South Mountain Park and Preserve

Draft III

Journey’s Beginning

Just a quick note before we start. Our Nature Quest asks you to both think about the environment around you, and to try and answer some questions about it. Some of those questions we hope you can figure out for yourselves, but others may take a bit more information to understand. We’ve provided a web page to go along with this Nature Quest, were you can find some more information about your journey and what you’ve seen on it. You can learn more at http://www.nakedscience.org/NatureQuest

For today’s journey, we’ll be walking along a portion of the Holbert trail, which runs about 2.5 miles up to the top of the mountain, ending at the Dobbin’s Lookout, which was built in the 1930s by the CCC (Do you know what the CCC is?). We’ll start at the Box Canyon, and head south from trail marker 2.

As you leave the canyon, veer to the left at trail marker 3. Pause and look up and south. At the top of the left peak, you’ll notice the face of a fat man old and wise, which points towards the sun’s rise. Can you see this? Yes □ No □

Head down the stairway to heaven, towards the pits of fire. Can you see this? Yes □ No □

Beyond the pits of fire, head south, lower and lower you go, towards the stream Styx, pay the ferryman, cross the stream, and head over the hills and far away.

Were you able to find your way across? Yes □ No □

When you’re almost at the top of the little hills, notice the forest of creosote, and smell the leaves of rain, Could you smell these? Yes □ No □

Leave the forest of rain and keep heading up, soon you’ll see in the distance the white tower, our final destination. Can you see this? Yes □ No □

When you get to the round-a-bout you’ll notice a large stone ice-cube to your left, and a sitting rock that points to the ancient craftsmen’s art. In this gallery, look for the frog, the turtle, and the snakes. When you find the frog sitting on some snakes, you’ll know which path to take. Did you find all of these? Yes □ No □

Twist and turn through the painted rocks, stone men to the left, stone men to the right. Did you find these? Yes □ No □

Keep going, but keep your head up to find the king snake with a cross on his left! Did you find this? Yes □ No □ --- It’s time to leave the land of the painted stones….but don’t forget their voices from the deep past…

As you leave the painted stone forest, you’ll get to lucky trail marker #7. With the fool’s gold rush on the left, slide down the hill towards your right.

Continue on the path, and notice the cat’s claw on your left. Pet the kitty, but remember she has claws! Did you find this? Yes □ No □

Look up to your right, and find the two buck teeth at the top of old smokey, and towards your left, where you can just glimpse the lone Sentinel cactus watching over the desert. Did you find these? Yes □ No □

Cross the Nile stream, and approach the Sentinel even closer, but watch your step, the Nile is not crossed carelessly! Did you find these? Yes □ No □

To the right, look up and past the pile of copper colored rocks and notice the trident at the top of the mountain

Look a little farther to the right, and notice the frozen silver waterfall, made of stone.

Keep on scanning right, and along the mountains ridge, can you see the giant lizard, also frozen in time?

Keep going until you hit the asphalt trail, and glimpse the White Tower.

You’re half the way home!

It’s now time to head back home, so turn around and retrace your steps. Be sure to hello to your old friends along the way, but first pay homage to the tall, lone Sentinel, with two stubby arms. Now that you’re so close to him, what manner of creature is he? Tell us what you think his kind are called ___________________

We hope you enjoyed your journey, and will come back for more and greater adventures another time. Please remember to take only pictures and memories, and to leave nothing but footprints. This place is sacred to many, and important to all, so always cherish it and keep it clean…..