December 2015 Please remember to notify the “Hike Contact” if you want to participate on a hike ... do not hit “reply” as your message likely will NOT reach the correct person.

Wednesday, December 2 BLM / Ironwood National Monument – Volunteer Work Hike Level C Work Hike Hike Contact: Gary Borax, [email protected], 240-2559 Depart from Dove Mountain at 7:00am – Approx Return: 3:00pm We will meet up with other Volunteers at the Marana Airport at about 7:30am. We will be working with BLM, removing trash adjacent to Agua Dulce road about 2.5 miles south of road near the Pan Quemado Mountains. In the past we have cleaned up wreckage of a light plane crash and cleaned up around a Guzzler on 2013 National Public Lands Day in this area. We will walk parcels of BLM land in a grid pattern and will remove illegally dumped trash as well as border crossing related trash. It should be noted that in order to Volunteer for BLM Work Projects, you need to have a “2015 Volunteer Service Agreement – Natural & Cultural Resources” Form completed and on file with BLM prior to the work day. Bring gloves water and snacks We typically will stop for lunch on the way back at the Marana Airport.

Saturday, December 5 Milagrosa hike Level B, 6.15 miles and 970’ of gain Hike Contact: Suzi Manthorpe - [email protected] 520 222 3959 Depart DM Park 8:00 am, return about 3:00 pm ... meet Suzi ?????????????? Directions to trail head -Get to Catalina Hwy.Drive to Snyder and turn Right.Drive to Avenue de Suzenu and turn Left. Park at the end of this road. There is a locked gate but we can walk around it. We then follow Horsehead Rd to the trail head. Roundtrip distance is 6.15 miles with ups and downs and a great set of pools about half way.We will stop here for our picnic, so bring something with you... Time average for the roundtrip is 3.5 hours. Carpool fee $3.00

Tuesday, December 8 – Romero Springs - RT Level A, 10.2 miles, 2100’ elevation gain Hike Contact: Pete Andersen, [email protected], 425-308-7854 Depart DM Park @ 8:00 AM, Return around 4:00 PM This hike which starts in Catalina State Park will take us up into beautiful Romero Canyon. We’ll pass Romero Pools (2.8 miles) then continue up the trail to Romero Springs (5.1 miles), where we’ll stop for lunch. The upper portion of the trail will provide us with a beautiful vista of which forms the dramatic southwest façade of the Santa Catalina Range. Bring adequate water, snacks and lunch. Carpool fee is $2.00 plus $7.00 per car State Park fee.

Wednesday, December 9 – Wild Burro Canyon Work Hike Level B- Work Hike - 3.5 miles, accumulated elevation gain 1150’ Hike Contact: Gary Borax, [email protected], 240-2559 Depart 8:00am from Wild Burro / Ritz Trailhead – Approx Return Time1:00pm We will hike the Alamo Spring / Alamo Spur Loop. We will be trimming vegetation, raking, lining the trail with rocks and erecting cairns where needed. We will be driving into Wild Burro Canyon and leaving one vehicle at the State Land Boundary and a second vehicle below the Line Shack. Bring gloves water and snacks Thursday, December 10 Pontatoc Ridge, Level B, 5.2 miles, 1,300’ elevation Hike Contact: Jim Phillips, [email protected], ph. 579-0239 Depart DM Park 8:00 am, Return 3:00 pm The Pontatoc Ridge Trail is named after the Pontatoc Mine. Pontatoc Canyon is on the front range of the Catalina Mountains and is accessed from Skyline Drive. The trail takes us to the old mine site. There are excellent views of the west side of Tucson and Finger Rock. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Carpool fee is $3.00.

Saturday, December 12 TOWN OF MARANA HIKE (see sign up info below) Meet at WB Trailhead at 8 am

Tuesday, December 15 Tortolita Mountains - Upper Javelina Trail to Cochie Springs Trail - RT Level: B+, 11 miles. 1,705' elevation gain. Hike Contact: Pete Andersen, 425-308-7854 (mobile), [email protected] Meet @ Wild Burro Trailhead - Depart: 8:00 AM, Return: 3:00 PM We will start our hike at the South Upper Javelina Trailhead which is just north of the Dove Mountain GC Pro Shop & Caytons parking lot. From the TH we’ll hike up the Upper Javelina Trail, a short section of the Wild Mustang Trail to the Cochie Springs Trail TJ and then follow the trail down into Cochie Canyon. This is a great hike for those wanting the distance and wanting to see what is over in the next canyon. We’ll start the hike with a steady uphill climb, then the trail levels off for a mile or so before we head down into the canyon on an excellent gentle grade. This is an out and back hike so after lunch we’ll hike back up the trail, connect with Wild Mustang and then down the Upper Javelina to the TH. Bring adequate water, snacks, and lunch. No car pool fee.

