For those of us visiting Tucson from other universities, thoughts of Arizona immediately bring to mind a dry, desert scene with limited wildlife. A recent UBRP trip to Mt. Lemmon, 25 miles and 9,100 feet above sea level, redefined this view. The drive up the mountain was an experience in itself. The transition from Saguaro cactus at the bottom, to the pine and aspen groves at the top was a bit of a surprise to those of us new to the area. Especially interesting along the way, are the many fascinating rock formations -- the drive is incredibly beautiful. The cooler temperatures were also a welcomed change.

After a quick stop at Summerhaven, we hiked along some trails to visit a fire watchtower ideally situated along one of the mountain's cliffs. Although the views were unimaginable, perhaps the most interesting part of this stop was visiting the ranger who inhabited the small structure. After a brief tour of the seventy-year-old building, we became familiar with the various tools firefighters use to fight wildfires. Another period of hiking brought us to the base of Ski Valley --the southernmost ski area in the United States, which is perched near the 9,157-foot summit of Mt. Lemmon. During our ride up the ski lift, we were surprised to turn back and see the horizon stretch for miles -- views of the Santa Catalinas, the city of Tucson, the San Pedro Valley, the Reef of Rocks, and the distant mountains near Globe and Phoenix.

Overall, this experience allowed us to witness another piece of Arizona's magnificent landscape. Perhaps even better, we had a chance to step away from our day-to-day routines, and simply take some time to get to know one another. The trip was certainly a memorable one for us.

Ryan Golden, Visiting UBRPer from Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, working in Dr. Roger Miesfeld's lab, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics