May 4, 2024

May 4, 2024

Aimee and I have been remarking for months that we need to get out and hike occasionally to complement our daily walking routine. Well today we made good on that threat by driving to nearby Catalina State Park. In particular I have been wanting to see the effect of the 2020 Bighorn fire which slowly burned and smoldered for six weeks. The trail was closed for a long time for safety and to prevent erosion. Except for a poster board at the trailhead, one would never know there was a recent fire. The only evidence was a couple Saguaros with what looks like scorch marks on the lower half. Even then it was only a few specimens. Aimee and I have always commented on how Mother Nature quickly reclaims territory in the desert.

Like the more destructive Maui Fire, our Bighorn fire was blamed on invasive grasses that were introduced to our environment. The fear is that these grasses would subject our iconic saguaros to devastating fire. That seems to have been overblown. Desert bushes and Mountain Goats seem to be keeping it in control in the mountains. But not so for our yard. The unusually wet winter is fostering grass growth anywhere the desert has been cleared.

Our six-mile, three-hour hike in beautiful weather ended at Romero Pools. It is always a treat to find water in the desert. The shade, waterfalls, and higher elevation was refreshing.