New Rain Gauge Links published on Experience AZ website



The Pools at Chiva Falls after a nice rain

 Want to see how much rain your favorite trail received during the latest storm? It's easy to do (as long as your favorite trail resides in Pima or Maricopa counties). I've added a couple of very handy links to the Experience Arizona Weather page: rain gauge maps for Pima and Maricopa Counties. These maps display real-time rain gauge information. I've used the Pima County site with great results. One of the best times to go to Chiva Falls is after a summer monsoon. Previously, it was difficult to know if the area around Chiva actually received any significant amount of rain. Now, I just go to the website, click on the gauge near Chiva Tank and know for sure. It's awesome. No more guess work.

I have only found this data available for Pima and Maricopa Counties. If anyone knows were I can find this for Arizona's other counties, please send me the links.

Coronado National Forest Partially Reopens

Portions of the Coronado National Forest reopen today. This includes the Santa Catalina Mountains (Mt. Lemmon), Redington Pass and Happy Valley (though there are still fire restrictions). This is great news for hikers, bikers and four-wheelers around the Tucson area. The hiking and biking trails in the cool Catalina Mountains are once again a nice respite from the desert heat. See www.experience-az.com for the latest news.

If we get some more rain in the Redington Pass area, it's an awesome time to go out to Chiva Falls. You may even catch me out there or Saturday!

Have fun and be safe!

Experience Arizona Website Debut

I've just kicked off my new website: www.experience-az.com. I'm so excited. This has been over two years of hard work putting all this information together and six months of creating the website. It's loaded with hiking, biking and four-wheeling adventures, all with detailed information, interactive maps, photos, videos, latest news, events and whole lot more. If you're looking for something a little different, I've also compiled a huge list of things to do in Arizona. In addition, I've added things I've always wanted on an adventure website: info on weather, Geocaching, Arizona, gear, reviews, online magazine and tons of links to places of interest. Check it out and keep coming back. Updates and new adventures will be added on a regular basis!

Empire Ranch Open House

Had a nice time at the Empire Ranch open house neare Sonoita (N 31 47.121 W 110 38.548) last weekend. Great weather, good food, nice scenery and some interesting displays. If you're at all interested in this stuff, I'd recommend going next year.

Cutting horses

Miniature horses

Arizona Adventurer, youngest adventurer daughter and cat-dog

Cool grasshopper

Empire Ranch from a distance

Wester author's booths

Topo! © 2008 National Geographic

Walk a labyrinth

During a recent bike ride in Oro Valley (32 23.863 N, 110 58.027 W), we discovered a labyrinth to walk. A labyrinth is sort of like a maze, but there's only one way to go. You walk a labyrinth to clear your mind. Very cool. Go here for some more information on labyrinths.

A wild and spooky canyon

This canyon is hard to find. And it takes skill not to go on private property. But it's worth it. If you go, it's a unique, challenging and different hike. And you will get wet. And you will meet some fairly scary critters. Just be careful of those huge waterbugs. They're hungry :-)


View down the canyon


Spider holes--filled with hundreds of daddy longlegs. Creepy


Trying not to get wet. Good luck.


A boulder wedged in the canyon


A wall of beautiful ferns. Doesn't look like southern Arizona, does it?


Another type of critter you might meet on your journey. Be careful, there are lots of these guys out there


Watch out for those huge waterbugs!


The waterbugs got another poor soul


Topo! © 2008 National Geographic

Snow Melt

Here's a great spot to play in some clear, cold snow melt. You can have a nice picnic in the shade, go for a bike ride, let the dogs out or just dip your toes in cool the water.

Waypoint WPT001: 31 42.595N, 110 42.595W

Enjoy!

Arizona Adventurer


Topo! © 2008 National Geographic