Looking down from one of the many overlooks on the Sky Island Scenic Byway. I stopped at almost every overlook. — Photo by Pat Bean
The Wanderings of a Nested Wanderer
Sky islands are isolated mountains surrounded by radically different landscapes. My wondering-wandering curiosity had me looking up the term after I drove the Sky Island Scenic Byway to the top of Mount Lemon as a day road trip to pacify my wanderlust. We left before the sun came up and my canine companion, Pepper, and I didn’t get back home from the 60-mile round trip until mid-afternoon.
Hoodoos, like this, were plentiful along the way. I love the word hoodoo — and the most colorful ones can be found in Southern Utah. — Photo by Pat Bean
It was a great, soul cleansing day.
I hadn’t really heard the tern sky island until I settled in Tucson three years ago, and then it seemed to be frequently popping up. That’s because, the Catalina, Santa Rita and the Chiricahua mountain ranges that surround Tucson are all perfect examples of sky islands.
I live in the 3-000-foot shadow of the 9,159-foot tall Mount Lemmon, meaning my road trip took me from an arid desert landscape to a much cooler landscape 6,000 feet higher. It was the perfect escape on a hot day. A gazillion bicyclists thought so too. Next time, perhaps, I’ll take the drive on a weekday instead of a weekend.
Real soon, I decided.
I called this one spaceship rock. — Photo by Pat Bean
Bean Pat: Raspberry Sunset http://tinyurl.com/j68j4cf Great Yellowstone wildlife capture with a camera. I love this blog.
Pat Bean's blog 
We love escaping to Mt Lemmon anywhere from Molino Basin to the ski lift – especially on a summer day. Nice post. Thank you
Thanks Ethel
Wow, very cool!
I agree
I’ve driven to the top of Mt. Lemmon from the Tucson side before so I assume this is the same drive although I don’t recall it being called the Sky Island Scenic Byway back then (several years ago). I’ve always meant to do it again so I think I will this fall!!!!! It’s a beautiful drive going through all those life zones in a short period of time.
It’s also called the General Hitchcock Highway– and since it’s the only road to the top of Mount Lemmon we shared an experence.