Juan Tabo Canyon Trail #4, Sandia Mountains, 1/25/14

A day of exploration! First time hiking trail #2, #2B and the southern section of trail #4.  Finding the trail head was challenging. No markers. We hiked almost to the end of Trail 2 before I was able to admit that, yes, we were on the correct trail. Trail #2 ended in a residential area and was barricaded.  Turning back, we could see the canyon cutting into the mountain where the southern end of trail #4 ends.

Trail #4  started in a wide riverbed...

that, entering the canyon, gradually got narrower...

and narrower. Water flows for the second half of tail #4 and we hopped our way back and forth following the stream bed.

End of the trail: the boundary with the Sandia Pueblo grounds. This is not a well known trail. Only locals seem to know it.  We were alone most of the time which gave us the feeling of being completely separated from civilization, although the city was right over the hill and city noises were audible from time to time.

Tree Spring Trail, Sandia Mountains, 1/5/14

First hike of 2014. Looking for snow, we picked a hike on the east side of the mountain. We donned our yak tracks and started out on this trail covered with more ice than snow, got side tracked, hiked part of Oso Corredor trail and.... ended up back to the trail head. 

Got to enjoy some great eastern views once we found the correct trail climbing up the mountain.

After 2 miles, we reached the Sandia Mountain Wilderness boundary. The Tree Spring trails merges with the 10K Loop and the Crest trails at this intersection. Just 200 feet west, we found an outlook with spectacular views of both the mountain and the city.

Ventana Canyon to Maiden Pools, Tucson, AZ, 12/30/13

We set out to hike Mount Lemmon about mid-morning but were turned away because of snow and ice on the trail. That left us the option of finding a (half-day) hike at lower elevation. We explored Sabino Canyon during our previous stay in Tucson about five years ago and so settled on much less visited Ventana Canyon.  Until recently access to the canyon was difficult because permission was needed to cross private land.  A one-mile easement was built by the county opening up the canyon to all.

Saguaros replace trees along the canyon walls.

Along the trail: ocotillos, prickly pear, barrel cacti and mesquite trees.

Jim standing next to a baby saguaro - just to give you a feeling of their size.

It was the day for bird nests.  We found several along our route.

Our hiking companions: friends Katy and Marlin.

About 2 miles up the trail, our goal: Maiden Pools

A jewel of a canyon and a gem of a hike.
Happy 2014!