More of my Hike on Mt. Lemmon, 9/27/09

Aspen Trail

All of these pictures of course show this trail passing through the burn of 2003

Not sure how this will view, but this is a map of the Aspen Fire.

At  the top you can see the intersection of the trails just outside the red outline.

The pictures of the trail are from inside the burned area.

I really did not think the Aspen I saw there , so tall, so dead, were affected by the fire.  But this map shows the truth.

A very sad day....

View of Tucson from the Aspen trail!

The plan is to allow the forest to recover naturally.  It is amazing how much it is doing just that.

There are many cut away logs along this trail.  They have done such a great job of repairing this wonderful trail to accomodate those of us who love the area.

I did take a LOT of pictures, so

will close  for now.

More later!

ENJOY

DAY OFF, HIKED again! Where else? Mt. Lemmon!

After church I headed up the Mt. again.  I would not have gone again this soon had it not been for it being Sunday.  I like to go to church, and well day time Temps are still WAY too hot for hiking anywhere else.  As it is, Mt. Lemmon was not as cool this Sunday as last, but still better than the Desert floor.

I wasn't too sure what hike I would do, so decided on the Aspen Trail out of Marshall Gulch.  I forgot there was an ACTUAL sign at the trail head, and not seeing it, headed up this other trail that was side by side with Marshall Gulch.

YES there IS a trail here.... up and over the tree limbs.  Similar to the other trail.  Didn't register at this point what trail I was on...

Crossed the creek here....one of MANY.  That was the difference from the previous trail.  Thus I was still cueless as to where I really was.

Another creek crossing.  One can tell ALOT of water does go through at times!

One has to look UP to see the leaves changing.  I spotted COLOR on the trail, which made me look up to see this Maple tree.

This was a very pretty crossing.  I lost track of how many crossings.

The meedting of the trails.....I was on the LEFT trail last week out of Marshall Gulch.  Saw the one on the right, had NO idea where it went or came from...
Well I came out on the trail to the right in this picture.  I now knew I was NOT on the Aspen trail!  So I figured I would head to the ridge, and catch the Aspen trail going back...

Could you decorate your OWN place as well??? Thought this was really beautiful!

At the top I spotted all these beautiful little trees.  They are letting the forest grow back on its own.  Looks like it is doing a fine job!

Heading out the Aspen trail.  Ahead of me, another lone hiker...she had come from the start of this trail, not the Gulch.

Well I have to add to this another day, Gotta get ready for work!

West Lambert Lane Park

This is one of the Parks I walked today.  This one very "wild" compared to the other.  Really a pleasant walk....

This is the view looking from the Parking lot to the highway entryway.

Kinda boring I guess....

Ok, this is facing the exact opposit towards the pathways.

From the parking lot, it doesn't take much time to start up a hill.

Very well maintained.

At the top, the trail heads north here.

This is the view facing the exact opposite.  Hard to believe, this is near so much civilization.

Ok, arrived at the point I started, and now am heading up this other portion of the path.  Saw a little old lady, walking up there.  No poles!

More of the same pretty area.  This whole area is lined with very OLD Palo Verde trees.  Nice.

The trail here is obviously in need of some maintanence since our Monsoons.

The trail ultimately comes out here.  No signs from this complex that there is even a trail here.  I sure would never have found it unless I had come from the other direction.

Up the hill from the previous picture, still obvious path, but not as well maintained.  Guess they need to do some work here.

Ok, had to sit and ponder a bit.  They have these benches throughout this area.  NICE....I really have to come here one late afternoon, to capture some of Pusch Ridge with the evening shawdows.

Ok, couldn't resist, another view of the Tucson Mts. west of here.  The "saddle" in the middle of the picture, is where I hiked in the past!  Plan to do this one again....but from the other side, soon as the weather cools a little more.

Ok, had to take this view of these beautiful Saguaro.  Note the background!

This "ship of the desert" has died.  Takes them a good while to fall over.. meantime they animals, and bugs continue to enjoy this tree.

Heading back.  Really so nice.  Hope you have enjoyed the walk with me.

Walking down these steps, leading to the Parking lot.

Thats all folks!

Sept. 20, 2009, Mt. Lemmon, Marshall Gulch Trail

Heading up this trail....full of trees.  The fire apparently did not hit this area as much as elsewhere.

Same area, a little different view.

First Creek crossing.  This crossing brought the creek to my left, and brought some memory back of this trail my sister and I had hiked together years ago, before ANY fires up here.

This rock formation, may not give you the same feeling as seeing it in person, but MY GOODNESS it is really huge!

Trail a bit rocky here, creek to the right.

Ok, I DID find some color changes along here.  This little bitty Maple tree, all in Fall colors!

More of the gulch along the trail

Pool sparkling in the little bit of sunlight.  This creek is apparently one of several on Mt. Lemmon. Seeps out of the ground.

Ok, could not resist a picture of these trees full of HOPE!

This part of the trail was a bit fun to get through. There were several parts of the trail like this.

almost to the top of the ridge where Marshal Gulch, Mint Springs, Aspen, and the Wilderness rock trails converge.

Here I am at the top.  Has been at least 25 years since I was here.  Don't remember most of it.  Sure don't remember this rock!  Course , also, the trees that are still alive there, are BIGGER!

Trail marker here, lists all the trails that meet here.

More of this area.

Heading out here takes you to the Wilderness of Rock trail.

This part heads towards the Aspen trail...the one my sister and I walked years ago.  It seemed to go on forever.  We were kind of sorry we got on there, as we were pretty tired!

If I had stayed the course on the Mint Springs trail, this is where I would have come out to.

I went back this way to Marshal Gulch.

Rock formation on this ridge....one I do NOT remember at all.

Sure wish we had a camera back then!

Self portrait pose up in this rock formation.

View down from the rock.

Same rock, different view.  This rock is being eaten away like the rocks of the Chiricahua Ntl. Mounment.

The forest here is surrounded by dead burned out trees.  Again, alot of hope of re-forestation!

Heading back to the Gulch.

Pleasant trail back. Pretty wildflowers too!

Another beautiful tree with greenery at the top.

and more!

End in sight...

Sunsetting on a long, but wonderful day....