Cochise Stronghold -

One of my most favorite places on earth! Oh how I love thee....

It is astounding to me that Arizona has so many incredible landscapes all in one state. If I didn't know better, I could have mistaken the Stronghold for Africa. Wait, I think I see a giraffe!

Break from the heat

I can't believe it! This is my 150th post. Since I forgot to celebrate my 100th post, maybe this deserves some kind of celebration? So, how about a cheers to all of you who stop by and share my life with me! You rock.

It's been getting progressively hot here, but not as bad as it usually is this time of year. It seems that the weather patterns have shifted a little bit and we are experiencing clouds and rain in May. Very unusual but welcomed by us humans. I do wonder how a change like this will effect the rest of the desert. As I am sitting here typing, it seems as though we may get a few showers shortly. I'm not complaining...I love it!

Yesterday was pretty hot, however, and to escape the heat some friends and I drove up to Mount Lemmon. It's pretty amazing that you can go from desert to a place like this is 45 min. Here...see what I mean.

Doesn't look like a desert, does it? This amazing fern forest was such a treat for us desert dwellers. And for those of you from Tucson, this is located on the Butterfly Trail on Mount Lemmon. It's a steep hike, but well worth it.

The New Mexican Locust were gorgeous.
This waterfall is one destination on the hike...such a peaceful spot to take a break.

These caterpillars were all over the trail...probably why it's called Butterfly Trail. I wonder what kind they are?And these tent caterpillars were on another trail higher up. I know they can be pretty destructive in some areas (they were in Michigan), but I didn't see too many of them so hopefully they won't do damage. I just think it's so cool how they make this cocoon....like a big caterpillar orgy. :P

Thunderbird Trail - Tucson

N and I really had the urge to hike the other day, but we've been a little bored with our choices lately. Not that Sabino Canyon and Mount Lemon aren't incredible, they are! It's just that we've been there so many times that we wanted to try something new. Enter Thunderbird Trail at the foothills of the Tucson Mountain Range. This trail was great! Not only was it only about a ten minute drive from my place, it has some of the most lush vegetation I have seen in this area. The 4 mile round trip hike was not difficult, but also gave us a decent workout since you are either decending on the way in or ascending on the way out. To make it even more interesting, there are several abandoned mines along the trail.


I don't know if this mine is seeped in some tragic past, if it was the cloudy day, or the sadness to see such a huge saguaro come to it's end, but N and I both got a very eery feeling around the mine. We both remarked that it felt like a grave yard. I'm curious to know if something happened here in the past.

Regardless of the somber mood, these spines were facinating to see up close.

It seems that Warren at Touch the Wind started something. I found myself searching the entire hike for a saguaro arm that is eeking out into the world. Ah ha! Mission complete!

Hi everyone...
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of delicious food, family, and friends.

My mom came in town to visit and it was nice to have her here. We spent Thanksgiving Day at a friend's house along with roughly 30 other people...many friends from school and a few others that I met that night.

It was an outdoor event as you can imagine it would have to be with that many people. Unfortunately, that lovely rain that we had been anticipating for so long decided to make it's appearance on that same day. It was fortunate that my friend NM had the foresight to ask me to help her throw some tarps over the ramada. Well, we didn't exactly just "throw" them over. It was more like careful tiptoeing 10 feet in the air on a wooden structure half rotted by the sun as we nailed the tarps down. No injuries, though, and a good adventure. NM also did a fabulous job decorating the place on a very small budget. It was really special...the picture does not do it justice...

On Friday, we went for a hike at Sabino Canyon. The sky was cloudy off and on, which made for amazing light on the mountains. I love that kind of day in the desert.

The strangest thing was that this contorted saguaro was in bloom...I have never heard of a Saguaro blooming in November. Perhaps it was confused?

At that point we had pushed my mom's soar foot a bit too far, so we may our way for supper. Fortunately, her foot seemed to feel a little better after a good bit of Mexican food at El Charro, a gorgeous sunset, and some sleep. The perfect ending to her trip...

Madera Canyon

I'm about ready to go to bed...after reading 100 pages of literature on urban design and planning I am feeling pretty tired, but I wanted to share pictures of the hike N and I took today at Madera Canyon.

