Tomorrow I begin my travels towards Dutch Harbor, on the Island of Unalaska, in the Aleutian Islands. Today I should be packing. Instead I went for a little hike, four miles up to the saddle of the Humphrey's Summit Trail.
**Ahhhh the view! *
I am at the saddle, 11,800 feet above sea level. Not sure I will make the summit today!
What could be more fitting prior to going to the Bering Sea than getting close to the top of the highest peak in Arizona, Humphrey's Peak at 12, 633 feet. I made it to the saddle, 11,800 feet and that was enough! Oh my goodness how glorious. I often think Arizona has a poor reputation as being ...JUST... a desert state, but let me tell you, it is amazing!
I am at the saddle, 11,800 feet above sea level. Not sure I will make the summit today!
My friends and I started to hike before seven in the morning, and while they literally flew up the mountain I piddled along, took pictures of flowers and just had an amazing day. Did you know that there are at least 39 plant species only found in Arizona that grow in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness and there is one, the magical Senecio Franciscanus, which is found nowhere else in the world! As the second most southern tundra in the United States, I am quite proud of our San Francisco Peaks and their established wilderness area.
**Closer to the sky, is it not glorious! **
The inner basin of The San Francisco Peaks, alpine tundra in a desert state, who would have thought!
**The inner basin of The San Francisco Peaks, Alpine Tundra in a desert state, who would have thought! **
But it is afternoon now and I leave for my PolarTREC adventure in the Bering Sea in less than 24 hours. I guess I should start thinking about packing!
FOR MY STUDENTS: Go for a hike, see if you can find at least five new plant species that you have never noticed before!