Ventana Canyon to Maiden Falls

After a couple of weeks of the Return of the Bulging Disk, I took my first foray out yesterday. Ventana Canyon is not one I had done before and I was surprised that the trail starts in the parking lot of the Loew's Ventana Canyon.

Yes, the first mile is all on easement, and as I trudged past the condos and barbed wire, it was somewhat depressing, but at the same time, it is beautiful from start to finish and it was nice to see several people who lived adjacent, either in condo or compound, out on the trail. Also, while it stinks to have to walk across private property, or see the best part of a stream blocked with a "No Trespassing" sign, I have to appreciate that at least we live in a city that recognizes that growth will happen, but some things need to be preserved, even if somewhat awkwardly. In Vegas it would already be a strip mall. I'm looking at you, growth around Red Rock Canyon.

The Sierra Club ranks this as a C in difficulty, or thereabout, and while it isn't long and doesn't have a huge elevation change, it is a narrow canyon and there's still quite a bit of climbing in and out of the river bed; I'd rate it slightly more difficult. Unlike a lot of other canyons, this one had water at nearly every crossing. There's extensive algae bloom because it's a slow flow and warm, so it was better to stay up on the rocks. So--harder on the ankles and the hamstrings than a once-over of a crappy map might convey, but well worth it. It's about 2.4 up to the falls and you can keep going until you hit the trail that links across the Catalinas if you want.


There were loads of birds, nests, butterflies, and early poppies. As usual, I was amazed by people walking in running shorts and tennis socks. Everything here will stab you--everything. It's all lovely riparian woodland from the second you walk out of the parking lot, but the scrub oak, mesquite and palo verde (no cottonwoods up here, possibly too narrow?) will tear you up before you even fall into the cacti, or more likely on this trail, take a misstep and fall down a steep uneven wall of rock. Wear some pants people, and try taking some water. Seriously.

Pima Canyon

So Friday was back to Pima Canyon. I started hiking this canyon almost exactly ten years ago and it was one of the first hikes I did in Tucson. It is still my favorite, although less convenient now that I live on the other side of town.

Once you get past the private-land corridor it's a nice warm hike across mostly sandstone to get to the opening of the canyon. Pima Canyon is just beautiful--corridors of scrub oak, mesquite and cottonwoods. Songbirds love it and so do the bunnies. The canyon is also narrow enough that you are walking in shade through most of the lower canyon until about 11 in the morning. This is a hike I'm going to keep in heavy rotation. I walked 2.5 hours and would have gone further if I hadn't had to go to work. I can't wait to get back.

Babad Do'ag

First hike today. I have never gotten a runner's high. I have absolutely never run far enough, no matter what the age, or the distance (which on forced junior high runs could be several miles) to ever have a runner's high. Running sucks. Period. Hiking on the other hand, rocks. I haven't been on an extended hike in five years, and my body shows it.

I started back today with Babad Do'ag (hereafter BD) and after ten minutes to find the trail head and run across traffic on a blind curve on the Catalina Highway, it was worth it. The worst part was following a small trail out of the parking lot, hoping I was going the correct direction, and winding up locked in a battle with a mesquite before praising Google and the Internet (thank you Sprint) for still working while I looked up information on the actual trail head.

Did I finish the trail? No. But I did a solid hour and a half, which isn't bad for a first back. And by the way, after the first ten minutes (five or less if you aren't out of shape and cursing decision to hike while wheezing like a fifty-year-old boxer on a comeback) that first upgrade from the road leveled out to a nice manageable uphill that was fun and pretty. Some endorphines? Yep, I'm sure. But at my own pace and no competition.

I'll be doing this trail for the next few weeks until I get to the top and it is still cool.