Early Morning Revelations

On a hike in the remote Redington Pass, a couple friends, their kids and dog went on a trek to discover....whatever. Water was involved and it was a win win for everyone....including the dog:) 

So while walking along the canyon walls, we noticed yet one more Great Horned Owl flying around the canyon.  It stopped on this rock to look down upon us.

And then there were the isolated pools of water full of the endemic Gila Chubs only found in and around our Tucson area. 

We also set up an interview with Kermit the Frog's cousin, Rene La Rana.  His mother and father came from Mexico and became citizens here in this canyon.  He gave us permission to film his family of the fast Tree Canyon Frogs.

We hummed and sang as we walked along the rocky river bed....stopping here and there to throw a stick in the water for the dog to go after.  The kids would pick things up and say, "LOOK WHAT I FOUND!"  Adults snapped pictures of those things:)

But I should have seen the signs like the one below.  I believe these were filmed in Gladiator during the death scene, but we didn't care.....because life was good....a bit hot in the early morning.....but good.

A yellow warbler could be heard in this Eden.  And so we all chased after this yellow jewel in the lush Cottonwood Canopy.  But things would quickly change once we ventured near the tree.......

Quite by accident, one of the gang almost stepped on the rattlesnake.  It perfectly blended into the surroundings.  I nearly crapped myself and felt the heebie jeebies crawl up and down my spine....but I thought this guy was pretty cool.  So much for the yellow warbler......next time!

Everyone began to think about their mortality at this point and started to ask one another, "How many more of these have we passed by and not even known about?"  We all knew the answer and hastily hiked back to the car on top of the canyon.  The dog was attached to a leash and the kids had shock collars on to keep them from poking, prodding, or handling "the snake".  You see the boy wished to prod it because that's what little boys do.  But being that this snake is poisonous and the anti venom costs around 2 thousand dollars, everyone decided to step back and slowly walk away.

It was amazing how much life can be found in several of our remote areas.  During our hot summer months, remember that many many lizards...includings snakes.....will be out sunning or in the shade.  Keep your eyes out for them at all times.  They will leave you alone most of the time.  However, if frightened, they will coil and rattle....then strike.  So watch where you put your hands while climbing up onto rocks etc. Our desert is an amazing place.  Most Tucsonans don't realize what's around them, but we did......and it was awesome.  Redington Pass is a remote place at the end of Tanque Verde Road.  Off road vehicles, hunters, hikers(nude or clothed), and water lovers head to this secret little gem which is hidden from most Tucsonans.  It can be dangerous and never go during monsoon season because the creek can turn suddenly into a raging river.  Many go to see the waterfalls and swim in the river.

More tomorrow....

Redington Pass

Redington Pass is a lot of fun to hike, but there are several things you need to know before going.....

1. Some people spell it Reddington but the correct spell is Redington

Bring water and good shoes that can grip and may potentially get wet.  Best times to go are in March, April, end of October, and November.  Take Tanque Verde east towards the Rincon Mountains until the road ends with gravel.  Continue on the gravel uphill until you reach the first parking spot on the left.  There are several trails further up the dirt road, but this first stop will take you the Tanque Verde Falls.  Park your car and cross the dirt road until you reach a dirt path. There is a rusty brown sign by it that is hard to read. Follow this trail down to the creek. Once you've reached the creek, head north away from the city and up towards the mountains.

Follow the creek and maneuver your way around the rocks carefully always following the creek. Some days have more hikers than others.  Weekends are popular for family excursions. This is an interesting place because there are a lot of people, even Tucsonans, who do not know about this beautiful hike. 

Along the way, peek into all the little cracks and crevices, but do be careful during the warmer months as snakes and larger lizards, like the Gila Monster, wake up from the cold winter sleep.  Listen for rattles, etc and survey the area before grabbing onto a rock or you may get a little surprise:)  I find March a better month to hike because the critters are still sleeping. 

There are several places that hikers like to sit and take a break....sometimes naked.  You'll see past a certain point naked families frolicking under a mini fall or a group of naked men walking together with backpacks so make sure you wear your sunscreen as sunburn can be a real bummer.

Some people may not be used to this.  My first time on this hike, I was humming to my walkman and wasn't aware of the rules.  I was around 23 at the time, turned a bend and voila!!! Nude backpackers!  I fell and they came running to my aide. Thinking back on it, I should have asked for a picture, but at the time, I was so embarrassed. Today, I still hike with clothes and laugh about the incident, and I am a little more enlightened than I was in my earlier years....but do be aware that you'll see more naked people on the 2nd or 3rd parking stops on the gravel road. There are more trails past this first one which I'm writing about today. I believe this is the rule....on the 2nd stop, nudist families and after a certain waterfall, it's a man area.  The Tanque Verde Falls(the first stop) is more family friendly and during this visit, we didn't see nakedness.  Further down the road is a dirt biking route and also several gun ranges. I just find the whole area fascinating. It's a rougher setting and certainly not the tourist friendly Sabino Canyon.

