Catalina State Park – 3/02/09

I’m training for a 5.5 mile trail run on April 11th. The event is being held at Catalina State Park, so why not train on the actual trail the race is on? So, that’s what I’ve been doing. I brought my camera and walked back up the trail after my morning run and took a few pics.:

As always, click on any pic for a 1024×768 version.

This is the big parking area near the trailhead for several trails that start and end near here. Who’s great looking Scion is in the shot? Looks like it could use a wash!

Here’s a better look at my beautiful car looking back toward Pusch Peak.

Looking back toward the parking lot and the trailhead from the Canyon Loop that also leads to the Birding Trail and Romero Pools, Romero Pass and Mt. Lemmon if you are really really ambitious.

Most folks end the 2.3 mile Canyon Loop hike here. Since the race enters here and finishes after exiting the trailhead, I’ve been “running” (more like jogging and walking) the same direction as the upcoming race.

The trail starts out flat.

Lined with scenes like this one. A hill beside the trail covered with Saguaro Cacti, the Arizona State Flower.

There are three wash crossings along the trail. Normally, the wash is dry, but there is snow melting in the mountains providing life giving water to the desert below.

The cool water flowing on a hot day (I took this picture late morning and it was already 80 something) not only looks refreshing, it is!

A couple of families in the distance enjoying the water in the wash.

That boulder is about to my shoulder, or about 4 feet high.