March 5, 2022
It's been a week since my last post, which seems hard to believe, time is beginning to go very quickly. In the last week we've made 3 different trips to the Coronado National Forest. Two of the trips took us to Madera Canyon, which is about 45 minutes from where we are staying. There are many hikes and a few picnic grounds throughout the canyon. You start at a lower elevation (around 3,000 ft above sea level) and can drive up to the highest parking lot at around 5,100 ft above sea level. We chose to drive up to the highest parking lot, because being in the mountains is fun and refreshing, especially for Benjamin who grew up in Washington. Last Sunday there was even some left over snow on the ground. It was just enough to throw a few snowballs. In this part of the canyon there are very large cypress trees, sycamore trees, live oaks and pine, as you can imagine, these trees are very different from those we've been surrounded by on nearly all of our trip (mesquite and cacti). There is a large riverbed that runs through some of the hikes and at times the large riverbed is transformed into a small creek; in some areas there is water and in some areas there is no water. We felt the water and it was COLD. On Wednesday we did a hike up to Vault Mine, this was a steep and steady uphill climb, we ascended 1,200 ft on that hike! We found the entrance to Vault Mine, which is no longer in use; it looked dark and creepy and was filled with water. If you every make it to the Tucson area and you need a break from the heat, we'd recommend this short drive from the city!
Yesterday, we explored a different section of the Coronado National Forest. (It was in the opposite direction.) We wanted to be "Rock Hounds" (people who hunt for rocks) for a day and heard from our hosts there is a place called Crystal Hill nearby where you an easily find crystals. We set out with approximate directions and hopes of finding crystals. It was a beautiful drive, if rather bumpy in parts as we were back on gravel roads, and we did find Crystal Hill. Did we find crystals? We sure did, we are bringing home a number of them to show and share. The prize crystals are either ones that are very clear and/or ones with a complete point - I found the best of our clear ones. We all found some with nearly complete points - we will have to wash them to see which one is our best. I've must admit rock hunting is a bit addicting, I could feel myself wanting to continue looking for that next awesome crystal. The kids were ready to go and both of their parents were still hunting.
This past week we also visited the Titan II Missile Museum. (Really this is a 45 minute guided tour of the facility). This missile location was in use from early in the 1960s until early in the 1980s. It was interested to learn about how the hope was to promote "peace through mutually assured destruction". (And as our tour guide pointed out, that has worked for many year, praise God.) This missile is not usable but due to a treaty they were able to keep this one as a museum. We were able to see how they created the underground bunker where the command center was and we were able to see where the missile was kept. We experienced a simulated missile launch for which Tomas and Benjamin go to turn the keys that "launched" the missile. We learned that the location these missiles were locked on was unknown to the men/women launching them, that's was top secret, all they knew was it would go to location 1, 2 or 3. We haven't gotten close to studying the Cold War yet in school, but hopefully the kids will remember this experience and it will add to their background knowledge when we are get there.
Today we are headed back to Saguaro National Park for a family hike! The kids will finish this Junior Ranger Program and receive their badges. Which reminds me to ask: do you know there is a program for children in 4th grade that allows them and their family to get into National Parks for free from Sept - August of their 4th grade year? (We did say Tomas was in 4th grade this year, since Covid and closures stole his 4th grade year last year.) This is the link for the program: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm. You print up your piece of paper, take it with you to the first park and they present your child with their own pass. It's a great program!
I've got more thoughts to share, but it's breakfast time. I also have photos to share but the kids have my phone, they are watching Saturday morning shows. If you're curious, currently they are watching a YouTube show about Minecraft. (So very different from the Saturday morning cartoons we watched.) If you read this post without photos, come back later to see the photos and the video of the missile launch.
Ciao, Ester
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