The rocks are large and do require some skill to climb.  Remember to bring water and take little breaks.

For most humans, the trail can be dangerous, but on top of the falls, a crow lands for a cold sip of water.

Keep your eyes open for desert critters and beautiful birds and butterflies native to the Sonoran desert.

Some people hike alone while others go in groups.  It's not uncommon to see groups of 3-6 people hiking.

Here's a short video shot from our hike.

The end of this trail will reward you with breathtaking scenery.

Bring your bathing suit...or not:) for a quick or long dip in the shade and cool waters. If you are nudist, I don't want to give inaccurate information here because I know that many of you take this seriously....so it's not the first stop but the second parking on the dirt road.  The first stop is the falls trail while the second stop is clothing optional after a couple of the mini falls.

Happy Adventures!!

Tanque Verde Falls

Waterfalls in Tucson? Yes.

This is part 3 of the Redington Pass adventure.  It's a rough hike along the way, but worth it all once you've reached the Tanque Verde Falls. 

Getting there can be difficult and you have to climb many rocks making this an excellent day hike in March and April.

You have to climb a steep hill to reach this little canyon oasis.  Next to the waterfall is our beautiful Arizona Cottonwood which is commonly found along rivers/creeks here.

Please be careful during monsoon in our summer months or during a big rain event as people have lost their lives here.  A story comes to mind of a college student who jumped in after his poor little puppy and never returned.  Bring your swim suit but be careful of the rocks in the water.  These falls are wonderful but many college kids are new to the area and don't always understand the dangers of our desert. However, this is a popular place that is in a spot where not everyone can get to......

....therefore making it a Tucson treasure for hikers who want to escape from the general tourist population.

Happy Adventures from Tanque Verde Falls!!!

Sara's Orangetip Butterfly

Continuing on with our Redington Pass adventure, I snapped several shots of this tiny beautiful butterfly.

This was a tricky little butterfly to follow, but eventually I was able to get several shots of this dainty and beautiful little bug. The insect is commonly seen around the Tucson area and especially on the outskirts of town which include our riparian areas.

Here's some information on this butterfly that you may see fluttering around your yard this time of year as the wildflowers pop up.

"The Sara's Orangetip butterfly, also know as the Pacific Orangetip is a striking butterfly.
Field identification is very easy. It's a variation on the white butterfly theme, with bright orange spots on the tips of the wings. Female color is more pale than the male color. The underside of the wings are marbled, making it easy for them to hide when they close their wings and sit on an oak tree branch. They are abundant up and down the West Coast, making their home in fields, deserts and other areas. They are one of the first butterflies to appear in early spring and their bright colors add a touch of sparkle to their newly emerging green environment. Butterflies are generally categorized as one of two types, patroller or percher, depending on mating strategies. Sara's Orangetips fall in the patroller category of butterflies. Males patrol, or fly up and down a particular territory, in search of female butterflies. As it relates to butterfly photography, the patrollers are sometimes difficult subjects because you can follow them for up to an hour without their settling down on a flower long enough for a decent picture."
Source: http://greennature.com/article2313.html

Canyon Tree Frog

Taking a break from the plant series, I took a hike at the wonderful Redington Pass several weeks ago with my visiting family. One never knows what they'll find on their adventures and the hike proved just as interesting.  Here, with the camera, I got some great close up shots on a fantastic little frog in our canyons. This week's close up is on the beautiful and less travelled Redington Pass.

You'll find these little guys along the creeks that run through our Tucson area.  Be careful where you step and look carefully as they blend in with their surroundings.

This is a small treefrog with highly variable pattern and color. It grows to 2½ inches (56 mm) with a ground color of cream to brown and irregular bars, blotches, and spots of olive to brown. Its color matches its substrate extremely well. Large adhesive toe pads are present on all 4 feet. Adult males have dusky (darkened) or yellow throats, whereas females have white to cream colored throats (which match the underside).

This species is largely restricted to riparian areas in rocky canyons. It is typically found along streams among medium to large boulders from desert to desert grassland and into oak-pine forests. The canyon treefrog can operate at cooler temperatures than many frogs; it avoids cold surface temperatures by retreating underground

The canyon treefrog eats insects of various kinds. It breeds in July and August during summer rains as well as in spring. The abrupt, explosive call of males attracts females to breeding sites; males then mount females and spawning may begin. Eggs are laid in a large mass that floats on the surface of the water.

Source for information: The Desert Museum