Trip South - Tucson Week 12 - Mt. Lemmon

 Start with a Bike Ride

Looks like rain

 

 

The sun comes back our so I can make lasagna

and Carrot Cake in the Sun Oven

and a whole chicken

With the rain we had earlier in the week, I want to take Tucson up to the top of Mt. Lemmon while there is still snow.

Going up!

We leave the city behind

The views are breathtaking

Uh Oh, don't have snow tires on

It's a winding road

 Up to 6000 feet

then 7000 feet

 Hope there is still snow up top

 

At 8000 feet we see  snow

 

 We stop at the Palisades Visitors Center so Tucson can play in the snow

 

 

 

Tucson has a ball

 We continue on up to the end at the Ski Center

 

 

 
I picked today to come up because the ski slope is closed on Wednesdays so less traffic and people

The views are incredible

 We go to the Cookie Cabin to try one of their plate size cookies

 

We split a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie ala mode.  Their signature cookie is the Rachel, so I picked one up to send to my sister Rachel.

 

Time to head back down the mountain.  We stop at a couple of the overlooks on our way.

The Windy Point Vista is a great stop.

 

 

The road continues on below

It is a stark beauty

Good thing I am a Capricorn, I can navigate the rocks pretty well.

To get the best view

 

 Gary is waiting back in the truck - you can just see it to the far left

View looking back at parking lot to where we came from

The Seven Cataracts Vista,  During rains there are 7 waterfalls here.  There is an unofficial trail with about a 1000-1300 feet descent straight down with a 60% grade on dirt, gravel & rocks used by Canyoneers. 

Back home what a great week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trip South - Tucson - Week 11

 The week starts out with a sighting of the local red tail hawk

 

 I made plans to go to the Sonoran Desert Museum with my friend Cathy.  It's MLK day so we get an early start to beat any crowds

Get there at 8:45

We start in the underground cave through the narrow passage for kids.  We discover our inner child.

Back on top we see the Deer

 

The Mexican Gray Wolves

The Great Blue Heron

The Prairie Dogs - Hey, don't I know you?

The Gray Fox

A peek at the Bobcat

The usually elusive Ocelot

Notice the white dots on the back of the ears (Flashers).  They ward off  predators who think they are being watched

Time to catch the Raptor Free Flight!

First up is the Chihuahuan Raven

The Great Horned Owl

Coming and Going

 

Next the Gray Hawk

 

 

Next the Caracara

Then the Harris Hawk - like any family there are quarrels

We wonder back through one of the desert trails

A lazy coyote

 

 

An Agave in Bloom - In January?

A "Painted" Desert

 

 

and a bunch of lazy Javelinas

 

 

 We get back to the main part of the Museum

Missed the Big Horn Sheep last time I was here.  Sad to find out the head male 

was euthanized last week.

 

and my Buddy Cruz!

All in all a great day at the Museum.  Crowds stayed away until we were leaving.  I never tire of this place so I will be back!