Forty minutes from my home is the top of Mount Lemmon. I have no idea why this is my first visit of the summer, given the beauty and temps 20-25 degrees cooler. I pause at Windy Point Vista then…..
…pass this iconic rock formation known as the “Old Man”. Actually, I have no idea if it has a name but seemed appropriate.
I begin my hike at 57 degrees…brrrr! Lots of Aspen trees, pines, etc…
They’re a lot more careful with forest management after the disastrous fires of the last 22 years.
I get on the “Meadow Trail” and emerging from the trees, I am greet with this view!
Oh….
….wow!!!!!
At this elevation, above 10,000′, clouds gather and rain can fall at any time. So, I hang a left on “Mount Lemmon Trail”, knowing a right would take me to the hidden pools or Wilderness of Rocks loop, etc…
I was also motivated to hike this day because I’m bringing a friend in a few days and it’d be embarrassing to become lost, lol.
Center left, is a fire watch tower that I think is still in use. Maybe the ranger also uses drones now to monitor the forest.
It’s only about 2 miles so then I began the drive home, pausing to take pics of long dead trees, caught in a fire.
I stopped at “7 Cataracts” and wow, a vehicle had recently run into this wall, collapsing it. Peering over the side, I saw no evidence the vehicle had gone any farther.