Let’s Explore el Desert!
This article is sponsored by Visit Tucson
Photo credit: Visit Tucson
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The Sonoran Desert offers infinite places to explore and discover new worlds during all seasons of the year. Less than 30 minutes from Tucson are trails, mountains, rivers and natural pools, while within the city there are lots of areas to enjoy a picnic or urban hike. Exploring the desert and its wonders may not be the first activity that comes to mind for Latinx folks when we’re making plans for the weekend. There are obstacles our gente face when wanting to interact with nature: limited time due to work responsibilities, the costs of outdoor equipment, the lack of representation of Latinos in national parks. But things are changing. El Sur talked with two outdoor experts, Jesús García, Research Associate with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and Cam Juarez, Park Ranger with the National Park Service, to prepare this guide to exploring the Tucson desert and guide us in increasing representation of the Latinx community outdoors.
Cam Juarez is ready for another day surrounded by the beauty of Saguaro National Park West.
In early July, just before eight in the morning, we met up with ranger Cam Juarez at Saguaro National Park West. The temperature was already hitting the high 80s, a reminder of how quickly the heat rises in the summer. Here the sun is unforgiving, which is why it’s important to know how to recreate in the desert. In addition to getting used to the temperature, it is equally important to Juarez that Latinos feel at home when they visit national parks. “It's important to create an environment in the national park where families don't feel like they don't belong,” says Juarez. This is Juarez’s mission at this stage of his life. His entire life has been dedicated to fighting for social justice—as a Chicano studies teacher, as an urban planner, as a board member in one of the largest school districts in the country. For now, Juarez is focused on increasing Latino representation in national parks. “Different people enjoy nature in different ways. For Latinos it is with a soccer ball, or with a carne asada, or with a piñata outside. Our families aren't going to make the trip for just a couple of hours to collect a stamp and call it a day,” Juarez added. For our comunidad, going outside is an all day affair.
Jesús García at Mission Garden, which is only give minutes away from downtown Tucson. Its agricultural fields represent Tucson’s archeological history which dates back thousands of years.
Being in nature, in community, is something that Jesús García, Associate Researcher with the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, strongly agrees with. “Hispanics like to go where there are people. We like crowds,” though Garcia yearns for more opportunities to connect Latinos with the desert. “There are many people who have lived in the sun and in the desert. The disconnect is that they don't use the desert for recreation.”
Garcia is a biologist. He also grew up on a farm and knows the Sonoran desert well. Originally from Magdalena, Sonora, Jesús grew up in San Isidro, a small community where life revolved around growing crops, tending cows, horses, and pigs. It was living sustainably, before being sustainable was a hashtag. After becoming a teacher in Hermosillo, Jesús set his gaze north—on Tucson. In 1991 he began volunteering at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It was there that he discovered the world of desert ecology and conservation. Three decades later, he is still there, educating the public about the natural history of the desert. The connection between humans and the environment is his passion, and during our talk he shared with us his go-to tips for exploring the desert.
García’s Guide
Photo credit: Ducey Lima
START WITH WHAT YOU LIKE
Tucson offers something for everyone. “If you like to walk, there are trails for exercise. If you are interested in conservation, there are places where you can learn about all kinds of desert plants. There are also trails for nature lovers,” says García. Also consider your mobility. Looking for a flat trail with no obstacles? Or do you want a challenge that offers you more adventure? Walking along the banks of the Rillito River is another way to explore how the river gives life to the desert. You can also bike The Loop while enjoying one of Tucson's largest murals painted by Jessica Gonzales and Rock “CYFI” Martinez.
PREPARE FOR THE ELEMENTS
Gear up for the desert: You’ll need a hat, water, hiking boots, light clothing, headlamp, first aid kit, snacks, phone, bandana and sunscreen.
First decide how much time you want to spend in the elements. There are several trails that you can complete in an hour, others require more time. Either way, it's important to plan your day and start early (5am in the summer), or head out when the sun goes down and temperatures have dropped, too. You’ll need closed-toe shoes or hiking boots, a long-sleeved shirt to protect your skin and avoid shorts so as to avoid cactus needles. “A lot of people aren't used to walking in the desert, you need a stronger shoe,” Garcia says. “And don't forget your hat and sunscreen.” Remember to start drinking water several hours before leaving and bring plenty of water. And don't forget to tell someone where you are going and what time you plan to return.
KNOW THE SEASONS OF THE DESERT
Photo credit: Frankie Lopez
The desert has five seasons (spring, autumn, winter, and the dry summer and wet summer) and each one is equally interesting. Remember that summer is the most inhospitable season, though there are more things to eat in the desert at that time. During the months of March and April you can enjoy the Chollas, the Palo Verdes, the Mesquites. There are also two rainy seasons that are very beautiful and engage all your senses. Jesús' favorite season? Spring: “This is when I like to be around to smell, eat, and have a more intimate experience with the desert.”
“For many people the desert in an inhospitable environment. But once you learn that’s not the case, it’s an incredible place.”
—Jesús García
RESPECT THE LAWS OF THE FLORA AND FAUNA
Photo credit: Dulcey Lima
“As kids we are taught that the desert is a dangerous place: plants full of thorns, spiders, dangerous and poisonous reptiles,” says García. “The first thing we have to assimilate is that desert animals are not there to attack us. The desert is their home and we are visiting them. You have to have respect them have common sense, like not putting your hands where they shouldn’t go." Arizona has more than 13 species of rattlesnakes, all of which are venomous. Fortunately, these reptiles have a rattle that alerts people if the snake is threatened. If you come across a snake in the desert, move away from it slowly.
EXPLORE TRAILS WITHIN THE CITY
Photo credit: Tucson Botanical Gardens
If you're looking for something less dangerous, Tucson has plenty of options for exploring nature without going to extremes. Places like Sweetwater Wetlands, or Mission Garden offer you an opportunity to be in nature knowing that your car (or a bar) are just a few blocks away. Tucson offers several places for birding such as the Tucson Botanical Gardens or Tohono Chul. We recommend you download Merlin by the Cornell Lab to help you identify all kinds of birds. For those who want to get a little closer to nature, García recommends the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which is half an hour from Tucson. On the way back you can enjoy the sunset at the top of Gates Pass.
FOR THOSE WHO WANT A CHALLENGE
Photo credit: Theodore Wathieu
Follow the road to Mount Lemmon where you'll find plenty of places to be in nature like Seven Falls or Rose Canyon Lake. “There you will find water and even frogs,” says García. “These places will take you out of the routine of the city environment without making sacrifices. Walk, find shade and explore. And little by little you realize that there is more. One of Jesus' favorite hikes is King's Canyon. “In an hour you walk about two kilometers and you will find petroglyphs, evidence of the people who inhabited this region for thousands of years, and in the winter the wildflowers are incredible.”
