Carr Peak with Hansel and Gretchen

I accidentally deleted this post, so will rewrite this now.

Teachers are allowed to leave early on the last Wednesday of the month. I stayed until 12:45 to grade some assignments, but then took off. It would be my last chance to hike Carr Peak for the month.

I had little time to waste as sunset is now just after 6pm and that means getting back to the car by 5 to have enough light to drive down the mountain road.

I left the house with Hansel and Gretchen, wearing the same clothes I wore to school. This was Gretchen's first big hike. I was curious how she would do.

We started the hike at 1:47. It was a cool 64F with no breeze. I never came across other people today. No cars were in the parking area. The only other creature was a reddish bear that momentarily sauntered on the trail ahead of us with.a half-mile to go to the peak.  The dogs were behind me. They did not chase the bear, but they stayed close to me as we neared the peak. I spoke loudly to keep the beer away.

Gretchen did well that first mile, staying close to her dad but also running off trail when he did. He would come back, but usually without Gretchen. Three times I had to stop, wait,  and call her name. The last time was on the return walk, where I stopped for a good ten minutes calling her name. Hansel heard her farther up the trail and led me back to her.

My biggest surprise was the dry waterfall. And this after several intense downpours over the mountains last weekend. The aspens are just now changing colors but won't peak until mid October. I also didn't see too many wildflowers. 

We got back to the Honda just after 5pm and were back in the valley 30 minutes later.

Reef Townsite ramble

  

Today's short hike was thanks to Ellen, who asked me a few days ago if I were interested in exploring some mine-caves in the Reef Townsite area.  I almost always say yes to her hikes.

We met at 7am in lower Carr Canyon and drove in separate cars.  I had Hansel with me.  The road has gotten badly rutted in the two months since my last Carr peak hike, so I arrived at the trailhead behind Ellen.  Carr peak looked so green after the recent rains, but we were walking away from the peak.

I could have brought a second dog on the hike as were were alone, hiking first up to the old mine site, then on to the overlook at the Reef before then heading down to the waterfall.  No water was running, but there were pools for Hansel to drink out of.  We then walked briefly around the rocky hillside, but turned around and continued on through the group campsite, where a large group with dogs was enjoying their stay.  We then walked through the campsite and down the 1.5-mile long nature trail (that did not get destroyed in the 2011 fire)  before returning to our cars. We heard and saw a screeching black hawk who seemed displeased with our presence.

It was a cool hike, withv54F at the start. I was expecting it to be chilly, and wore my bright yellow sweatshirt over my grey DryWeave shirt.  There was no wind at all.  We had mostly overcast skies with rain in the forecast for the afternoon.

The ground was damp from recent rains, but to my surprise there were few wildflowers out.

We walked 4.1 miles in 2.4 hours.

It finally began to drizzle lightly at 4:30pm.  I took Hansel out for another mile, then switched to Gretchen before the drizzle turned into a more steady rain.

Rain!

What a beautiful, cool morning it was as I walked both Hansel and Gretel for 2.6 miles around the neighborhood under a thick, overcast sky.  This is the longest morning walk in over a month, and I felt energized once I got to the school. 

It started drizzling harder once I got to the school, and by lunch time it was raining hard.  I was not expecting rain today, but I also didn't look at the forecast. 

The sky was overcast all day.  I wanted to walk the dogs after school, but I lost precious time rounding them up when five (!) of them escaped from the back yard and ran over to a neighbor's dog for their usual fence fight.  

I managed to get all of them back in the Honda.  Fritz played stubborn, so I picked him up and took him to the backyard, then drove with the pack down to the maintenance road for a quick sunset hike down the main road.  Out and back would be just under two miles.

It was already past 6pm when I parked and started the walk.  The dogs were behind me, and the pups followed Hansel.  But then they spotted a white-tailed deer down near the old stock pond and all of them took off running.  Calling them back was futile, and I quickly lost sight of them.

Normally Hansel and Gretel come back after a few minutes, but today it was different.  I didn't want to panic with the waning daylight, but I knew I had about 30 minutes of good light before dusk.  I went back to the car to be able to drive down the road faster, going back and forth while calling out their names.  No response.

I last saw Sahne near the hidding springs.  I figured they were there as that is where the deer was, but they still didn't come.  Just as I felt desperation set in, I saw Hansel, Gretel and Sahne run east on the main dirt road.  This time they came running, tongues flapping in the wind.

But were where Wolfie and Gretchen?  These two dogs are the more quiet dogs who follow the leader.  It was now getting dark and I was low on fuel.  I drove quickly to the nearby Speedway gas station, filled up my tank for $38, then returned to the dirt road.

I first spotted a dark apparition.  It was Gretchen, and she seemed confused about the car coming toward her.  She wanted to run off, heading north, but I stopped, called her name, and she jumped into the car.  She was wet (from the pond).  A few minutes later Wolfie appeared.  Now I was relieved.  It was now officially dark; he came back just in time.

