Robert Thoresen
A spartan group of members of the PCQC took in a morning on July 23 to make a photo shoot along the path of the Catalina Highway. The 24 mile trip up the highway made its first stop at the Molina Canyon Overview, elevation 4,370 feet, and made five additional stops before reaching the Mt. Lemmon Rock Outlook at 9,157 feet. The drive takes one through four different vegetation zones. The group was focusing their lenses on fauna and flora. Mt. Lemmon honors botanist Sara Lemmon, who with her husband John, discovered many of the species of plants on an 1881 expedition to the summit. The Catalinas do have a vast variety of flora but most of it was not flowering on the overcast July day. Most of what was flowering was at elevations above 7,000 feet and was dominated by California Fuchsia, Mt. Lemmon Marigolds, Rock Penstemon, and Columbine. Best locations for photos were Marshall Gulch Picnic Grounds at 7,435 feet and the partial meadows at the Mount Lemmon Rock Outlook. Fauna was well hidden for the day although one adventurous young whitetail deer did explore a portion of the road near the Ski Valley.
For those Quail Creek residents who are wanting to take in a lunch at Summerhaven this summer might note that the Iron Gate Restaurant is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well as the ski lift at Ski Valley. It is the only restaurant that serves root beer floats. The other full service restaurant, Sawmill Run, is open all week and is noted for its corned beef Reuben, humus and wedding soup. Prices are reasonable for those of us on a modest budget.