I know I'm probably very boring when it comes to the weather on our hiking days. It seems to always be sunny and warm with beautiful blue skies. Well, I have to
finally say it hiking fans….we had a day that actually started out cloudy and remained that way for most of the hike. Don’t get me wrong it didn’t put a damper on
the hike in the slightest. A cloudy day
in the Old Pueblo is better than a sunny day anywhere in the world to me. It was cool and cloudy and beautiful! We hiked one of my favorite trails this week;
we returned to Sabino Canyon and followed the Bear Canyon Trail to Seven
Falls.
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| JoAnn leading |
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| Judy and LaNeta following
Our group
of 10 started out from the visitor’s center via tram to the trailhead. My adrenaline was really pumping – not only
because of the excitement of being back at Sabino Canyon, but because the group
had to go without me from our usual meeting point. I got a really late start in the morning and
had to drive alone to the canyon. The
parking lot is under construction and parking is very limited so I was afraid
that I would not find a spot to park. Even if I did get lucky and get a spot, I thought I would miss the group
and they would be on the tram and on their way up to the trailhead without
me. Neither of those things
happened. The stars were in perfect
alignment! When I pulled into the lot my
hiking buddies were walking across the parking lot to the visitor’s center, and
I pulled right into a parking spot as someone else was pulling out.
 
The views are spectacular, even under partly cloudy skies. These mountains and canyons dotted with saguaro, ocotillo, and cholla cactus are breathtaking - whatever the weather conditions.
Cloud cover just allows you to enjoy them without the heat of the sun to slow you down.
We took the
first tram to Bear Canyon at 9:00 a.m. and started out trek to Seven
Falls. This is a hike we usually do in
the early spring, but JoAnn decided to do this one early because Jim’s son,
Steve was in for the Thanksgiving holiday and wanted to hike with our group
while he was in town. We chose this one
because this is such a beautiful hike.
Jim and Steve
There
had been very little rain in the area since our monsoon season and the streams
were completely dry. In the spring, water is running because of snow melting in
the higher elevations of Catalina Mountains.
We still had to cross the seven washes, but we all made it with dry
feet.
 
Two of the dry stream beds we crossed. What a difference a day makes in the desert though. Last year when we hiked here, we came across safely and the next day it rained and helicopters had to rescue hikers. You just never know whats going to happen in the mountains. That is one of the reasons I probably will never hike alone. There is safety in numbers.
Another
plus for this hike – Gordy and LaNeta were back from the Dakotas for the
winter. YAY! In 2011, Seven Falls was my very first hike with
the group and LaNeta and I bonded quickly because we both ended up with wet
feet trying to navigate the streams. Not
a problem this week. LOL
Gordy and LaNeta
The
clouds didn’t dampen our spirits at all as we climbed along the trail. The trail is only 5 miles when you take the
tram to and from the trailhead, and the elevation is about 700 feet. The cloud cover kept the morning very cool
and comfortable, but we still stopped for regular breaks for water and to take
in the breathtaking views.
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We
had something new to keep our eyes peeled for on this hike. On Monday, they had released 31 bighorn
sheep in Catalina State Park. Rumor has
it, one of them headed toward Bear Canyon.
I would think I had died and gone to heaven if and when we ever spot one
of the sheep! Unfortunately, we saw no
wildlife at all….
I
have hiked this trail several times since 2011 and the one thing that stands
out to me is how much progress I have made as a novice hiker. I don’t think I complained of tiredness or
pain one time. My first time on this
trail, I thought I wouldn’t make it to the top, to the falls. I never felt that way this time. Maybe having an idea of how much further it
is to the end helps.
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| Jim snapping shots at the falls |
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| Finding good spots to relax for lunch |
We
made pretty good time reaching the falls and discovered there was not much
water at all. There was a little trickle
coming down the rock, but it was still a great place to relax and have our
lunch.
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| Just a trickle of water at the falls |
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| Rock formation resembling a totem pole |
After
our rest at the falls we packed up picked up and headed back down the
canyon. Oh I guess I should put in the
part about me doing a little rock climbing to retrieve a tee shirt someone had
stuck in an opening in the rockface.
This is a beautiful area, and it just hurts to see how some people will
deface or leave trash lying around.
I
don’t think I will ever tire of this hike, no matter how many times I am lucky
enough to do it. It is just as beautiful
if not more, every time I go.
See
you on the trails…..
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