If you're a hiker, you're familiar with topo maps. Topographical maps show the relative elevation and slope of the land. Contour lines spaced very near each other show steep topography, while those spaced farther apart show more gently sloping terrain.
At the scale of the map on the right, there are no contour lines--just shades corresponding with the legend to the left. The darkest areas are the tallest mountains around Tucson. They're sky islands.
The dark line at the bottom is our national border with Mexico. The two rivers both flow north toward Phoenix.
You can see from the map why the mountains are called "sky islands." They stand alone as sentinels, towering a mile or more above the surrounding desert floor.
What's really interesting is that they are home to plants and animals which could not survive at lower elevations--black bears, Apache trout, and species of birds that migrate up from Central America, keeping to the cool, high elevations.
The sky islands are protected by the national park system. Tucson is surrounded on two sides by the Coronado National Forest, which runs roughly northeast to south/southeast around Tucson.
It's a hikers paradise.
Trailheads, for the most part, are well maintained, and fees are very reasonable. Expect to see signs warning of black bears at the trailheads. Picnic areas have trash containers which are bear-proof.
There's hiking terrain for every ability level, from paved areas near some trailheads that can accomodate wheelchairs to the roughest rocky terrain you can imagine. It's all spectacularly beautiful!
These hikers on the right are looking toward the towns of Marana and Oro Valley to the left of the photo, and Catalina and Oracle to the right. Their perch is at elevation 8,000 +/-.
Birders the world over come to Tucson to see species found nowhere else in North America. The elegant trogon, a sky island visitor from Central America and Mexico, is an example. For all its beauty, that male in the photo can't sing worth a darn. It's call sounds like a terrier barking. The females must like it, however. :)
Rock formations fascinate me, and the Catalina Mountains in particular have "hoodoo" formations that delight the hikers who find them.
Catalina highway, which runs 26 miles from the Tucson valley floor to the town of Summerhaven, has a three or four mile section just surrounded by an army of them.
Come and visit. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
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I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
Think of me as your Tucson mortgage expert.
Call me if I can help you with a mortgage to buy your next house:
(520) 349-9090
Photos copyright Mike in Tucson (all rights reserved)
The Series:
So You Thought You Knew Something About Tucson, Arizona? (1 of 10: Origins)
So You Thought You Knew Something About Tucson, Arizona? (2 of 10: Geography)
So You Thought You Knew Something About Tucson, Arizona? (3 of 10: Outdoor Living)
Mike - Well, every day (or night) you learn something new. That is spectacular. Another reason I need to come visit :) ~Rita
Mike, you take the best photos! We have a lot of hoodoo formations in our canyons around here and I don't know HOW those rocks stay balanced! Love that bird.
Fabulous. I love topo maps although most of the ones I review are of a single lot. However, they are very important when a buyer needs to know when comparing building lots available. The topo maps give us a vision of the house on the lot after the grading is finished.
Topo maps are also helpful in my area for Radon research and well water supply. Can we put in a swimming pool??? How high will out house be on the lot?? Can I have a walk-out basement.
The topo map tells us all these things.
Hmmm, I come here to read what YOU wrote, and it was great! The rock formation was 'interesting!'
Mike - This was a delight to read, like you I am fascinated by rock formations.
Jennifer,
Thanks for commenting; isn't that a great formation?!
Susie,
Thanks for reciprocating. It's good to see you in the Rain.
Lenn,
Oddly enough, Arizona requires no survey to transfer ownership in real estate. I did a loan once for an investor whose neighbor had built a garage addition that extended two feet onto the investors property. Thanks for commenting!
Linda,
That good looking bird is a rare find in North America. I was hiking with a group of birders in Madera Canyon southeast of Tucson (see the little blue box on the map) and there it was. While the rest were looking through binoculars and Oohing and Aahing, I was clicking away with my little digital with the 10X zoom. :)
Rita,
I'll provide you with some more reasons in the rest of the series. Thanks for being the first to comment.
Mike in Tucson
Hi Mike:
Congrats on your feature. Looking forward to the rest of your series!
Thanks, Toula Rose!
It's always good to see you in the Rain!
Mike in Tucson
Mike,
Going to grade school in a farm community we learned to read topo's and surveys in the third and fourth grade, Boy Scouts added to it and being an avid hunter required a map and compass. I always keep a map and compass in my saddle bags, my little Arab mare and I had a 50 mile range from sunrise to sunset and lots of woods and wild land to ride in. The Marines always acted surprised when recruits knew how to read a map. Flying made those high spots a real concern.
