“The coldest I’ve ever been” and “Arizona” aren’t usually found in the same sentence, but the trip up to the Mt Lemmon Sky Center Observatory and hike in sub-zero mist and snow made it memorable for that very fact. But that was day 2. On arriving we visited the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, met some javelinas and other local flora and fauna. We stayed at the Hacienda Del Sol Quest Ranch where we also dined.
Day 2 we started with a hike at Catalina State Park, then lunch at Plaza Escondida. We made our way up to Mt Lemmon, stopping for a very cold hike – Incinerator Ridge Trail to Barnum Rock and Leopold Point. Our Observatory plans didn’t work out as freezing fog hung over the mountain. Instead, we had the tour around to see the different telescopes and also how the observatory is part of the Near-Earth Object Studies – looking for things that might hit the earth. The start shots were from the Windy Point Vista, where we stopped on the way down as the sky had cleared.
The next day was breakfast at First Watch, another hike at Saguaro National Park East then a look at the historic town center. An early dinner at Augustin Kitchen gave us the opportunity to get out to Mission San Xavier del Bac for sunset.
Back home the following day – last few shots at the Hacienda Del Sol.
Brian Smith's Photos 
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