Spring 2023 – our third time to the Dragoons. We’ve camped at the Eastern Stronghold and hiked up to the divide, and now we’re returning to the Western Stronghold to approach the divide from the other side. This section of trail is the beginning (or ending) of the SkIT. While an excellent hike, the short … Read More “The Cochise Stronghold of the Dragoons” »
Tag: Sky Islands
After our bushwhacking trip through the Chiricahuas, Paul and I were in the mood for some manicured trail for awhile. The Arizona Trail and the Sky Islands Traverse share a route over several of the mountain ranges closest to Tucson. Because the AZT is a well-traveled trail, the route is well-maintained and easy to follow. … Read More “More Sky Islands: Traversing the Rincons” »
We’ve been to the Santa Ritas many times, frequently day hiking but also on a couple backpacking trips. Also known as Mount Wrightson and sometimes Old Baldy, the name(s) of its highest peak, the Santa Rita range lies to the south of Tucson. Although it is lesser known than Mount Lemmon of the Santa Catalinas, … Read More “Blown Away on Old Baldy” »
The Pinaleños are one beautiful and gnarly mountain range. We have a lot more exploring to do in this range, and it is guaranteed to be an adventure. Looking at a map, everything looks lovely. Like many trails in Arizona, constructed by the CCC and never given much maintenance beyond that, the trails are not … Read More “Pinaleños: More Fire Damage” »
The natural history of all the mountains in the Sonoran Desert are intriguing, but perhaps none have a richer human history than the Chiricahuas. Named for the Chiricahua band of Apache who lived here, the Chiricahuas and the neighboring Dragoon mountains are where the Apache made their last stand resisting the encroaching white settlers intent … Read More “Part Foolish and Part Brave in the Chiricahuas” »
Southern Arizona is home to a unique ecosystem. Lowlands punctuated by mountain ranges, coupled with biannual rainy seasons, has made the Sonoran Desert the most biodiverse desert on the globe. Thousands of years ago, when the climate was wetter and cooler, the lowlands were made up of pinon-juniper-oak forests. Over time, the climate changed and … Read More “Adventures in the Fire-Ravaged Sky Islands” »