Hike to Rincon Peak -Part One

This morning the mountains around us were covered with a fresh dusting of snow.

That is Rincon Peak in the background. Can you see the frost on the windshield of my truck?

From our front door looking north-east... that snow on the tops of the Rincon Range won't last very long. So I got out early to make sure I captured the shot.

All our hopes of getting off to an early start last Thursday were frustrated by not being able to find the trail head. It is the second time that it eluded Chuck and me... and we were right there and didn't see it in the predawn darkness.

Kevin and Chuck posed for me as we got ready to start our hike on Thursday.

The first section on the Miller Creek Trail is very gentle with several creek crossings. There was no problem keeping our feet dry today, as we could easily walk across on large stones... but there could be times after a rain that it wouldn't be so easy.

It took us about 40 minutes to hike to the entrance to the Saguaro National Park, where I signed in for the three of us at 9:00 AM. Later I signed out when we got back at 4:30 PM.

Much of the trail today was in and around a lot of rocks. Notice the large Manzanita trees.

The higher we went the more rocks we encountered.

Sometimes the path goes around the rocks. Sometimes, like this the path goes over the rocks.

We stopped several times for a water break and a snack.

I also had to stop and take a few shots of the flowers and the incredible views.  I was surprised to see this Beardlip Penstemon still blooming in December.

There were a lot of Rocky Mountain Pussytoes growing along with the grass.

This Rincon range is made up of a lot of rocks.  Do you see the waterfall rocks?

This looks to me like a place where the water runs down the rock face and leaves a pretty interesting stain. 

All the large rocks reminded me of Joshua National Monument near Palm Springs, California.

There didn't seem to be any shortage of these huge boulders.

It was here on this large rocky plateau that we stopped for our lunch. As we shared with each other some of our food we soon discovered that most of what we had brought with us came from Costco. The bread, the eggs and the mayonnaise that made the sandwiches, the nuts, the granola bars, the Kind bars, the fresh apples and oranges, the carrots and peppers... even my water came from Costco. All except my coconut and another energy snack Chuck brought.

Sometimes there were just a lot of little rocks, like these in the path.

As we came around a corner the sight of our goal was most impressive. Even though we knew we could not reach it today and still make it back by dark, it was pretty awesome to see it proudly standing tall.

This told us that we had come 4.4 miles from our starting point.

From the Happy Valley Campground the peak was very visible thru the trees.

A path led to three large campsites in this stand of tall Ponderosa Pines.

There probably was room for more than three campsites, but likely not the need. Can you believe that someone carried a folding table over four miles up here?

The presence of these lockers suggest that there may be furry friends who may drop by for a snack as well.

We wanted to go just a little further so that we could see over the other side of the ridge towards Green Valley and Tucson... and hopefully get a good enough cel phone signal to call our wives.

We didn't have to go far from the campground to see this view.

We took each other's picture at the point where we turned around and headed back.

I seldom take as many photos on the way back from a hike... but these little Verbena were begging me to take their picture.

When we stopped for a snack and water break I noticed more Common Sotol... they are very plentiful along this trail.

Their stalks grow tall every summer...

With a lot of yellow flowers at the top.

This is the first time I have used the panorama feature on the iPhone. Can you see the windmills on the distant hills.

I couldn't either. But with the Nikon on full telephoto I could pull them in. They are a long, long ways away.

The folds in the hills with the random trees make an interesting composition.

This Manzanita has a lot of character. I love the shiny red bark. As it ages and starts to die the tree loses its pretty red bark and the wood takes on a weathered look.

These are the Manzanita leaves.

This Manzanita is hosting a little fungus.

We didn't see any Saguaro cactus on the hike today... but there were a few Cholla. This one was loaded with fruit.

What a pretty fruit when they turn from green to yellow with some orange.

No one was happier than Kevin to be getting back down the mountain.

We were almost back to the  Eastern Saguaro Park entrance when Chuck's friends caught up with us... Jerry and Barb Retzalaff, also snowbirds, from Washington state.

They made the roundtrip hike to the top in about 9.5 hours... about 16.5 miles. They met Chuck thru his biking adventures... and they are also avid hikers.

Jerry shared a link for an app that I'm going to install on my iPhone... alltrails.com   

It has over 50,000 trails with maps and great information... so finding your way could not be easier. Check it out.

Next time we hike this mountain we will get off to a better start and should be able to make it to the peak and back in one day before dark. 

Or if I can find any friends to backpack in, I would enjoy going to the Happy Valley Campground the first afternoon and then go to the peak the next day and spend some time there before heading back off the mountain.

"What on earth would I do if four bears came into my camp? Why, I would die of course. Literally shit myself lifeless."-Bill Bryson, "A Walk in the Woods"

The Garwood Dam Hike

On Thursday January 15, the Hiking Club with twelve of us headed out to the Garwood Dam in the Saguaro National Park,

meeting at the Speedway parking lot.