I like the blog and love the photos, but explaining a map or chart seems so strange. City kids missed so much.
I could have used that one of the rocks to illustrate the similarity of equity to potential energy last week.
Bill
Mike - great post with great photos ! Stephanie and I need to take a few more breaks and get out there !!! Hiking and being part of nature is awesome. Just a walk in the park is great too. I love the photos here and that map is very cool. ~ Chris
Mike, now I know more about Arizonalanzone
. Love the rock formation
Mike,
Keep these posts coming!!! I'm about ready to pack my bags!!! :) Thanks, Fran
I'm back again to look at your photos and remember the warm days. You'll need to post a photo of the "Nixon" rock on the Catalina Hwy.
Mike - I love the photos and the rock formations. I would love to come and hike there and take lots of pictues!
Mike... Great information and the photos are just absolutly beautiful !
Roland,
Thanks! I'll see you on your blog.
Sharon,
Time's a'wasteing! Pack your bags.
Elaine,
I'm not familiar with that particular hoodoo. Would you see if you can dig out a photo?
Fran,
You'll be glad when you do. Six to go.
Rebecca,
Thanks for commenting!
Chris,
It's a great place for hikers. Thanks for stopping by.
Bill,
You've led an interesting life!
Mike in Tucson
Very interesting Mike. I love the photos too!
Mike,
What do you mean "led," lead yes! Live yes!
But, the past tenest is unacceptable!
Bill
Hi Mike. I lived in Phoenix for several years and never know any of those things about Tucson. Thanks for sharing the great information.
Mike, I have Tucson on my to do list for next year. Looking forward towards visiting your area...
Mike, all my photos (from the 90's) are 35mm prints. I'll see if I can find it and scan it for you. It was on one of the switchbacks and from a certain angle going around the corner, it looked just like the profile of Nixon (big nose).
Great photos a one man tourist bureau for Tucson. Looking forward to the next issue.
Mike - Your photography ...... your landscape.....your neighborhood - are all beautiful!
Mike - Great picture as usual. I had no idea that you had mountains that high. If i can talk Elizabeth into visiting, I'll be out sometime soon.
Just another place I need to go visit with the family.
Mike, I managed to find and scan those old photos, so overlook the poor quality.
This is the duckbill that looks like Nixon. Love the squiggly (far left) on the ride in the Catalinas.
This is a photo from my patio of the sombero peak of the Tucson Mts. I lived north of Ina Rd.
I loved all the mountains, the weather and all the hummingbirds. Didn't care so much for the poisonous critters. :-)
The Arizona Tourism people love you, you know. :) These are such cool posts. Kinda like mini Arizona Highways.
Elaine, we always called that one Donald Duck when we were kids. I can sort of see Nixon...
Hi Mike,
You really ARE the Tuscon expert, aren't you! Congratulations on your feature:)
As usual- phenomenal photos, Mike!
Great series of posts. First time I was in Tucson (Dec. 1970), it snowed. Since my motivation for going was to get away from that, I was not impressed -- decided not to transfer from the University of Chicago just so I could play golf in winter. That was probably a lucky break!
Mike, these are great photo's and I really like the rock formations. The last time we were in Tucson we spent a day at Tucson Studios. The surrounding mountains were beautiful.
Mike,
These are fabulous photo's..the rock formations are incredible. You are a one man tourist guide!!
Dorie,
Thanks for being a subscriber!
Debbie,
My Darlin' and I live just outside Tucson Mountain Park near Old Tucson Studios. We couldn't agree more!
Ann,
So that's how you came to live in snowy Flagstaff! :)
JB,
Thanks!
Suzanne,
Ditto!
Doreen,
Donald Duck, huh? :)
Elaine,
Thanks for the photos! They're beautiful.
Sharon,
Come on down!
Larry,
I'll be looking for you.
Christine,
Thanks for stopping by to comment.
Terry,
Now if only the Chamber would pay me for my efforts... LOL
Elaine,
Thanks for coming back with the photos.
Michael,
Please let me know you're coming; we'll roll out the red carpet.
Jason,
Phoenix doesn't know we exist. :)
Bill,
I know you're not through living. You know, I wondered when I commented if the tense was the right one. Sorry, Charlie. Still friends? :)
Bill G,
Thanks for commenting!
Mike in Tucson
Bill
Mikw,
If we can't have fun with petty things, with our friends who can we joke with?
Bill
Mike - The more of these pictures that you post from your area, the more absolutely amazed I become. Those are very stunning rock formations.
Mike - Great post and very interesting, and I have spent quite a bit of time in Arizona. Looks like I might take a cruise down there soon!