Elisabeth Wheeler Hikers, led by Jeff Love, enjoyed an adventurous hike up Oracle Ridge from the American Flag Ranch Trailhead outside Oracle. Recent rains had brought out abundant grasses and catclaw over the lower section of the trail. The 2000-foot elevation gain provided grand views of Apache Peak, Samaniego Ridge, and Picacho Peak in the…
Elisabeth Wheeler Eighteen SaddleBrooke hikers participated in the Arizona Trail’s AZT in a Day event on Oct. 9. Striving together with other hikers, bikers, and horse riders, the goal was to cover the 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail in a 24-hour period. This year, some sections of the trail had experienced fire damage and were…
Elisabeth Wheeler It is amazing that hikers can depart from SaddleBrooke and hike directly into the wilderness below the Santa Catalina Mountains. Hikers from SaddleBrooke have developed a network of trails to places like Picnic Rock, the Dome, the double-crested Saguaro, and Flag Hill. Jeff Love guided a group of hikers to explore these landmarks. Due…
Bruce Hale The SaddleBrooke Hiking Club welcomes Dr. James (Jim) Smith, an eight-year club member, as the featured speaker at its monthly meeting and program on Nov. 17, at the Activity Center. Dr. Smith’s presentation is titled A Hiker’s Guide to Birding: SaddleBrooke, SE Arizona, and Beyond. Alongside wildflower viewing, birding is an easy way…
Elisabeth Wheeler The SaddleBrooke Hiking Club is a strong supporter of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Volunteers attend five to six work sessions a year to maintain the Oracle Passage, a 8.6-mile section from American Flag Ranch Trailhead to Tiger Mine Trailhead, through Oracle State Park. Ongoing work is required to dig out encroaching catclaw,…
Walking on a Windy Day Lynda Green A lucky thirteen SaddleBrooke hikers followed the Arizona Trail from the Rte. 77 Tyger Mine Road access point to a viewing bench, high on a hill. It being late March, trail guide Kathryn Madore had promised wildflowers and birds for this bunch to see. Nature did respond with…
Trek to Garwood Dam/Wildhorse Pools Ruth Caldwell It’s a long drive across Tucson, but the hikers on Jan. 28 all agreed that the scenery made it worth the trip! Eight people made the trek to Saguaro National Park East. They hiked south along several trails, then proceeded up the Garwood Trail, passing a crested saguaro…
Elisabeth Wheeler SaddleBrooke Hiking Club members Seana Kobak and Beth Jones met each other on a hike with the club. An adventure hike to Mt. Lemmon cemented their friendship. They then traveled and hiked together on the club’s fall trip to Durango last year and continued from there for their first backpack in the Canyonlands…
Who Are Those Masked Men (and Gals)? Walt Shields They are the diligent SaddleBrooke Hiking Club work crew that participated in the Catalina Hills Drive Road Cleanup on Nov. 4, as a part of the Arizona Adopt-A-Highway program. The Hiking Club has provided volunteers for this project for around 12 years and is pleased to…
Aaron Schoenberg I guided the SaddleBrooke Hiking Club on a hike that provided challenges and exploratory opportunities, spectacular scenery, and amazing discoveries. We approached the scenic summit of Huachuca Peak on the Fort Huachuca Reservation from the west via a myriad of trails. It was an all-day adventure. We watched the sunrise as we drove…