Hello and thanks for stopping by. I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last post, life has been happening and has kept me away from blogging. When life gets stressful for me I turn to nature. Here in Tucson there are many places to get outside and enjoy the natural world. Yes, it’s hot, however, that shouldn’t stop one from going on early morning hikes or my favorite, sunset hikes. The morning for me has a set routine and that keeps me from usually going hiking. The evenings let me chose when and if I’ll go for a hike. The temperature usually dictates my decision. I have found through trial and error that 102 degrees before the sunsets is my limit for hiking. I see other people hiking, some jogging and yesterday I saw men doing roofing in 105 degrees! Those guys deserve my respect and they may be superhuman. You need to find your own threshold and stick with it. Remember the old adage “it’s a dry heat”, well so is the oven but it’s true, hiking in low humidity at around 97 degrees is actually pleasant. You usually have a breeze in the desert too which really helps to cool one off and once the sunsets the temperature begins to drop. I also don’t do strenuous hikes in the heat. If you travel East to the end of Broadway Boulevard you will find several trails that take you into the Saguaro National Park. The trails here are mostly flat with very little up and down. If you chose the Mica View trail it will lead you to a picnic ground with shade, water and restrooms. That hike is about a mile and is a good way to start. One thing to remember when hiking is, if the map says it’s a mile to the destination that means its a mile back so you’re doing a two mile hike. I know this may sound simple and who wouldn’t think that? You’d be surprised how many people take off on a 5 mile hike without enough water for a 10 mile hike. My first rule of thumb for a hike in the desert is only go as far as half of your water supply. This means that even if you think you brought enough water to get to your destination, if you’ve used half of it before reaching you destination, it’s a good idea to turn around and head back to the car. Everyday is different and you might have been a little less hydrated when you left the house than you were the day before, better to play it safe.
Snakes can be a concern for many people. In the active snake season, in Tucson it ranges from about April to October, snakes can be found while hiking. One important thing to remember is 70% of snake bites occur because the person is either trying to kill or provoke the snake. So be smart and don’t do that! If you see or hear the rattle stop and take a few steps back. The rattlesnake can strike 12-16 inches so keep your distance. The snakes will usually move on as they don’t want to use their venom unless they absolutely have to, it’s what they need for survival. Don’t put your hands or feet in places that you can’t see, like under rocks or in thick brush. I have seen snakes while hiking but I have never known of anyone being bitten. We’ve all heard stories but it is very rare. Dogs that are off the leash get bit more often than their humans, so keep that in mind. I usually hike with a hiking stick as an extra measure of safety, I believe, and I could be wrong but the vibrations from the staff hitting the ground help to warn the snake of my approach. I also feel better just having it with me.
A pair of hiking boots or hiking sneakers are also important. I know it might be tempting to wear hiking sandals or regular sandals, but it’s a bad idea. In Tucson cactus is everywhere and animals use it for everything from food to shelter. In doing so they leave little bits of it all over the desert floor. If you get even a small spine of cactus in your sandal it can quickly make for an unpleasant hike, so it’s best to wear closed toed shoes. Depending on who you are you may want to wear a hat and sunglasses, long sleeve shirt or sunscreen. I usually don’t wear a hat or sunscreen on my sunset hikes because for one I like getting a little sun on my skin and the sun is very low in the sky and will be down very soon. If you’re a bird watcher bring your binoculars! The Sonoran Desert is home to over 350 bird species. I know it sound unbelievable but they have made their homes here and as the sun goes down the desert comes alive.
I don’t have any recipes to share with you today but you could make a batch of Switchel to drink after your hike to help replenish your electrolytes . I have the recipe here. Hiking is a great way to get in touch with nature and clear your thoughts. Summer time is a great time for hiking, so get outside and enjoy some nature! If you have anything you’d like to add or any questions please leave them in the box below and I’ll answer as soon as possible. Until next time, Boone Appétit!
Charlie, i loved this post as I am adapting to hiking in the desert now that I live in Arizona. And yes, sunset hikes top my list as a “must do” during the summer months. Living in The SW means living in an extreme environment and forces a bit of humility upon us humans
Hi Lisa! Thanks for commenting on the post. I totally agree about the extreme environment but there is something to love about it as well. I look at it as the opposite of living in the Northeast. When the temperature dropped below 25 degrees I stayed inside instead of walking around Rockland lake. It took awhile but I figured out my limits for both the hot and the cold. I’m glad I did because nature has always played an important role in my life and I want it to continue to do so! Keep on hiking!
Yup – the extreme weather is one of the SW’s aspects that drew me to live here.
As for Rockland Lake and The Hook – cold weather was my favorite time to go there
BTW- give us a call if you are up in Phoenix. Duane, Marcus and i would love to see “ Coach Charlie”
I’m curious about activity in the heat, Charlie, as 102 degrees in New York is oppressive. It’s in my mind anyway, since both my brothers are experiencing temps well over 100 in Washington State this week. How about 115 degrees in Walla Walla today? Yikes!
Hi Barry, 102 is hot and in NY coupled with the humidity it would be almost unbearable. Here on my 102 hike day the humidity was 4 percent. That means every drop of sweat worked as a little evaporative cooling system coupled with the breeze that usually accompanies the heat off the desert floor and the fact the sun was setting made for a hot yet doable hike at the extreme of my range. My problem in the humidity is the lack of the ability to breathe with the air being saturated with moisture. The high temps in Washington are very interesting and rare, but on a good note it’s helping to bring much needed rain to Tucson! Thanks for sending in your question.