15 January 2013
Today broke cold and clear. Here in Green Valley we had a low of 9 degrees at 6:30 AM. I had scheduled a MeetUP hike for 10am so Betsy and I were out the door by 8:00 and on our way to Sabino Canyon where we would MeetUp with the Tucson Hiking Group.
The Sabino Canyon area of the Catalina Mountains has some great hikes. And there are hikes for all fitness levels. There are short strolls on the half mile nature trail loop, 13 mile + canyon-to-canyon hikes and multi day back-packing hikes.
On this day we would be hiking 4 miles up Bear Canyon to Seven Falls - a famous destination for hikers from all over the world, and a local favorite.
Bear Canyon runs parallel to Sabino Canyon and is the next canyon over to the east. The maps below will help with orienting.
Google terrain map of Sabino/Bear Canyon area
The Bear Canyon trail runs up the canyon criss-crossing the creek 7 times. Near the falls the trail switch-backs up the west facing side of the Canyon and levels out. Shortly after that there is a short spur trail down to the falls. The Bear Canyon Trail continues on up the canyon and connects with the East Fork Trail.
Above terrain map is from Andy Flach's "
Sierra Club: Tucson Trail Guide"
Copyright 1997: Andy Flach
Click on the photos below for a larger image.
By 10:00 we had a group of 14 hikers assembled. After brief introductions we were ready to hit the trail.
Since I am always getting turned around in the maze of trails and roads in lower Sabino Canyon, fellow hiker
Roger Nordby agreed to lead the first leg up to the tram stop. Roger set a brisk pace which quickly got us warmed up.
Here, Roger looks up Bear Canyon. At this point it was wide open and sunny.
In places the canyon narrows and the trail hugs the creek and side of the canyon.
We were all enjoying the view up the canyon and anticipating the first crossing. Note the trees and shrubs in the gravel of the creek bed.
The trail gets pretty rocky in places and care must be taken not to have a mis-step. The trails out here are way different from back home and they make for a nice change.
The lovely Miss Winky sporting her new day pack and trekking poles.
The trail and canyon widened out for a bit, but that would change soon.
The first of seven crossings. Luckily the water was low and no one ended up with cold, soggy boots.
It was fun watching people pick their way across.
Some of the places in deep shade were cold and icy, especially near the stream.
Here Roger helps out the less sure footed.
The many pools looked very tempting even in this chilly weather.
The blind leading the blind?
Saguaros and Sycamores - what a great combination!
The geology of this area produced some fantastic patterns and shapes.
Here, hiking buddy Allison approaches the step-ups between these two giant boulders.
Check out the size of that boulder! That must have made a bit of noise as it tumbled down the canyon slope.
A look back down the trail towards the Tucson basin.
This must turn into quite the water slide after a heavy rain.
The were a few spots where the trail squeezed between giant pieces of break-down.
By now we had ascended the canyon wall via a series of switchbacks and were getting some good views of the creek below.
We are nearly to the falls now.
My tiny camera cannot convey the size of the falls. This shot was taken from the trail just before the spur down to the falls area.
When you see how tiny the people appear, it gives you a better idea of the size of the falls.
The spur trail drops into a gully with big step-downs and then you cross a large rock sheet to the falls proper.
The white in the water is ice. There was a thin skim of ice over then entire pool.
Looks kinda like an LL Bean photo shoot.
This is looking up at our sunny lunch spot at the base of the falls.
The rocks are smooth as glass and beautifully sculpted.
The cool days and frigid nights had left an icy calling card.
One could not ask for a better spot to rest and have lunch.
This was a quickly snapped shot of a
Rock Wren that was hanging around our lunch spot. No doubt it is used to cleaning up the crumbs left by all the hungry hikers.
Thus far we have seen or heard 3 wrens in the area. The Cactus Wrens are common and seen all over. On a previous hike were heard the
lovely call of the Canyon Wren. The first time Betsy and I heard a Canyon Wren was nearly 31 years ago on our
Honeymoon.
These two group photos were kindly taken by another visitor to the falls.
It is hard to tell, but the figure in the middle is a sun bather. Click for a larger image.
The return hike was like a completely new one. The change in the light and direction made it as unique and interesting as the hike up.
Before we saw this Phainopepla we heard it's soft call note. We see these birds just about every hike out here.
The next time I see this pool I hope it is warm enough to see Betsy frolicking in the cool waters of the Catalina snow melt.
'Till next time...