Wolfie was covered in sticky weeds, but thankfully all dogs were back and safe.  I enjoy walking in this area, but wildlife like javelina and coyotes stroll through and I had visions of both dogs getting attacked by them had they not returned. 

Tonight taught me a lesson:  Wolfie and Gretchen are still unsure about off-leash walking.  They aren't ready for these adventures just yet.

Full moon hike over Brown Canyon

Holly asked me a few days ago if I could lead a full moon hike.  I realized too soon that I could not, due to my late schedules recently at school.  The full moon for September rose today locally at 6:36pm.

Holly then took the initiative and lead a hike today in Brown Canyon.  Starting time was at 4:15pm.  I had just left my classroom by then, coming home at 4:30pm with dinner and spending some time with Kevin who was feeling good today.

It was a short walk.  I took Sahne.  This was her first group hike.  She did well on leash, but her puppy exuberance caused her to jump up on me at times and made her lose her focus.  But unlike her brothers, she did not pull on the leash.  She was a pleasure to walk.

I told Holly I'd meet her group near the overlook above the Brown Ranch.  It's only 0.75 miles from the trailhead.  i got there 30 minutes early.  i can only wait so long before I get restless, so I continued my walk until I met the group shortly thereafter.  It was just barely past a mile.

There were eight people in this group.  Besides SteveT and CelesteF, Susan and Holly, I knew noone.  It was too dark by then to recognize faces.  Sahne barked at Celeste's and Steve's dogs, but soon calmed down.  (This was a training hike for Sahne, and she learned fast).

We waited by the overlook ten minutes past moon rise, then descended before it got too dark.

 

Walking the old Killsite trail to the river

 I'm slowly getting my energy back.  I will reserve Carr Peak for next week, though.

The only hiking I did this weekend was walking from the Lehner killsite off Palominas Road down to the river both mornings. This  was the trail head that Susan showed me two years ago.  She and I walked this section quite a bit then, before reverting to parking near the B&B Casa de San Pedro.

Morning temperatures were refreshingly cool.  Both mornings it was in the mid-to-high 60s.  I needed this cool-down to get me going.  I never had to worry about walking into birders.

On Saturday I took four dogs: Hansel, Fritz, Sahne and Wolfie and we began at 7:30 to an overcast sky.  I owed the dogs this pleasure, as I can't walk them all everyday.  They were all happy to get out and run. 

I had forgotten how isolated this trail is.  I never saw anyone on this three-mile loop.  The only thing I came across was a small harmless ringneck snake that the dogs were all oblivious to.  Ringneck snakes are usually out in the late afternoon and early evening, so this poor guy was perhaps traumatized but not harmed by my pack.

On Sunday I started from the same parking area at 6:30am.  This time I only took three dogs: Hansel, Gretel and Sahne.  Susan had wanted to meet me, but she overslept again.  Again, there was no one on the trail.

But this time I took a longer loop, walking the 2-mile field before heading north along the river before turning west again toward the wash that leads back to the killsite.  There was so much overgrown flora that the smaller trails were hard to note, but we managed just over four miles this time.

And then the dogs spotted a deer.  They took off barking up the hill, just within site of the Honda.  Just great.  It's best to stay in the area a dog is laste spotted, but I walked up and down that dirt road yelling for Gretel.  The dogs stay together, so if one dog hears me and takes off running, so will the others.

This time the pack decided to panic me for a few minutes before Hansel, then Gretel, and finally Sahne came back panting from the race. 

A walk along the river

I've been having a hard time getting motivated to walk ever since coming back from my roadtrip. The urge to walk the dogs is fading as well. There have been three days this month alone I did not make my daily goal of 5.5 miles.

I was sitting inside the local McDs when Susan texted me at 340 telling me she was getting ready to walk Allie along the river. I needed that motivation to get up and leave the restaurant and go back home to get Hansel and Gretel.

This was Gretel's first hike since she was spayed. I'm sure both dogs were happy to be down by the river again. 

Dark clouds lingered to our south, and lightning flashed from various directions in the distance, but it never rained over us. The wind briefly stirred up the trees but then quickly wanted. The lack of any bright sunlight seemed eerie.

We walked north along the river trail, noting where recent floods had reached the upper banks. More trees have toppled from storm winds, creating more snags in and around the path. The grass is now three feet tall and even taller in other sections. We saw a few discarded backpacks.

We came across no one else. Susan said Bob had cut the grass down earlier today, leaving the path with the aroma of freshly cut grass. I got back to my car showing the first symptoms of my seasonal allergies.

We only walked 2.3 miles. I still had three more to go for my daily goal. The dogs didn't want to get out if the car when I got back to the house, so I walked around the hood for a mile dogless, noting the few drought stricken trees. Only one juniper succumbed to the drought. The rest of the pines are growing new candles over dead parts. 

