More from my hike on March 4th. to the Hugh Norris trail

Continuing from the Mine up to Hugh Norris

And up!

Looking back the way I came.

Lofty view!

This is my view from the Hugh Norris Saddle. Sat here and enjoyed a respit

The mine in the foreground has been in operation as long as I can remember. When I moved to Tucson in '82, there was another mountain her....it is now gone!

This view is of the mountain one normally views from Ava Valley Rd.

Mountains in the distance are the Tortillitas.

This is a different view of Piacho peak!

Converging trails....to the left is the Sendero Esperanza meeting the Hugh Norris, where I am sitting.  There are sign post to let you know where to go next!

This is the post from the Esperanza trail that leads down from the mine.

Trail is a bit rocky here.  Doesn't appear to be really well traveled. Didn't see alot of boot tracks, did see horse shoes tracks.

Looking up from the Gould Mine trail to the tailings.

This brush, is normally a grey green during the summer.  I have never seen it like this!

Another view of the tailings.

Looking back up the Gould Mine trail...hey it really IS this color!

Heading back to the trail head

So neat to see the ocotillow so greened up.

The red sand limestone rock here is really odd.  Just pops up suddenly.

GOODIE, almost done!

Up out of the wash.  Trail looks different from this point of view. This is where I started out!

Ok , for some of the wild flowers in bloom...This is called Fairy Duster. A favorite of Hummingbirds. Not one here...

group of poppies.

GREEN Desert! What an oddity!

Last but not least....no they are NOT a desert flower, nor native here.  But they bloom in peopls yards this time of year.  SO happy in the sunshine.  Wanted to finish with this bright spot!

ENJOY!

"SEMI HIKE"

Raining this am....I wanted to hike so bad, but it was also snowing in the mountains....couldn't even see the mountains...

Later the clouds parted . 

Then next is the deep shawdow of Pima Canyon

I had NO intention of going there and "hiking" a bit, time was after 5pm, and with clouds and all, it would get dark soon.  BUT, I wondered if I could hike up and see water in the Pima Wash....

Trail was unchanged from the past, expect it was very moist!

Course this is looking back the way I came, in the forground is the border between private property and State Land, the Wilderness.

I had not been on this trail is AGES.  Actually I think this trail was one of my very earlierst hikes.  I did not go well prepared with water. So did not get very far.  I really want to do this one again when flowers are blooming.

Well I had turned around to go back to my car, as it was getting dusky.  Took a picture of a puddle on the trail.  Lots of puddles out there.

Not sure how the lights of Tucson will show up.

Anyway, that is it!!!

Madera Canyon, Hike on Oct. 24, 2009 (Part 1)

Planned out my trip before hand.  Packed my Camel back the night before with essentials I would need for this hike...however....NEXT time, I remember to take along some Ibuprophen....that trek down was HARDER than going up, my legs were so tired!

Anyway, got up at 6:30, filled my bag with 2 liters water with 2 pkts. of KO2 Protein Water mix.  10 grams of protein , very helpful in your water when hiking. Next time will add one more pack though. 

Anyway, on my way at 7:30.  Driving towards Mt. Wrightston on Madera Canyon Roadway.

Pretty in the distance for sure. Oh my what to expect!  Got to the trail head and ready to leave by 8:30 AM.  Pretty good....Distance about 49 miles from my home.

Love these trail head signs.  They are common everywhere so far!

I marked this one with my hike...

Never noticed the ONE WAY sign here as I drove in...could have parked a bit closer to the trail head! Oh well...

Anyway, the SIGN pointing the way!!! YES...Super trail is not one I will do at this point, it is 2 miles further in distance to the Baldy Saddle....NO thanks! However, a thought in the future I guess....WHAT am I saying? MERCY!
I visited the "fun" bathroom you find at these points in the National Forest....then on we go...

Little did I know what I was heading into when I set off up this road way wide trail to start .  So pretty, figured, it would get better and better!  I was committed to this trek, so what may will come....

Well, the "roadway" trail didn't last long, and here we turn up...and it did continue, UP and UP and UP!!!!!

Promise!

Trail here stretches out....one of the few times!  Still heading up, but gently.
Actually the trek up was not as hard as you would expect considering the elevation was from just over 5,000 going to 9,000 feet....WHAT? Yes, really makes me sound a bit teched in the head!!!!

Oh , my goodness, tell me I am NOT got to the top of that?!

The view along here is spectacular for sure!

Continuing on the trail.

Up and up!

Finally getting to see the view, pretty high here....looking west...

