Ken Knight's posterous - Thoughts from the world at-large.

Dec 10

Douglas Springs Trail and More, December 2009

The trail network in the Rincon Mountains is extensive. This year we used the trailhead of the Douglas Springs Trail as our start and end point. This opened up some new routes for exploration. While the area can be busy you can find yourself in places where you are enough alone to absorb the desert experience.

I apologize for the dark spots in the lower left of some of the video. The protective skin I had on the iPhone covered a bit of the lens and that was easy to miss when shooting.

** Ken **

Sent from my iPhone

Loading mentions Retweet

Comments [0]

Dec 5

Douglas Springs Trail to Bridal Reef Falls

One way from the falls to trailhead. the falls this time were dry but water can be found elsewhere.

Name:	Douglas Springs Trail to Bridal Reef Falls
Date:	Dec 4, 2009 12:00 pm
Distance:	3.14 miles
Elapsed Time:	1:33:08
Avg Speed:	2.0 mph
Max Speed:	3.5 mph
Avg Pace:	29' 37" per mile
Min Altitude:	2,682 ft
Max Altitude:	3,713 ft

Start Time:	2009-12-04T19:00:51Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	32.227363º N
Longitude:	110.650766º W

End Time:	2009-12-04T20:33:59Z
End Location:
Latitude:	32.235150º N
Longitude:	110.686851º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Jan 3, 2010 3:34 PM PST.

"Douglas Springs Trail to Bridal Reef Falls.kmz" is a Google KMZ track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"Douglas Springs Trail to Bridal Reef Falls.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

Click here to download:

Douglas Springs Trail to Bridal Reef Falls.gpx (217 KB)

Click here to download:

Douglas Springs Trail to Bridal Reef Falls.kmz (133 KB)

** Ken **

Sent from my iPhone

Loading mentions Retweet

Comments [0]

Dec 4

SweatwaterTrail to Wasson Peak

Looks like I goofed in posting the GPX and KML files for the Wasson Peak hike so here they are.

** Ken **

Sent from my iPhone

Click here to download:

SweatwaterTrail to Wasson Peak.gpx (212 KB)

Click here to download:

SweatwaterTrail to Wasson Peak.kmz (126 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet

Comments [0]

Dec 4

Sweatwater Trail to Wasson Peak, December 2009

sweatwater Trail to Wasson Peak one way is about 4.6 miles. data gaps exist because I left GPS off. Also the minimum elevation is complely nuts. A more realistic numbervis about 2,500 feet. Footing is generally good even considering the loose rocks on the trail between the big wash and main intersection.

Name:	SweatwaterTrail to Wasson Peak
Date:	Dec 3, 2009 9:34 am
Distance:	4.46 miles
Elapsed Time:	3:05:56
Avg Speed:	1.4 mph
Max Speed:	3.8 mph
Avg Pace:	41' 43" per mile
Min Altitude:	0 ft
Max Altitude:	4,556 ft

Start Time:	2009-12-03T16:34:10Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	32.288686º N
Longitude:	111.120680º W

End Time:	2009-12-03T19:40:07Z
End Location:
Latitude:	32.273439º N
Longitude:	111.146720º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Jan 3, 2010 3:30 PM PST.

"SweatwaterTrail to Wasson Peak.kmz" is a Google KMZ track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"SweatwaterTrail to Wasson Peak.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

.

** Ken **

Sent from my iPhone

Click here to download:

Untitled.zip (263 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet

Comments [0]

Dec 2

Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon, December 2009

A hike from the Visitor Center looping along Phoneline and Sabino Canyon Trails and back on the road.

Name:	Track 006-Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon
Date:	Dec 2, 2009 10:44 am
Distance:	8.36 miles
Elapsed Time:	4:18:43
Avg Speed:	1.9 mph
Max Speed:	3.9 mph
Avg Pace:	30' 58" per mile
Min Altitude:	248 ft
Max Altitude:	3,639 ft

Start Time:	2009-12-02T17:44:59Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	32.309530º N
Longitude:	110.823071º W

End Time:	2009-12-02T22:03:43Z
End Location:
Latitude:	32.310007º N
Longitude:	110.822611º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Jan 1, 2010 6:33 PM PST.

There are three files attached to this email:

"Track 006-Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon.kmz" is a Google KMZ track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"Track 006-Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

"Track 006-Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon.jpg" is a picture attached to the track by Ken Knight

** Ken **

Sent from my iPhone

Click here to download:

Track 006-Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon.gpx (603 KB)

Click here to download:

Track 006-Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon.kmz (284 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet

Comments [0]

Dec 2

Hiking Phoneline and Sabino Canyon Trails

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area is just a coupe miles from where we are staying here in Tucson. It is full of a wide assrtment of trails from easy to difficult. This loop hike which spends the bulk of it's time on trails is moderate tending towsrds the easier end. You gain around 500-600 feet as you meander up into the mountains. Views are pleasant and when you don't hear the loudspeakers of passding park trams you can soak in the desert silence. If you are lucky you might spy some wildlife like we did, about ten whorthogs or something similar. The worst of the hike is the descent along Sabino Canyon Trail which is sandy and steep in spots.

We have been visiting this area around this time of year for the past decade. This year we saw very little water. The overflow just beyond the desert floor which last year was flowing briskly was bone dry. However, we found spots where pools still exist especially as we hiked down towsrds the tram road and along the road.

(download)

** Ken **

Sent from my iPhone

Loading mentions Retweet

Comments [0]

Oct 27

Sometime They Travel in Style

We tend to think of bus travel as uncomfortable and less useful than most everything else. And while it is true many who use the US bus network do so because they have no choice it isn't always true that buses are bad. Many are quite nice. If you travel thousands of miles a year to hudreds of places a bus is perhaps the best choice if you have a small group and lots of stuff. Take a look at this case in point. I reckon the band are quite comfy in there.