Wednesday, December 16 BLM / Ironwood National Monument – Volunteer Work Hike Level C Work Hike Hike Contact: Gary Borax, [email protected], 240-2559 Depart from Dove Mountain at 7:00am – Approx Return: 3:00pm We will meet up with other Volunteers at the Marana Airport at about 7:30am. We will be working with BLM to block some old mine roads that lead up to some abandoned mines in foothills of the Waterman Mountains. To do this we will close the roads by installing a few metal posts and route closed signs. It should be noted that in order to Volunteer for BLM Work Projects, you need to have a “2015 Volunteer Service Agreement – Natural & Cultural Resources” Form completed and on file with BLM prior to the work day. Bring gloves water and snacks We typically stop for lunch on the way back at the Marana Airport.

Saturday, December 19 Catalina State Park – Alamo Canyon Level C - 3.6 miles, < 500 feet elevation gain Hike Contact: Helen Daniels 520-449-3375 [email protected] Depart Dove Mountain Park at 8:00 am – Return noon This is a great loop that is not detailed on the state park maps. After only about an hour we will reach the falls. The trail crosses the up part of the falls and then heads north back to the Romero Ruins area. Bring water, snack, sunscreen, and bug spray. Car pool fee $3 which should cover the $7 entrance fee to the state park.

Friday, December 25 Up the Upper Javelina, and down the Spur Level C- 2 miles and no more than 350’ gain Hike Contact: Joel Tormoen [email protected] Depart WB trailhead TBD This hike would be on the evening of the 24th to hike up and around behind the Ritz with three objectives in mind ... besides the hike itself. One would be to hear the flute player behind the hotel. Second would be to get views of the sunset which should occur about the same time. And third to get views of the rising full moon back to the east. This is the date of the full moon so all these should come close to coinciding. A flashlight or headlamp might be wise. Tentative plan ... so stay tuned if interested. And i need to confirm with the hotel that it being Christmas, their flute plan hasn’t changed. No carpool fee, but bring water ... and especially if we did option one, a camera might be nice. Tuesday, December 29 Wasson Peak Loop in the Level: A-, 11.6 miles. 2,000' elevation gain. Trailhead Elevation: 2,600’ Hike Contact: Ray Kuhn, 484-347-8123, [email protected], Depart: 8:00 AM – Est. Return: 5:00 PM Wasson Peak (Elev. 4687) is the high point of the west unit of Saquaro National Park (U.S. National Park Service) and is located in the Tucson Mountain Range. Wasson Peak provides an excellent view of Tucson and several surrounding mountains including Lemmon, Wrightson, Baboquivari, Kitt and Picacho. This hike combines several established trails. The first section of the hike follows Hugh Norris trail to the summit of Wasson Peak. On the return trip follow King Canyon trail. After reaching the Sweetwater-King Canyon junction, we will travel nearly 1.5 miles west on this trail until reaching Sendero Esperanza trail. From here head north along Sendero Esperanza trail until meeting up with Hugh Norris trail again, following to the west until we reach our starting area. Bring adequate water, snacks, and lunch. Car pool fee is $3.00.

Additional Hiking Opportunities (Dove Mountain Hikers collaborate with the City of Marana Outdoor Recreation Programs, The Highlands Hiking Club and the Sunflower Hiking Club. Links to their respective sites for hike schedules and registration are provided below for your convenience: City of Marana (register online) https://apm.activecommunities.com/marana/Home Wear suitable hiking boots, bring a snack, lunch and a minimum of 3 liters of water per person. There are no restroom or water stations on the trail. Sunscreen, hat and walking sticks are suggested. No pets. Hikers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Wild Burro Trailhead at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain (14810 North Secret Springs Drive)

Highlands Hiking Club The upcoming Highlands hiking schedule is attached for your review. You may visit their schedule at the site below ... notify the hike contact of your interest. http://www.thehighlandsatdovemountain.com/_filelib/FileCabinet/Homeowners/Clubs/Hiking_Club/ December_2015_Hike_Schedule.pdf

Sunflower Hiking Club The upcoming Sunflower hiking schedule is attached for your review. As of the first of the year you may visit their schedule at the site below ... notify the hike contact of your interest. http://www.sunflowerliving.com/yearly/clubs_2009/Sunflower_Hiking.pdf

Additional Information Pertaining to Hikes Hike Ratings - Level - Miles Round Trip / Elevation Gain (low - high) Elevation accumulated with GPS A - 10 miles or more and greater than 2000 feet B - 6 to 10 miles and 1000 to 2000 feet C - 3 to 5 miles or less than 1000 feet D - less than 3 miles and less than 500 feet