Jim Garrigues was our guide for this hike. Also a resident in our Rancho Del Lago community, he volunteers at the Saguaro National Park.

We started off on the Douglas Spring Trail for a short bit...

and then turned south on the Garwood Trail. The park has excellent trail signage, so with the hiking maps from the Park Visitor Center in hand we were on our way. But I can easily get lost and not know it for hours.

When I took this shot I knew Shirley was elaborating to Anita on how she found a huge double crested saguaro a couple of weeks ago... and gave it a big hug! There is always a lot of visiting that happens as we hike.

Shirley accidentally discovered this beauty just a little way off the North Cactus Forest Trail, just before the lime pit. It is the shortest of all the crested ones we have seen... and she could not contain her excitement! I told her to give her new friend a hug!

She has now become an avid "Crested Saguaro" hunter. This is the only one we have ever seen with two heads... and such a beautiful hairdo!  It is also the only one where the crested part was not the highest part of the cactus... this one had a branch that rose above the main event. Interesting, eh?

What an absolutely gorgeous day to hike in this beautiful park. Chuck is leading the pack.

We are so fortunate to have this beautiful park right in our backyard... only a short drive to unlimited hiking.

What makes a crooked arm like this?  Is this a "twisted sister"? Some families have one like this, right? ... and who can explain why it happens?

Just think, while we are enjoying the sunshine and hiking in the park there are people shovelling snow in the north-east.

What could be better than this? I could think of a few things... but this is still right up near the top of the list.

Some of us stopped to take photos of this four-trunker. Can you imagine when this guy gets some arms? I can see a little guy starting up near the very top!

The printed hiking guide tells us in 2010 this was a cluster of 13... but try as we may we could only find 12 in this group.  One must have either gotten away or died. But it still is a very beautiful group.

This prickly pear was in the shade... and the sun had not yet had a chance to have it's way with the dew.

It is always exciting to see another crested saguaro... and another photo opportunity.

This girl has such beautiful curls! What an intricate design. It wasn't until I sketched a crested saguaro to make a water-colour painting that I realized how many folds and little blossoms there are in a crested head.

This painting is of the first crested saguaro I ever saw, and it was my last painting in 2014, just after Christmas.

As we climbed higher we soon could see the Garwood Dam ahead.

This dam was built around 1930... and is 40 feet high.  I don't know when they quit using it... or why?

The gate is always open and only a trickle comes thru. With the morning sun the water looks like gold. If only it was that easy to find real gold!

It was a fun place to stop... and look.

And to take a few pictures.

I took this one looking back on the dam as we hiked further up the trail heading to the pools.

When the group stopped for another break, Shirley couldn't resist helping me with a smile and a pose!

The needles with sun behind make the cactus glow!

Notice how the sunshine brings out the red and yellow in this fish hook cactus. The same needles in the shade are not nearly as exciting.

Does this cholla look inviting to you for a nest?

Some bird thought so... do you know what bird may have built this nest?

As we continued hiking up the canyon we saw other hikers in the distance coming back from the pools. There's two guys on the rock just left of the sun spot. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

I offered to take Olivia's picture if she would jump into this pool... but not today. This was as close as she got to getting wet. I think it would have taken more money than I had for her to take the plunge!

More pools along the creek.

At last we came upon the largest and deepest pool... and stopped here for a break and a snack.

It was part of a chain of smaller pools.

I crossed over to get this shot up the canyon and the waterfall... but the waterfall was in shadow. The sound of water falling was better than this photo. It was a beautiful spot to stop for a break... and listen to the waterfall. However, Niagara Falls it isn't.

I almost got too close to this prickly pear getting that shot... and liked the play of the sunshine bouncing off the paddles.

We passed by this huge old saguaro... it is a granddaddy of the saguaros.  Jim told us that last year the largest saguaro in the park came down. So nominations for a new "Largest Saguaro" are been taken. Jim said this one is in the running... but we could not get anyone to go stand beside it to help us with the scale of this tree.

Here is another pretty good size granddaddy.

At the end of the trail we came on this secluded pool with another little waterfall. What a perfect place for a picnic. It even had a sandy beach.

Tucked into the rock on the left side is this lonely little cactus. How it ever got started growing out of this rock is a mystery to me... but what a cutie. Jim said it may be 30-50 years old. Who knows for sure?

As we headed back I recognized some of the cairns we passed on the way up... it told me we were still on the trail.

At one time these posts blocked access to the pools above. A sign said "No Access For Stock."

Since we were hurrying to get back for a 1:00 PM CPR class, there were very few stops to take photos on our decent.

But we could not resist taking a few shots of these three horses... (two mules and one horse). You can tell the difference by the face and longer ears.

We agreed with these riders that this was a prefect day to enjoy the great outdoors!

I've heard it said,

"Time spent hiking does not take anything off your lifespan."

In fact I would argue it probably adds to your lifespan.

Happy trails!