Well, its April in Tucson and if you don't get out of the climate contolled indoors as often as you would like, now is the time to hit the trails.  The days are beautiful, not too hot or too cold.  Many of our normally dry creeks are actually running with clear water and the flowers are blooming.  Some are just kicking in at the slightly higher elevations.  I went out with my sons three times in the last two weeks and it was wonderful.  First we went to Madera Canyon and hiked the creek bed just down from White House picnic area.  The creek was running and we found a few lovely little waterfalls.  We picnic up at the Josephine Saddle trail head and were kept company by blue jays and chickadees and grey squirrels.  You can get to Madera by taking I-10 to the Houghton Rd. exit.  Go south to Sahuarita Road, west to the old Nogales Highway, then South to the turn off for Continental and Madera.  It's about an hour's drive from Vail and its beautiful.  You can also access Elephant Head if you're more ambitious than we are.

     Last Friday we headed up Reddington Road to the Upper Tanque Verde Falls trail head.  This is a short, easy hike down to the water.  Tanque Verde Fall has an ominous reputation for serious accidents and deaths but if you're sober and sensible its a beautiful place for sun and water.  The pools are not particularly deep and the developed trails are easily traveled.  Just remember that down by the water the rocks are smooth and can be slick and you don't want to be anywhere near the creek if its been raining or looks like it going to rain.  And you should never hike under the influence of alchohol or eny other drug.  Keeping these things in mind the Tanque Verde Falls are fun, sunny, scenic and a quick way to get to running water. (A rare sight in Tucson!)

     So get out there and enjoy April in Az.  Its just going to get hotter from here on in!

AJ Earley