Tucson, Arizona

On May 14, 2009 I flew out to Tucson Arizona to pick-up Amanda as she wrapped up her freshman year at The University of Arizona. While I was there I managed to get some runs in and we took a little hike in the Saguaro National Park. Amanda had a great year at the U of A, and she was ready to come home for the summer.

The Saguaro Wilderness Area:

The Saguaro Wilderness Area was officially designated as wilderness in 1976. This large, road less back country consists of 57,930 acres within the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park. It is bounded on three sides by the 38,590 acre Rincon Mountain Wilderness Area, which lies within the Coronado National Forest. Although these wilderness areas are adjacent to one another, management philosophies differ.

Plant communities within the Saguaro Wilderness Area vary from hot and dry desert scrub to cool and moist pine forest. Six different biotic communities are represented here including: desert scrub, desert grassland, oak woodland, pine-oak woodland, pine forest and mixed conifer forest. This biologically diverse area supports a tremendous variety of plant and animal species. Please help protect this wild and wonderful place; leave all natural and cultural objects as you find them. It’s a great place to visit and if you get to Tucson, you should plan on making your way to this park.

Lodge on the Desert: This where I stayed!