March 21-23, 2008

March 21-23, 2008

We have seen almost every desert creature in the golf course “rough” below our deck except for javelinas. We have been hoping to catch of glimpse of these wild pig cousins before our lease expires. Luckily my bro-in-law Ed spotted a couple this morning, running past the green, unfazed by some golfers trying to putt. A minute later two more javelinas ran directly underneath our deck. While growing up, Ed always bragged about his animal magnetism. I should have taken his boast literally. He is a magnet for “animals”.

Jean and Ed haven’t had a chance to get much exercise during the snowy winter in St. Louis so I make them accompany us on another hike. It also gives us a chance to show off the beautiful Saguaro Cacti of southern Arizona. We drive to Saguaro National Park and take a hike up to the saddle below the summit of Mt. Wasson. Despite my warnings about cactus needles, Ed draws a little blood touching every variety. Aimee says that is the only way men learn.

On Saturday I give my relatives a day of rest and we spend it looking at open houses and a craft show. We have a nice relaxing lunch at the outdoor café of the Tohono Chul Botanical Garden. As Ed and I were exiting the restaurant, I glimpsed something lunge at my right leg. Instinctively I jump back and realize it is a rattlesnake, a venomous western diamondback. #@$%&!!! The rattler coils up, hisses, shakes his very loud rattle at me, and dares me to come closer. He is not big but he sure is mean. With all of our hiking we have yet to see a snake so I have been lulled into thinking rattlesnakes are rare and afraid of people. My soiled britches can tell you the diamondback rattler is not timid.

Aimee and I get up very early the next day and drive Ed and Jean back to the Phoenix airport and send them home on the first flight out. I have had enough animal magnetism to last me a long while!!!

March 20, 2008

March 20, 2008

Our second favorite spot in Arizona is Sedona. So on the drive back to Tucson we make a detour there, stopping first at the Visitor Center for a hiking recommendation. The host suggests scaling Doe Mountain. Both Sedona and the Grand Canyon have been packed (apparently Daytona and Lauderdale are now passé for Spring Breakers) and I am hoping she hasn’t told everyone to go there. It turns out to be a great hike. Doe Mountain is a large plateau that gives us great views of the surrounding red rock countryside. We have lunch while enjoying the ambiance. It is hard to beat the beauty of Sedona. Before leaving we stop at Red Rock Crossing to take the classic photo of Cathedral Rock. The crossing was the site of many a western film.

Back on the highway south we take a short detour to see Montezuma Castle National Monument. My sister was a history major in college and wanted to see an example of the many prehistoric ruins that the Indians built under the cliff overhangs in the Southwest. It is nice but she is disappointed she can’t crawl thru it. From there we make the long drive back to our apartment in Tucson.

March 19, 2008

March 19, 2008

My sister Jean and her husband Ed flew in to Phoenix this morning. We picked them up at the airport and drove to the Grand Canyon. My sister has fond memories of the Canyon from when our family was young and she wanted Ed to see it too. We stopped at the first rim overlook for the required photos and jaw-dropping views and then hopped on the shuttle to the South Kaibab trailhead. Ever since last year when Aimee and I hiked to the bottom we have been telling them how wonderful it was. We couldn’t get a reservation at the bottom so we decided to hike partway down and back up. Unfortunately we are a month earlier than last year and the Rim had a big snowfall just a few days ago. The top of the trailhead still has ice on it. Ed took one step down the trail, slipped, and landed butt-first in mud and mule droppings. (He is NOT riding back in my car!) Thinking he barely escaped sliding right off the edge, the girls immediately veto this adventure. Instead we hike leisurely along the rim back to the car. We have dinner at the Arizona Room overlooking the rim and spend the night in Flagstaff.

March 8, 2008

March 8, 2008

Aimee has developed some unexpected hiking courage so we have been attempting some of the shorter peaks in the area. We have summitted Picacho Peak twice and Mt Wasson once. Today we are going off the beaten path a little and scaling Safford Peak. To the locals, it is known as Sombrero Mountain because of its domed top. The trail to the top is poorly maintained so we end up backtracking several times. That is a problem since Aimee’s favorite part of our hikes is when we turn and head home. So every time we backtrack Aimee thinks we are done and wants to head back for good.

What has made the last two hikes memorable has been the sudden explosion of color up the mountains. Rainfall has been heavy this winter giving Tucson the best wildflowers in ten years. Especially bright and cheery are the yellow poppies. They make the hillsides glisten like gold and stand in sharp contrast to the normally subdued desert colors. We need to enjoy them while we can as they wont last long in the desert.