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Published: February 19th 2011
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My family and I, went hiking at Saguaro National Park. We have hiked the Saguaro Park before, but each time, a different trail. The trails are not too long, the longest we have hiked (my daughter and I,) has been 8 miles round trip. The one thing that makes this park of particular interest, it the panorama. With the Rincon mountains and the town of Tucson in the surrounding distance, the views are breath-taking. The various types of cacti and the protected giant Saguaro provide for curiosity. We hiked the Lorma Verde trail for a total of 3 miles round trip. It was midday when we started, so the heat did not show us mercy. Mark and Desire, had assured me they had enough water in their hiking bags, turns out enough was one 16.9 Fl 0z bottle of water. With little water and lots of snacks, they became quickly thirsty and the hike had to be shortened. That aside, they wanted to go swimming. Well, a little bit about the giant saguaro.
The largest population of the giant saguaro is in the state of Arizona. The saguaro’s state-wide distribution and specific location within Arizona landscape puts the Saguaros in
lower elevations and in areas where frost occurrence is minimal or non existent. The Saguaro is under national protection when it reaches 75 years of age and 15 feet tall. The giant saguaro has a life span on 170-200 years and can grow up to 30 feet tall. It stores water in its spines and can store up to a ton; this capacity helps the Saguaro survive and bloom whether it rains or not. For many years, the native Americans used the saguaro flower and seeds as a source of food, in fact the word saguaro is the Indian word sah-wah-ro. The giant saguaro grows only at elevations below 3300 feet, they are only found in the desert of Arizona. Saguaro cacti are extremely susceptible to frost damage due to the fact that they hold high water content and can not survive in locations where frost is a natural occurrence (elevation more than 3300 feet).
The saguaro cactus flower was adopted as Arizona's state flower in the 1930s, it is a rare flower which comes from the dominant South western desert tree the saguaro. They dominate the Southwest and grow in human like form, they are a great source
of fascination for visitors. The saguaro is probably the most photographed tree in the nation. I became fascinated with them when I first came to Arizona more than 7 years ago and continue to be intrigued by them. The hike was quite refreshing! I felt like I should have done more of it, but when one has a family, one has to submit to the needs of the others. Great hike for families, couples, advanced and ameteur hikers.
PS: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
"Travel is an exciting and adventurous passion, it is quite expensive but the reward outweighs the expense. If you can afford it, do it!" Africancrab.
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Mark
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Pictures
Some nice pictures. I love the hawks in the area, watching them hunt.