Last Hike for 2016

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
December, 30, 2016

Our last hike for the year was a nice easy 3.5 mile hike in Saguaro National Park.  The loop was a combination of four trails...the Cam-Boh/Ironwood Forest/Picture Rocks Wash/and Ringtail Loop.

The Cam-Boh trail was lined with healthy and tall saguaros, 

the "real" Christmas Cactus (so named because of it's red winter fruit and green stem),



 and lots of barrel cacti.


 In June of 2000, 129,000 acres were designated as the Ironwood National Monument to protect the Ironwood trees and other desert vegetation.  These beautiful trees with their dark, smooth wood are more like a large bush than a tree.  In the spring they are covered in purplish blossoms that become bean pods which many desert animals eat.  





























The views at the "high point" on Ironwood weren't spectacular, but still pretty.  We caught glimpses of Tucson, and mountain peaks in all directions.

We both commented on the large number of small saguaros scattered among the many huge saguaros with lots of arms.  Since these beauties grow very slowly, a 10 year old plant might only be 1.5 inches tall.  We didn't notice any that tiny.  The small ones we saw were probably around 40-50 years old.

As we made the left turn onto Picture Rocks Wash...

 ...our information said to look for petroglyphs (a hand and a bird) believed to have been drawn by the Hohokam Indians who occupied these valleys from 300-1400 A.D.




I did a little research on Hohokam petroglyphs.  I saw examples of hands, birds, human figures, animals, etc.

  


I'm not convinced these are "real" examples of their drawings, but then I am not an archeologist. We were in the National Park and you would like to believe they were, right?

 The last section of the loop, Ringtail Trail, is so named because of frequent ringtail sightings.  Ringtails are about the size of a large cat and are in the raccoon family.  They are also the state mammal of Arizona.  As you probably guessed, we didn't see a single one !

We did, however, have some excitement though.  I handed Joe the phone and he got the usual picture of me walking ahead.


All of a suden I heard a THUD !











Yep, Joe stumbled and fell.  He said, "I'm OK.  I should have been watching the trail not your tail !".  We used the first aide kit in the jeep for the first time !  

The rest of the week-end we were busy packing, I did some cooking and the pups got a bath.

Jack, 


and Dover didn't mind too much, 

 but, Sally was traumatized !  So much so that when we walked the pups last night, Sally stopped in her tracks and would not budge when we turned the corner that headed toward the doggie wash station. 




 Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS !

Up next, fun in San Diego ! 

Phoneline Trail...Sabino Canyon

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
December 28, 2016

The Phoneline Trail is perfect for a birds-eye view of Sabino Canyon.  It basically follows the commercial tram road, but its etched into the canyon wall high above the canyon.  It was actually established in the early 1900s and I read that if you look hard enough you can see a few remaining rusty poles that once supported the phone line for which the trail was named.


 There are several different ways to enjoy this trail.  The VC offers maps and the Rangers are very helpful.  Joe and I chose to walk a few miles going up the trail and return the same way.  It's a good workout as the trail ascends.   














Along with the wide open views, which I didn't get pictures of because the lighting on this very overcast day didn't cooperate, there were lots of little things that caught my eye.

An uprooted Century Plant (Agave).  It takes up to 20 years to bloom and once it does, it dies.



 A Fishhook Cactus that only grows to about 6 inches.  They love desert slopes and often hide under bushes.





 I think these are called glochids...they occur in tufts around a main spine.  Their job is to keep the plant from loosing too much moisture in the form of evaporation.  So amazing !

 The canyon wall was covered in tiny plants,  moss, and lichens.  Beautiful rock gardens.

 The tip of a saguaro arm.  I think they are fascinating.   

And bubbles in Sabino Creek.

On the trail back to the parking lot, I spotted a female roadrunner in a nearby grassy spot.  She was very cooperative as I snapped quite a few photos following her on the trail.

Until next time, 

 HAPPY TRAILS !

Oh, if you like tamales, Joe and I discovered Tucson Tamale Company.  There are three locations on their website...click here for information.  



We had never had tamales before so we can't compare these to any others, but we cleaned our plates !