Memories of Mount Lemmon

Mount Lemmon looks southward over the city of Tucson, Arizona. In late April-2017, I spent three days exploring several locations atop this sky island. I think I’ve barely scratched the surface, tapping the wealth this mountain might provide.

On the advice and directions from a generous local birder I “met” online, I headed up Catalina Highway to find warblers. The road up the mountain has mile marker monuments to denote reference to locations along the highway. Milepost “0” is 4.2 miles up-slope from Tanque Verde Road, where the Catalina Highway begins. If your vehicle has a resettable “Trip” function and you are searching based on these markers, zero out your odometer at Tanque Verde and subtract 4.2 miles for the references, or set it at Milepost “0”. They should post markers every mile, and my notes below provide measurements in tenths. You can figure it out.

My first stop was at Molino Basin (Milepost 5.9, elevation of 4500’). Notably absent at this elevation were warblers. I found Warbling and Bell’s Vireos, White-Winged Doves, and Ash-Throated Flycatchers. I heard Montezuma Quail, but did not get eyes on them. I longed to meet Red-Faced and other warblers, so I continued up-slope.

A little further up-slope is General Hitchcock Campground (Milepost 12.2, elevation of 6000’). During my ascent, I passed by the General Hitchcock Campground, but I decided to stop several days later on my way down the mountain. When I visited, I managed to find a few warblers, but at that point, I had already fulfilled my desire to see warblers.

The turnoff to Incinerator Ridge is at Milepost 19.5 (elevation of 8050’). I received information that this was the promised land in my search for warblers. As I was driving up this short (2280’) dirt forestry road, it was my good fortune to meet Tim Helentjaris scouting for a “Big-Day” event coming up. He told me what he had seen, before he left to continue his scouting. His observations assured me I was on the right track, and I found a place to park my RV and spent the next few days in warbler heaven.

The community of Summerhaven begins at Milepost 24.9 (elevation of 7700’) and I drove into town on my exit from Incinerator Ridge to find breakfast. After nourishing myself, I took a 6.4 mile drive down slope through town, through Upper Sabino Canyon leading to Marshall Gulch, where I met warblers, nuthatches, and a Greater Pewee calling from the high canopy. To my disappointment, this bird did not show itself to me.

I don’t know what other seasons on this mountain might bring, but I felt elated with the meetings I had on this spring adventure.