June
26
When Hams Go Homeless: Field Day 2009
Broadcasting from Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains gives Al, Dave, Mike and Dennis an opportunity to do what hams do best: contrive goofy solutions to self-imposed technical difficulties!
Lavender Favorites
Bright Angel Trail
Joshua Tree
Holdout Canyon
Texas Star Party
Hell Hole
Turkey Creek
Gila Wilderness
Lemmon Pools
Rim Lakes
West Clear Creek
Aravaipa Canyon
Deadman Mesa
Ringbolt Hot Springs
Chaco Canyon
Grand Falls
Adventures in the Sonoran Desert
June
18
Summer Solstice on the Roof of the World
Each year between Winter and Summer Solstice, ancestral spirits called "Kachinas" come from their cloud homes in the form of dancers to live among the people and renew the powers of fertility and rain. "Niman", or the Home Dance, marks the final performance of the Kachinas before they return to their homes on the San Francisco Peaks.
June
11
In Honor of Katie Lee: A Road Trip Through Northern Arizona
When we learned there was an exhibition entitled, "Naked Truth: The Katie Lee Exhibit" at NAU's Cline Library, it was obvious that we needed to plan a trip to Flagstaff. Our visit included three days of swimming in red-walled canyons, hiking to the top of the world and sleeping under the stars. I think Katie would approve.
May
24
More Secret Pools of the Catalinas
Eight years of living in Tucson and hiking in the Catalina Mountains, and I still don't know all their secrets! Yesterday we bushwhacked just a half-hour from one of our favorite trails and discovered a set of deep amber pools created by a tumble of giant banded gneiss boulders.
May
17
Somewhere in the Catalinas
We spent a hot May weekend in another world, 5000 feet above Tucson, with our friends Kit and Ann, discovering deep desert pools, reborn ridges, and old Kingston Trio Songs.
May
9
Chiricahua Crest
When Tucson temperatures hit 100° the first week in May, the cool green ridges of Chiricahua Crest called out, and we returned to the Crest Trail with Jim, Jacki and Lily.
Apr
28
Aravaipa and Horse Camp Canyon
A three-day mid-week trek gave us plenty of time to explore Aravaipa Canyon — including the discovery of spectacular Horse Camp Canyon — and the opportunity to develop a close personal relationship with a blue heron.
Apr 23A Wild Night in the Cactus Garden
The desert is a miraculous place, but one of its greatest mysteries is the force that triggers night-blooming cacti of all shapes, sizes, colors and varieties to explode into a profusion of blossoms on the same night.
Apr
12
Cochise Stronghold
The Dragoon Mountains, offer endless opportunities for adventure in a fairytale landscape just an hour's drive from Tucson.
Mar
27
To Hell (Hole) and Back Again
Eight years I've been hiking Aravaipa Canyon, and only a year ago did I discover that its best feature is the abundance of side canyons!
Mar
3
Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail
Reasonable people get day hike or ride mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Of course, that's not what we did.
Feb
18
Road Trip! Santa Monica and Joshua Tree National Park
There's nothing like a couple of days of watching the Southwestern Desert slowly unroll in front of you to heal your soul and restore your sense of perspective. So when a business trip took me to Santa Monica, we decided to drive and squeeze in a side trip to Joshua Tree National Park.
Feb
12
News Flash: A Great New Ethnic Restaurant in Tucson!
We've been hearing rumors of a new Bosnian restaurant for several months, and finally found it tucked behind a defunct motel on Oracle Road. The food in fabulous! It ranks right up there with our old standby, the Kebab House. Chef Alisah's Restaurant is at 5931 North Oracle, on the west side just south of Rudasill Road.
Feb
10
Kinky Pex and Multiple Couplings
Out of the closet and up into the attic for a little fun with male and female fittings.
Jan
30
The Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum and Other Tucson Gems
The Gem Show brings the entire world and all its treasures to Tucson for three ecstatic weeks. But this year we were so "enraptored" by the morning free flight show at the Arizona Desert Museum that we hung around for the matinée.