I was so in need of an escape to the fresh air of the mountains, and it was wonderful. There is nothing like the smell of a cool breeze with a hint of pine; especially because it was 101˙ in Tucson today.

The site and sound of the small creek that runs through the canyon was also refreshing. The sound it made through most of the hike was so soothing. I wish I could capture that sound and bring it home with me.
There were all sorts of different grasses in flower along the trail. N and I were commenting on how beautiful our native grasses are, and how we wish they were used more in urban and residential landscapes.


There were also many insects out today; it must be the perfect weather for them. We saw quite a few beautiful insects, but this one in particular amazed me with its colors.

There were also a bunch of black hairy caterpillars around...I was wondering if they are the larva of this insect? I am thinking it is a type of moth because of its antennae??? Hmmmmm....

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

On an evening hike last night at the Phoenix South Mountain Preserve we encountered many, many very hungry caterpillars. I haven't been able to figure out what kind of moth or butterfly they will turn into, but I have a suspicion that it is a Hawk Moth caterpillar. It was quite a site to see all these hungry fellows moving around the muted desert floor. They dotted the landscape with their neon colors.

It's amazing how quickly one can escape the feeling of being in the city, when natural open space is nearby. Just a few minutes into the hike and the sounds of the city started to disappear. We started to feel a cool desert breeze and smell the creosote. On our return back to the car, we heard the happy yipping sounds of a group of coyotes down in the wash. We had intended to move in their direction, but chose to take the high road instead. As we turned toward the trail, I noticed a very large shadow creeping behind us. Funnily, my first reaction was to growl very loudly and throw a stone; while contemplating whether there were mountain lions on South Mountain. Naw! When I slightly regained my senses, I tried to figure out what this strange silhouette belonged to...from the best I can tell it was a very large Javelina, trying to escape the pack of coyotes...we blew his cover! Hopefully, after wondering what these strange humans were doing, and laughing to himself, he managed to escape the coyotes after all.

So, we made it back to the car, but the whole way back I looked behind me to make sure there were no more strange shadows lurking in the dark. Despite my own fears, I am sure the other animals were just as confused or scared...these crazy humans.

From Phoenix to Paris

Nope. I didn't travel to Paris last weekend, but it sure felt like it. Sophia, my roommate, had a friend from Paris in town, and despite still being in America, he brought a bit of Paris to us.... Long breakfasts savoring the delicious crepes he prepared....lazy afternoons sipping wine and feasting on cheese and bread...leisurely strolls through the French countryside...o.k. so it wasn't the French countryside, but it felt like it.

We also took him to Phoenix First Friday to experience a bit of American culture...although I wouldn't say it was very typical of American culture. It's about the only time you can see that many people on the downtown streets of Phoenix...it's a blast...and one of the best cultural experiences in Phoenix. Where else can you find a man with blond dreads perched in a tree house, dancing and playing reggae music in front of a little bungalow where a man paints portraits with spray paint?

I didn't really get pictures of the First Friday event, but here are some of our trip to Gisela, near Payson, and Rio Salado, in Phoenix.

Gisela

Rio Salado

Rim Country

N and I drove up to an area just outside of Payson to camp and hike Saturday and Sunday. We had a lovely time and enjoyed the cool air and amazing scenery. It's a magnificent area bordering the Arizona's Mogollon Rim --Rim Country, they call it. They area is surrounded by three national forests, Tonto, Sitegreaves, and Coconino, making it a perfect place to hike and camp to your heart's content.

I wish I had taken more pictures of the incredible views, but we mostly saw those as we were driving...the few I got are of closer views, mostly our hike at Horton Creek.

Horton Creek

Willow Springs Lake

Water, Water Everywhere

Sabino canyon is FULL of water...Sunday was so much fun...the cooler air and water, water everywhere made it fun to get out for a good hike. It doesn't look that strong, but this water could push me right over if I wasn't careful...in fact, it almost did. I can understand how people managed to get swept away in their cars while driving near the washes last week...I think I'll try to stay far and clear from them when it's raining...but as long as the sun's shining, I'm getting wet!