All Entries in the "Arizona" Category

Review: Insight Firearms Training

Well, I had the opportunity to do something a bit different last week.  I was invited to attend the Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Course at Insight Firearms Training in Prescott, AZ, and since I’ve always enjoyed shooting and firearms I could hardly turn down the offer!  We used Insight for marksmanship and basic tactics training [...]

Tanque Verde Wash

One of the great things about Tucson is that there are some fantastic places to walk.  During the summer, the washes (dried stream beds for those of you from wet places) are pretty unbearable but now that the weather has cooled they are a great place to put in some miles.  They are easy walks [...]

A Dog’s Life

I’ve been a bit busy lately, so here is a short video of Saja showing what is really important in life.

Wanderlust

The fall has always been a special time for me. A time to hit the road and travel. Here is a short post to try to capture my mood.

Reddington Pass by the Numbers (Miles 5-7): Shooting Ranges

Heading east on Reddington Road, you hit a series of tight switchbacks just past the Upper Tanque Verde Falls trail head.  There are no significant trails on this section of the road.  To the south the terrain drops off steeply as you climb to the first pass, while to the north a gentle valley flows [...]

Tanque Verde Falls Water Level

We’ve had a couple of good, strong rains over the past week in northeast Tucson and I’ve seen an increase in search hits for water levels in Reddington, so I thought I’d give a quick update on conditions in the Tanque Verde valley.

Redfield Canyon Wilderness

What a wonderful soreness a strenuous hike brings!  I love it but have a sneaking suspicion that Saja doesn’t share my feeling!  She’s exhausted after our weekend romp and slept most of the day today.  I can’t blame her.  Climbing out of the canyon was the toughest mile I’ve hiked in a long time.  But [...]

Reddington Pass by the Numbers (Miles 0-5): Tanque Verde Falls

Reddington Pass is one of Tucson’s most accessible recreation areas and provides for a wide range of activities from hiking to shooting to four-wheeling.  Most of the pass falls within Coronado National Forest’s jurisdiction but there is also a fair amount of private land.  As always respect the rights of the private land owners, leave [...]

Mt Lemmon Fire Update #1

The Guthrie Fire has burned over 2500 acres so far.  Fire fighters & Forest Service officials view it as a beneficial fire and are letting it burn excess undergrowth while keeping it within prescribed boundaries.  The Arizona Trail in the vicinity was closed for safety.
There is not a lot of information about this fire on [...]

Hiking in the Oven

It was hot today; well over 100F with little cloud cover.  I spend a lot of time outside under the Arizona sun, but today was a bit much even for me.  The heat saps your energy.  Your heart feels like it’s racing.  Your throat is parched again two breaths after a drink.  Every movement becomes [...]

A Night on Mt. Lemmon; or, Is Davis Spring Trail Just a Myth?

The worst thing about hiking in the desert is that water weighs 8.3 pound per gallon. Somehow I managed to take a 60 pound pack on a one night trip. To make matters worse, Saja and I ended up going cross country in some rugged terrain when the Davis Spring Trail vanished. It was time for the old map and compass…

Something You Don’t See Every Day

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with camping, hiking, or really anything.  Except it made me laugh, so I thought I’d share it.  Found this posted at the Circle-K on Tanque Verde.
Now maybe this is a pure bred animal; maybe she took first place at the country fair; or, maybe she is dinner [...]

Taking Your Dog Hiking

OK, so you think it would be a good idea to take your dog hiking on Tucson’s trails, so you just take him with you next time. No big deal. Right?
Maybe not a good idea.  Here are three big things that you have to consider before you take your dog hiking:

Conditioning
Suitability (Breed, Temperament, & Obedience)
Local Conditions (Environment [...]

Molino Canyon Day Hike

Molino Canyon is one of my favorite Tucson escapes when time is limited.  The trailhead is just past the fee station on Catalina Highway, about 5 miles up the mountain.  You can’t miss the parking lot.   Once you arrive, you have three trails to choose from.  The first is off to the west and [...]

Packing for a Desert Day Hike

So what do you carry for a day on the trail?  I’m a bit of a boy scout so I tend to overpack and prepare for the worst.  My basic philosophy is to assume that every day hike will turn into an overnight.  Here is my basic kit:
- Lightweight hiking boots; I know some people [...]

Espiritu Canyon Trail

I’ve been looking for a dog friendly, backpacking trail into the Rincons, which is a bit of a challenge since dogs aren’t permitted in Saguaro National Monument.  Tanque Verde Valley has some good camping areas but it gets too much traffic.  After checking out the Rincon Mountains map I picked up from the Visitor Center [...]

Reddington Trail Run

Most of my running is done on the 49er’s golf course and washes.  These are peaceful runs with plenty of trees and soft grass (Saja’s Note: and plenty of cool things to smell!), but they aren’t especially challenging unless you are into sprinting.  Every runner needs a change of pace once in a while, and [...]

Butterfly Trail

I must confess that I don’t hike Mt Lemmon very much, which is criminal when you get right down to it since I only live a couple miles away, but as the summer heat hits Tucson the cool forest heights are pretty darn appealing.  So last Sunday, I threw Saja and the kids in the [...]