Madera Canyon

We have been to Madera Canyon a number of times and each time is a new experience.  The first time we went - a couple of years ago - we were struck by the beauty of being in a forest in Arizona.  Once we were there in the middle of summer and the difference in elevation proved a blessing, a difference of 20 degrees, and shade.  And once we were there early March and ran into quite a bit of snow heading on the trail to Mt. Wrightson, a 9,456 feet tall mountain south of Tucson, nearing the Mexican border, and it is part of the Sky Islands (southern part of the Rocky Mountains.)   This area is in the Santa Rita Mountains. Very family friendly, hiking, picnicking, camping.  

Heading to Santa Rita Mnts

Trail cleaned and smoothed out

Turn off to Mt. Wrightson

As we started our climb (we would eventually go up 3,000 feet) we noticed from the last time we were there that someone (Boy Scouts? Rangers? Friends of Madera Canyon?) had greatly improved the trail to the fork where you continue to the saddle, or go on up to Mt. Wrightson.  We had tried to go as high as we could on that trail prior time, to us pretty challenging, but really didn't enjoy that trail as much as the one to Agua Caliente spring (saddle), which is still a pretty steep and rugged trail.  We went so far, taking lots of pictures and enjoying the snow even though the temperature was in the low 50s.

Very impressed with trail's improvement

Started to see snow

Arizona Sycamore

Lovely hike, and the smells of forest

Mt. Wrightson, 65 years ago, had a tragedy.  Six Boy Scouts began to hike up the trail to the top of the mountain and an unexpected snow storm came in.  Three of the 6 turned back while the other 3 continued on and 19 days later, their bodies were retrieved.  We have always thought to hike to the spot where the memorial is, but never got that high on the trail.  And it gets pretty rocky at the point we stop, but every year family and friends of the deceased hike up to the spot and pay their respects.  Sad.

At this point we went 2500 feet up

Our lunch spot

Madera Canyon has become one of our favorite places to visit.  We always pack a lunch before and find a nice spot to enjoy nature.

Photo of photographer

Doesn't look bad, but was dicy here

Was surprised at how, relatively, easy the hike up was.  Coming back down, stepping down over rocks and man-made steps of stone, a bit more dicy.  All in all very pleasant.  Wanted to see water flowing down from the mountain but there still was quite bit of snow the farther we moved up.  Still lovely.  And we keep coming back.

Agua Caliente

For the past couple or months Dave and I have been out roaming around, trying to find different places to hike or casual walk. Sometimes we have gone back to our known haunts such as Boyce Thompson which is an arboretum north of Oro Valley, or to Madera Canyon about 20 miles southeast of Tucson. We also go to Ramsey Canyon which is much farther south, not far from the Mexican border and that is a hummingbird paradise. But, I wanted to go to a yarn store north of Tucson and it's on the way to Mount Lemmon. Found Agua Caliente and we were blown away.

Who knew something like this is in the middle of the desert? It's located north of Tucson, and it's where a fault in the earth has made hot water (caliente is hot in Spanish, agua is water) seep out and down the mountain. They have had archealogical digs and found that peoples were in the area over 2000 years ago. The Army had a fort south called Fort Lowell, an historical neighborhood still in existance today,just north west of downtown. On our way to Agua Caliente I knew that we were not far from the ranch that Paul McCartney and his wife Linda owned (he still owns it) and visited over the years.

Were able to tour the ranch house (saw some neat quilts) and learned more of the history of the ranch over th years from when the Army came through to conservation to ensure it continues to function as a sanctuary. Just gorgeous. I was astounded at the number of turtles. Lots of photographers taking pictures of cormerants, of various duck species, lots of birds. It is known as a fly-way for migrating birds in the fall and spring.