Mt. Lemmon
04/23/2009
04/23/2009
04/23/2009
Mt. Lemmon is at the top of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson. It's elevation of about 9,000 feet guarantees some great breezes and beautiful woody slopes. As usual we snuck up on it via the back way, which meant the dirt Oracle Control Road. It's very well maintained but a high clearance vehicle is best since some places get a bit rocky. The little town of Summerhaven was virtually destroyed in the Aspen Fire of 2003. Some rebuilding has taken place but much of the area still looks like the devastation of the town of Dale by the dragon Smaug.
While eating lunch this strange creature sauntered across the park
It's a white nosed Coati, the first one we've ever seen
Just a look at the Oracle Control Road. It's really a nice route
The local ranchers used just about anything for signs
Actually this is the sign at the end of the Control Road, but whatever
Taken from the road in Summerhaven.
The fire took the majority of the trees, but a few of the hardy ones survived
We took the Catalina Highway home. This is a beautiful, winding road down the mountain
A Window Rock, or The Window Rock. Who knows, but it's a window in a rock
Looking down on the road from one of the overlooks
Beautiful rocks and winding road
There are no dull places along this road. Every stop has great scenery
Looking down to the road from another overlook
OK, so it's another window in another rock