The elevation of Colossal Cave Mountain Park is about 3,500 feet. Ok this is plenty of background information so now journey with us to Colossal Cave Mountain Park! The retaining wall and Visitor’s Center at Colossal Cave The calcium, oxygen and carbon atoms in aragonite bond together differently creating a unique crystal structure. They are both calcium carbonate but have different crystal shapes and symmetries. On occasion another element may be present while calcite is being formed (ex: magnesium) and take the place of a calcium atom.Ī less stable aragonite is a polymorph of calcite. In the marine environment, if the conditions are right, calcite is stable enough that it can cement together sediments and overtime make limestone. Calcium carbonate ( calcite), is found in the shells of marine organisms and truly is one of the MOST abundant minerals on earth! The majority of limestone formed on ANCIENT ocean floors.Ĭalcite is a main component used by echinoderms, like sea urchins, starfish, and sand dollars to make their spines and skeletons. The most abundant mineral in limestone is calcite ( calcium carbonate). crystallized calcium carbonate formations Close by, in the same mountain park, are Arkenstone and La Tetera Caves with active growing formations. This cave formed by water depositing limestone that has NOW disappeared. The SPELEOTHEMS in Colossal Cave no longer grow. You're missing the Desert Museum, which is definitely the must-see of Tucson.Calcite, which gets its name from “ chalix” the Greek word for lime, is a most amazing and yet, most common mineral. Saguaro's east unit has a nice scenic loop you can drive, and the visitors center. The temperature plummets as soon as the sun goes down. Gates Pass is across town from all of these places, but it is a very good spot for a sunset, though it'll be chilly at that time of year. Mount Lemmon will be chilly around Thanksgiving, but if you really want to drive up there, I'd probably do it on the same day as a longer hike. Visit Seven Falls on the Monday because it'll be less crowded. Is Gates Pass the best place to catch an amazing sunset? > Sun & Mon in no order - explore Seven Falls Sabino Canyon, Saguaro East and drive to top of Mt. It's not a federal holiday, but it's a very dead period and things just don't get done. Make sure you reserve the Boneyard tour in advance, because I'm not sure they'll even be doing it on that Friday because of the holiday. I don't know that you can spend a whole day there, even if you're really interested in it. > Fri - spend entire day at Air Museum (hubby's request) It'll be mostly just fast food places open and pricey Thanksgiving dinners.
It may be a bit challenging eating on the day you come in. So it's relatively quiet for that time of year. While Christmas and New Year's are busy with tourists, those tourists don't come as much over Thanksgiving and the students at UA are pretty much all gone. > If you would be so kind, would you look over our plan and see if this makes sense? I assume Thanksgiving weekend is a busy time in Tuscon.Īctually, no. Keep in mind though that the trailheads sit at about 3000', which doesn't sound like a lot, but you'll feel it when you start huffing and puffing as you will not have acclimated at that point. If you want something more challenging for your 3-hour tour, I can suggest that as well, as most of these would be considered easy to moderate. It's a bit tougher because of the rocks, slopes and staggered elevation gain, but it's great for scenery and it's rarely busy if you go far enough in.įor all of these trails, you can go as far as you'd like and just turn around when you feel like it. This is a riparian canyon trail leading into the Santa Catalina Mountains (like Sabino Canyon), so you follow a creek.
Ventana Canyon: At the northern end of Kolb Road, with trailhead parking adjacent to Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. You actually have several choices at the trailhead, but the Cactus Forest I think would work best for you. Cactus Forest: Also at Saguaro east, the trailhead is at the east end of Broadway Blvd. It's a great hike if you want something that has a challenge but isn't challenging for the whole hike.
It starts flat with some nice desert scenery, but then has a tough ascension into a grassland area.
Douglas Spring: Part of Saguaro National Park's east unit, the trailhead is at the east end of Speedway Blvd.
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