Lost in Mount Lemon!
By Brandon Lewis
Howdy Explorers!
My name is Brandon, as a local to Tucson I have a certain advantage when it comes to "knowing" the land. And by that knowing when to avoid cacti and venomous animals.
But the most important knowledge when traveling through the harsh desert landscape is where to go to cool off! And no... I am not talking about hiding indoors with the A/C cranked up.
I'm talking about a natural Tucson destination that keeps you cool while bombarding you with awe-inspiring views. Mount Lemmon.
The other day, I traveled up north to experience first hand the cool air of Mt. Lemmon. And I may or may not have gotten lost along the way.
- Note to Self: Keep a G.P.S on Hand at All Times!!!!
For at least 40 minutes I wondered three or four trails trying to get the actual mountain. I thought my journey was at an end before it began... until I met Birch Wild River. Birch was a member of the Tohono O'odham tribe and local to the mountain region for more than 30 years. He along with his young grandson, Alex, just finished a week long camping trip near the face of the peak. Needless to say, they were familiar with the area and were fond of tie-dye t-shirts. I greeted them both and told them of my plight, Alex chuckled after I described how long I was wandering the trials. In a casual yet upbeat tone, I asked him where I was and how I can get to the nearest hiking trail. Birch instead told me a story, one which he later described to me as a "Native Life story". It went something like this:
"Listen to the Wind.
It Speaks
Listen to the Heart.
It Knows."
Birch in a few sentences, gave me more direction than any GPS could something universal yet entirely unique. By following the direction of the wind, I was able to find the face of the mountain and a convenient Snack Machine.
But I guess that's an accurate description of Tucson in general. Sometimes you may get lost, sometimes things seem unclear, but there will always be someone to help guide you through the mess of it all. Birch happened to be one of those people who offered more than direction but also experience. Tucson is one of those places that offers more than views and scenic routes, but opportunity to discover new paths and information outside one's bubble.
But I guess that's an accurate description of Tucson in general. Sometimes you may get lost, sometimes things seem unclear, but there will always be someone to help guide you through the mess of it all. Birch happened to be one of those people who offered more than direction but also experience. Tucson is one of those places that offers more than views and scenic routes, but opportunity to discover new paths and information outside one's bubble.
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