Jan
2
Silver City and Gila Hot Springs
Just after New Year's, we returned with our best friends to our favorite haunt in the Gila Wilderness, discovering Silver City along the way.
Dec
21
Dennis sinks ... er ... swims to a new low with an invigorating dip in Hutch's Pool, Tucson's favorite swimming hole.
Nov
30
A spectacular trek from the top of Sabino Canyon to Gordon Hirabayishi Recreation Area on the Catalina Highway is our new favorite Tucson hike.
Nov
14
Recon of spectacular Holdout Canyon in the Santa Teresa Wilderness, one of Arizona's wildest wild areas.
Nov
9
The All Souls' Procession is the cultural event of the year in Tucson. And one helluva of a photo op four our tripod-wielding trio!
Aug
31
After a record-busting monsoon, Sycamore Canyon is a riparian paradise complete with deep punchbowls and a panoply of colorful butterflies, caterpillars and cliff-crawling Arizona water spiders!
Aug
15
In late August, we blended a family reunion in Colorado and a weekend with friends in New Mexico to create a delicious summer vacation, seasoned with stopovers at several spectacular hot springs.
Aug
10
It was Dennis' idea to get up very early, bike up the canyon to our favorite swimming hole, and be back at the parking lot before the ban on bikes at 9:00 am. I think we have a new monsoon tradition!
Aug
7
My first dramatic encounter with Couch's Spadefoot Toad reminds me that, from the desert's point of view, it's all about the monsoon.
Aug
3
While the monsoon takes a short break, we "swim" Sabino Canyon, and continue our bizarre string of water rescues.
July
26
Gila Gila Monster Rescue and Roosevelt Lake
A float trip takes a turn for the weird, including a high-rope rescue of a stranded gila monster.
July
25
The story of an impossible love affair between Sam, the Neurotic Norwegian Forest Cat ... and an Electrolux Vacuum Cleaner (Canister Style).
June
28
Return of Radio Activity in the Chiricahuas
Uncured by last year's experience, Tucson hams return to the Chiricahuas for Amateur Radio Field Day
May
31
Closed Encounters of the First Kind
They say the stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas. Based on our first trip to the annual star party in Fort Davis, Texas, I would have to agree.
May
15
The reopening of the east end of Aravaipa Canyon provides access to Hell Hole, a heavenly place to hike.
Apr
11
My fascination with Turkey Creek goes all the way back to my first trip to the Southwest in 1998. Since then, this wilderness hike has taken on the mythic character of the Seven Cities of Cibola.
Jan
26
This time at least we climbed the right mountain, but once again there was a bit of a gap between our ambitions and our achievements. Mustang Peak was a great hike all the same.
Jan
20
Moon Over the Mustang Mountains
There were lots of surprises during a day hike in the Mustang Mountains, from remnants of an ancient sea bed to a modern-day smuggler's stash.
Dec
29
Finger Rock Canyon
Two years was just long enough to make us forget that Finger Rock Trail is an unrelenting uphill slog, made even steeper by 35-pound backpacks.
Dec
13
A Taste of Winter
Cross-Country Skiing in Flagstaff. Okay, so I remember wool knickers, three-pin bindings and pine tar. I also remember how to ski!
Dec
9
Agua Caliente Park
After six years in Tucson, I figured I knew every natural area worth the name. It's nice to be proven wrong. A visit to Agua Caliente Park.
Oct
20
Dear Canada.
In the interest of Libre Echange, we would like to relocate Montréal to the Sonoran Desert. In exchange, we offer you .... Phoenix!"
Stick It To 'Em!
My "Big Woofer, Small Tweeter" bumper sticker is available at Cafe Press for $3.99. Apply liberally — just don't get caught!
Mzekala Balkan Women's Chorus
Seven Wailing Women and One Very Patient Guy
Cute Cats
Cute Cats, More Cute Cats, Catty Coworkers and Cats of Bulgaria