Beat the Heat

This last Saturday promised to get to 108 degrees in Tucson, so we decided to get a bit of relief and head up to Mount Lemmon. Packed the little grill, ice chest and snacks and headed for the mountain. We drove around just looking at cabins for awhile, went to see Jim's cabin he sold there, which looked about the same. Then settled in for a late afternoon of enjoying the scenery and cooler weather.

We stopped at a picnic area just down from Summerhaven, got all set up to sit back and relax and enjoy. But it just became a little cool with the stiff breeze. We even put on light jackets, but just not comfortable. So packed up and headed farther down the mountain.

We found a perfect spot where it was the perfect temperature and hardly any people, so set up the ice chest and grill. Settled back with a glass of wine, then Jim proceeded to grill the best brats we have had (anything to do with eating in the beautiful forest?). Of course we finished our great meal with S'mores.

It was so pleasant just to get out of the heat and enjoy the outdoors. We need to do this more often.

Morning Mt. Lemmon Hike

It's been a while since I posted any activities, but we really haven't done anything out of the ordinary. But this morning we thought we would escape the heat and head up to Mt. Lemmon for a bit of exercise.

We started our hike at an elevation of 7,960 feet, hiked up to the ski area, then kept going. The temperature was probably high 60s, which felt great. This is a view on the way up looking east.

The wildflowers are quite plentiful and pretty in the high country.

The highest point (top of the mountain) was an elevation of 9,135, so we climbed a total of 1,175 feet in a little over 3 miles. Jim climbed the mountain like a mountain goat without even breathing hard. Now me, I struggled all the way up, but I did make it to the top. Here is a view of where we stopped for a snack.

Now it was quite easy going back down and it sure didn't take as long. When we got to the ski area again, the ski lift was operating, so we hopped on for an easy ride up to the top of the mountain - again. That sure was a lot easier and nicer way to get up there - but where is the fun in not struggling?

When we got back up to the top, we stopped for a bit of lunch while looking at this view. As you can see there is some new trees growing after the devastating fire of about 11-12 years ago.

After lunch, we hopped back onto the ski lift and headed back down the mountain. From the ski lift back to our vehicle this is what the path looked like. Everything is quite green and lush from all the rain.

We had a very nice workout (well more of a workout for me, for Jim it was a walk in the park) going about 6 1/2 miles. The weather was perfect, now back to Tucson and 100 degree weather.

To Mt. Lemmon In Style

After enjoying a mini-cruise in the Super Snake on Sat. morning with a run to Catalina with the So. AZ Mustang Club having breakfast at Claire's, we decided to take the Cobra out for a run on Sunday morning.

We ended up at Mt. Lemmon. It was a beautiful morning and the temperature up at the top probably in the low 70s. Being early in the morning the traffic was light (except for all the bicyclists). It was such a pleasant drive through the tree lined road with the refreshing air. Coming down off the mountain though, it kept getting hotter and hotter, so by the time we got home, we were glad to park the Cobra in the garage and go into the air conditioned house.

Memorial Day Drive

I'm a little late in getting this posted. We went for a drive up to Mt. Lemmon on Memorial Day. I believe everyone else in Tucson had the same idea. The road was quite busy both ways with holiday traffic, but it still was a pleasant drive - since we were not in any hurry and just enjoying the day. The weather was a beautiful 91 degrees at the bottom of the mountain and decreased to 69 degrees at the ski resort area. We made it just in time for lunch (boy was our timing good or what?), so stopped at the Iron Door at the ski resort for a tasty lunch of a salad and brats/german potato salad/red cabbage, which was quite tasty.

The inside the Iron Door restaurant is a rustic cabin feel. They also have a nice patio for eating outside, but we took an inside table so the wait was not as long.

 Here is a view of the ski slope from the front of the restaurant.

Then walking across the street you can take the ski lift up to the top of the mountain. We have done that in the past so didn't partake in this trip that day.

Then from the parking lot here is looking, I believe, east to the desert below.

Here is a view of driving back through Summerhaven. I was impressed with all the rebuilding after the fire up there several years ago where it took out the whole town and many homesites. The homes that they rebuilt are beautiful, big log cabins (if you could call them cabins). Plus in their rebuilding the town they added a few restaurants to draw more people up there.

Then we just followed all the traffic back down the mountain into 96 degree weather. All in all it was a very pleasant drive. Haven't been up to Mt. Lemmon since the fire and was pleasantly surprised what we found.