post-sprain "test-hike;" Black Friday in Bear Canyon

For the past few years, 'Black Friday' has been a hiking day, far from the madding crowds of the malls...Last week, when I sprained my ankle, I was afraid I might not be able to go for a hike this year, but fortunately, it seems to be healing quickly. So, yesterday, a couple of friends and I met for breakfast and then headed to Bear Canyon.

Parallel to Sabino Canyon, the trail to Seven Falls is mostly flat, although it zigzags across a boulder-strewn creek for a couple of miles before switchbacking a few hundred feet up the south wall of the canyon. (We figured if my ankle acted up, I could just forego the last part...but, bandaged, I made it all the way, no problem.)

(took my iPhone with me...such a handy camera!) Two weekends ago, I went for a trail-run in here, and there wasn't much water--we've had a pretty rainy November, though, so the creek's been 're-charged'...just enough for some reflective pools among the fall color...

[above photo just published in the Tucson newspaper...]

...and after 3 1/2 miles, voilà: 

 

I pieced together eight phone-photos for this panorama--gives an idea of the terrain:

...from the left of the photo--looking down and out Bear Canyon toward the southwest, to Tucson...to the right of the photo--looking straight west into the Santa Catalina mountains, at Seven Falls, cascading down a steep smooth-stone gorge...

We shared the trail with lots of other post-turkey hikers--nice to see groups of multigenerational trekkers--grandparents, their kids and grandkids--all together, outdoors as family instead of being indoors somewhere amidst the consumer-frenzy...