I met another neighbor today, Stephen. I've seen him before walking his dogs off leash up and down S Circle S Drive, but today was the first day we stopped to chat. He lives in the only prefab house on the block and normally walks his GSDs off leash. His oldest GSD uses a wheelchair because its hind legs are paralyzed. I met Haddow and his newest pup Clementine today. Both sniffed me over thoroughly.

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I walked Hansel another mile around the hood, watched a sunset, then called it a night. It was a peaceful evening until someone popped a few fireworks at 945, scaring the pups

Brown Canyon trail

Yesterday's hike proved to me that my energy to hike has returned.  When Ellen asked if I were interested in joining her on a slow walk to the Brown Canyon slot, I agreed to join her at 8am at the Ramsey Road trailhead.  I took Fritz on this hike, his first training hike in over three months.  We got started before the proposed time.

Fritz did very well on leash for the entire walk.  He never  once lunged at deer or squirrels.  Probably because we didn't see any.

Sunflowers along the dirt road to the ranch house are in full bloom and taller than Ellen.  Butterflies and bees like these yellow flowers.

There was water in the more established springs, but the trail wasn't as wet as I had expected after yesterday's rain 

Ellen needed to go slow and I felt taxed, too.  When we got to the horse trough at the three-mile mark, I asked for a rest break that took u s a good half hour.  I sat and drank my cranberry juice while Fritz rested in the shade and drank his water.  Fellow hiker and friend SteveD and his dog Morgan came up as we were ready to start our return hike.  Here is where Fritz lunged at Morgan, who hid behind his dad in fear.

I wish Fritz would just calm down, as he hikes so well on leash when he's the only dog.

We rested again at the ranch house for another 15 minutes before that last push to the finish line.  It was now past 10am and getting warm.  Lots of people were starting out as we returned to our cars and a packed parking lot.

Mint Springs Trail on Mount Lemon (north of Tucson)

I had made no plans for Labor Day weekend.  I just wanted to spend it with Kevin, as I don't think he will survive long enough to see 2022.  He's lost most of his muscle mass, can't walk far, and sleeps most of the day away.  The only good thing is that his disease has kept him off beer and cigarettes.

Some work colleagues came by late in the morning  to look at the pups.  They settled on Wolfie and Gretchen.  They chose well.  They can't take them until they close in on their new house ona October 1st.t  I will see if I can get Gretchen spayed before then.  I'm happy they will be together, and I'm happy they will get good dog parents.  They will thrive in their new home.  Both dogs are genle and affectionate.

Thirty minutes after my colleagues left, I was on my way to Tucson for the usual Costco-recyclables-hiking routine.  I took Gretel with me.  The poor dog suffered in the hot car.  It was 94F and my Honda's AC was working overtime.  When I got to Tucson at 1:30, it was 104F.

I couldn't wait to get up Mount Lemon.  It's a 90-minute drive even from downtown Tucson to get to Summerhaven, the tourist town popular with summer tourists.  Dark clouds were starting to form as I meandered up the Catalina Highway.  Susan texted me saying to be careful, that her house got hit with an unexpected storm cell that brought down some small branches in her yard.  

A few minutes later my cellphone kept sending me repeat flash flood warnings.  These warnings continued as I got on the trail at 3:45pm.  My phone's battery started with 44% and the constant warnings drained my phone fast.

Clouds above me at the 7800' trailhead were looking ominous. I was prepared for rain.  The rumbling just made me walk faster, as Gretel and I traversed the Mint Springs trail as it crossed a heavily-burned hillside before ending at the Marshall Gulch-Aspen Loop trail.  Tall charred pine trunks are all that remain of the Ponderosas.

I met several hikers on this connector trail.  We even stopped at the Mint Springs.  Recent rains over Mount Lemon made this a wet hike for Gretel, who helped herself to water when she wanted it.  I'm sure she appreciated the cool hike after that hot drive to Tucson.  The sky was dark and overcast.  On a clear, sunny day this section would be hot and uncomfortable. I was enjoying the cool air.

I had to cut the 7.8-mile loop hike short, though.  I knew I was going to get hit with heavy rain, and I did not want to be caught on a high elevation, exposed trail.  We took the Marshall Gulch trail downhill to the road and walked back to the car by then.

It began to rain in earnest at the parking lot.  Many people were still picnicking, but getting their stuff together to seek shelter.  I threw on my rain jacket (which, I discovered, is useless in the rain) and walked with Gretel along the road.  She was wet, too, but took it all like a champ. 

My hike was just under two hours.  While I wasn't able to hike the intended loop, I got a good idea of the terrain there.  I will come back in another month and do the entire Aspen Loop from the Mint Springs area.

The sun was setting as I drove down the mountain.  I got to see the sun set when I made it to Houghton Road.  I stopped at a Magpie's pizza shop to grab a small veggie pizza, then drove home in the dark in a constant downpour.  It was storming over Sierra Vista and then Hereford, and the rain didn't stop until just after 9:30pm when I arrived back home.