trail follows the creek up canyon. After about a mile it crosses the creek. There are pools here but hike on; Hutch's Pool is half a mile farther. The destination is off the main trail. At a huge rock visitors will see a cairn and a trail to the right. This trail is rocky and relatively steep so watch your footing. The next mile and a half the trail ascends rapidly giving hikers views of West Fork Canyon. Use Leave No Trace principles because this area gets a lot of use.

The joy of hiking and traveling is meeting wonderful people. At 1.5 miles into my trip I met an older couple from Eastern Kentucky who were hiking to the pool. We talked about the Daniel Boone National Forest, The Red River Gorge and the University of Kentucky basketball team. I did not hike with them because of their slower pace. On the West Fork Trail I met a couple who live in Calgary, Alberta, as well as Tucson. I talked with them about Canada as well as Arizona hiking. I would also see them at Hutch's Pool and on the 4:30 tram back down. Finally, at the destination I met a couple in their seventies from Ontario who spend three to four months of the winter in Arizona.

                              Looking back down Sabino Canyon

                               Tree with the upper mountains of the Catalinas

                  Brett at Hutch's Pool

                        Another picture of Hutch's Pool. Very beautiful

                          Pools in West Fork of Sabino Creek

                         West Fork Canyon

                         Pusch Wilderness

                                 Another beautiful pool

                         Me with the dramatic scenery of upper Sabino Canyon