The tiny beads of water dance on the orange plastic wrap which encloses the morning paper.  Although it is nearly 9 am, the dark grey skies look like Connecticut (from where I migrated) on a day which bodes snow.  A gentle rain, actually what I would call a sprinkle, dampens the earth. 

   This is a day to stay home and do paperwork, catch up on phone calls, and not drive around town for whatever reasons.  These days are like  snow days back in Connecticut when the glistening snow and ice weighs down the tree branches and sparkles like a million diamonds.

    This lovely and welcome greyness is part of the Tucson winter monsoon season.  The surrounding mountain ranges are covered by low lying clouds and I suspect there is snow on top of the Catalinas.   When this storm clears out, we will have snow capped mountains for a short period of time contrasting against the Arizona sunshine.

    The leaves from the Arizona Ash, a deciduous tree in the back yard, will shed even more green turned yellow leaves and fall into the pool, rippling  with tiny raindrops.  The pomegranates, nearly bare, have an abundance of fruit filled with holes, thanks to birds seeking the sweet juices.  And the citrus trees, always green, are slurping up the rain as the branches of the oranges and grapefruits sway somewhat in the wind. 

   We need this slow, gentle rain.   The water has time to seep into the ground and is not violent or rapacious like the heavy rains which pelt the earth and run off without percolating and benefiting the vegetation.

     We Tucsonans love this weather.  It is infrequent and needed.  This is “dancing in the street” weather.  Out of towners, who are accustomed to rain are puzzled by our excitement and gratitude for these beads of moisture.  Certainly the winter monsoons are not like the summer monsoons which often present dazzling lightning shows with the rays of rain. 

     I hear the trickle of the raindrops flowing down the gutters…oh what a beautiful day…the white grey of the sky obscures even the houses in the distance and my mind is playing the refrain, “let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!”.

 Resources:

Weather and Monsoons

http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/weather/monsoon.htm 

http://geography.asu.edu/aztc/monsoon.html

     At one point in time, Tucson used to be an ocean and if one digs around enough in the dirt, fossils of marine life can be found.  All one has to do to visualize this great body of water, is hike one of the four mountain ranges and then look down…to this flat valley of sorts, and the body of water suddenly comes to life in one’s imagination.

    Tucson is surrounded by four mountain ranges, all of which provide spectacular hiking experiences!  And the time is now to hike!  The 80 degree days are in hibernation as are the snakes which appear when the thermometer hits the octo numbers.

    To the west is Saguaro National Monument West, home to the Tucson Mountains.  These mountains are not as high as the Catalinas or Rincons, and are more pointed, therefore younger.  But the trails here are numerous and include Wasson Peak, the highest peak in the Tucson Mountains.   We hiked that when the wildflowers were in bloom. 

    We hiked the Sweetwater Trail a year ago and got off the beaten path to find our own enchantments.  Admidst an abundance of saguaros, the rock formations provided a great area to spread out and let the sun kiss our bodies.  We could look out and all of Tucson lay before us.  It was fun to spot the familiar U of A red brick buildings, and the tall buildings of downtown from this perch.   Dressing for hiking requires layering since as the morning wears on, the temperature goes up and off comes one layer.

     The David Yetman Trail is a fun hike and provides a real surprise with the stone house in the middle of nowhere.  It winds up and down and is so beautifully quiet.  One would never know the city is within a few miles.  The blue skies provide a placid background for the birds which wing overhead.  This hike, to me, is more leisurely.

    I haven’t hiked much of the Santa Catalinas except for Sabino Canyon trails which seemed to have a lot of switchbacks.  Of course, I’ve wandered on trails up to Mount Lemmon, but actual hiking, no.  But the Catalinas have lots of good trails and I’ve provided a resource below.  There are mountain lions in the Catalinas as well as bear, so be prepared!

      To the east are the Rincon Mountains, a part of which belong to the Coronado National Forest and the Saguaro National Monument East.  I’ve been to the Loma Alta trailhead and intended to hike that, but never have.  I think I’m just a west side girl!  But the Rincons offer great hiking too! 

   My vast experience with the Santa Ritas is hiking Madera Canyon and after becoming leg weary, nearly slipped into a ravine.  But Mount Wrightstown is there and well deserving of mention since many hikers make that climb.

    For good information about all the wonderful hiking opportunities in the Tucson Area, see Betty Leavengood’s book,  “Tucson Hiking Guide” published by Pruett Publishing Company.   

       Resources:

West Side Map:         http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/Trails%20in%20the%20Tucson%20Mountain%20District.pdf

Wasson Peak:            http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Wasson_King_Canyon_8520.asp

http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=200

Sweetwater Trail:   http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/SweetwaterTrail_8520.asp

David Yetman Trail:  http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/YetmanTrail_8520.asp

Santa Catalina Mountains: http://www.cherba.com/atmb/santa_catalina_mtns.htm

Rincon Mountains and Saguaro National Monument West:  http://www.nps.gov/sagu/

Santa Rita Mountains:  http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1380

Madera Canyon:  http://www.friendsofmaderacanyon.org/TheSkyIslandsandMaderaCanyon.htm

   I was pleased to open my e mail this morning and find a post from a gentleman who refered me to an extensive treatise on the housing bill.   There is no way that I can provide a synopsis of what the article contained, so I will reproduce the post from the gentleman along with the link to the articles.

   The point was made that the author didn’t believe that Congress people read the bill, and when I waded through the nearly 600 pages, that was my sentiment exactly.  

    His original post said:   “Don’t know your opinion of Catherin Austin Fitts, but this is one hell of a read.  She’s one fine detective.”

    The link is as follows:

            http://solari.com/archive/housing_bill/

     Much of this bill was written long ago, as far back as 2002, and like much legislation, just waiting for the appropriate time to tuck this legislation into something which seemingly is worthwhile.

     Additional comments are more than welcome!