Lots of areas along the trail with so much green grass.  There was NO running water on the mountain.  A Ranger told me later, it was because the Monsoons did not drop the expected rain.   But what they did get sure makes the difference.

Well I want to add more, but 16 pictures and all is alot for now.  I WILL add more tomorrow continuing my trek to the top!  This will be MORE than 2 or 3 parts I am sure....Come back and see!  I love to share this beautiful area!

My Hike on Mt. Lemmon, Oct. 14

Well, this day was beautiful.  I had planned to get up the mountain and see the fall colors!  Have done this before, but always got there when all was on the waine... Woke at 6 am, had already had things together, and got out the door by 7 am.  Wasn't sure how cold it would be , and took things in preparation.  Then thought "what if I need a hat"...tried to buy one, couldn't...oh, well would have to do I guess.

Anyway, so pretty driving up there, got to this one lookout, and thought I would take a picture...when the camera said "all pictures would be saved to the internal memory"...OH NO!!!! I had forgot the card again.  I really have to prepare better in the future!

I was able to adjust the picture size down which allowed me to take alot more pictures...took 6 with my cell too, course they are not nearly as good.

When I got to Summerhaven, thought I would buy a card there, the store has a sign out, CLOSED till October 19th.! ARRRGGG.... Thought, ok, the SKI lift store would work....NOT...the SKI lift was closed too...good grief...I had planned to ride it to the top.  Oh well...

Drove up the back road to the very top of the Mt.  There was Aspen in their glory, and the Big tooth Maple too.  WOW.

As I was driving up, 4 deer crossed the road in front of me, no bucks...and NO I wasn't fast enough with the camera!
However as I arrived at the top, a BUNCH of Wild TURKEY'S are running off and on the road... WOW, I never even knew they were up there.  OF all the times I have been there, NEVER saw any before....

Anyway one other car up at this site.

Got my gear on, and started to walk, when I decided, everything was DOWN HILL from there, and I was looking for the Aspen trail.  This view is looking up toward the Radio towers.... (taken with the phone)

Color seen from this trail....WOW...looks afire!

,After I got back to my car, I drove down to this other spot you could park at and walk from...however, got on a trail heading to Summerhaven. (as seen above)  It was WIDE, ROCKY and all down hill....well...after realizing this was NOT the trail I wanted, decided to head back up....hey I zig zagged all the way...sure made a difference!  Able to get up there without too much trouble.

Anyway, drove back up to the top, there were more folk there, and this one guy telling me about the trail I ended up taking.  Had not planned to go as far as I did on it, but it led alog the top pretty much, and I was not curious as to where it would go.

So here we go, heading down the Mt. Lemmon trail (phone camera)

 

Hope this rock looks as big when clicked on as it really was.  WOW, AWESOME, would that I could have a picture in front of it.  I believe this may be Lemmon Rock.

Awesome, the massive rocks up there.

I suppose one would miss some of these rocks, if the forest had never been destroyed. (Phone camera)

Aspen along the trail back. (phone camera)

WOW, (regular camera)

Trail along here IS actually a road, one can take an ATV on, it you had a mind to!

This is really quiet a nice easy trail. I still used my nordic walking poles which helps to steady me, and supports my knees.

More color....hey that is why I am up here!

The Mt. Lemmon trail....ended at the Sutherland Trailhead... couldn't believe that.  If that is the trail head, I would NEVER hike it from either end.

I had hiked that trail when I was in the Catalina State Park, had NO idea where it ended, and now I knew.  WOW what a view looking WEST, I was up above PUSCH Ridge, looking way down on Oracle Rd. and the Catalina State Park.  WOW.

Well, did not hike more of the Mt. Lemmon trail after that, as it was heading on a real path now, and who knows where to!

So I  headed back up it, and decided to take the Meadow trail, part of a loop back to the start.  WOW, that was really pretty, a TRAIL and not a wide rocky road.  BUT mostly up hill.

I am thinking this "meadow" is what the trail was named for!

More color along this trail

All I thought was, my first hike on Mt. Lemmon was on the Butterfly trail that was all down hill, and coming up it was SO HARD, I said NEVER again, yet, here going up and up, I realized, I have really shaped up my hiking ability, in that, I really had NO trouble going up that trail.

Got back to the car, and after almost 3 hours, that other car was still there.  Made me wonder about that hiker... there were ALOT more cars now.  Had my lunch, then headed down, taking pictures as I went.

This is Ski Valley from above.

I will take a rest for now. MORE pictures tomorrow, with alot more color!

What a day!!!!