Tucson Adventures

With a sparkling beautiful Sonoran Desert surrounding us at the Cactus Country RV Resort and reliably warm, sunny weather we quickly began to enjoy the local lifestyle and hiking in this second largest Arizona city. 

We are centrally located between the Santa Catalina Mountains to the east, the Baboquwari Mountains with Kitt Peak National Observatory to the west and the cactus of the desert in Saguaro National Park surrounding us.

Hiking in Saguaro National Park

With over 175 miles of hiking trails across the desert floor, up rocky canyons and across patches of snow, we have many options for both short, easy and challenging, longer hikes, always watching out for prickly plants and venomous animals.

    

   
Hiking in the desert

History in the Desert

In 1880 the railroad arrived in Tucson and the city needed to modernize. Adobe mud walls needed whitewash.  Dusty rooms needed plaster. New structures needed brick and mortar. The demand for quicklime grew. In the desert were needed materials – limestone, firewood and inexpensive labor.

 
Lime kiln

But as the trees, a source of beans, were cut, this food for cattle became harder for the ranchers to obtain. In 1920, by court order, ranchers gained rights to the trees and the kilns were closed.

Mount Lemmon

As we drive 22 miles up the Scenic Byway from the desert scrub in Tucson to snow in the pine forests on Mount Lemmon we pass through 5 climate zones with a temperature drop of at least 20 degrees.

    

Hiking in the mountains

Ski Valley on Mount Lemmon is the southern most ski area in the United States.

    
Mount Lemmon Ski Valley                                                          Spring skiing in winter

 

Desert Vegetation

 With more than average moisture this past fall and during January, the vegetation in the desert is much greener than we have experienced in the past. Grasses are growing and very small flowers are blooming. We hope to see some cactus in bloom before we leave this area but below freezing weather the past few days may have slowed this process.

The many sizes and shapes of cactus continue to amaze us on our hikes.

     

   

   

   

 

Take time for an easy mathematics/science problem.

With Tucson at an elevation of 3000 feet above sea level, what is the approximate altitude of Mount Lemmon?

Return to Arizona 2020 Postings Page