Tucson Weekly: Heat Stoked (May 21

Hot Tips On Cool Summer Retreats.
By Kevin Franklin
EVERY DAY FOR the next month, the big burning orb will climb higher in the sky and rain ever more photons onto the hairless, fair-skinned apes populating Tucson. Summer is upon us. Whether you revel in the heat that drives snowbirds before it like some cleansing cosmic blast, or flee to the mountains, there are plenty of outdoor things to do in and around Tucson, even in the dead of summer. I've chosen three of my favorites to clip and save for a sunny day.
If you dislike the heat, the adiabatic lapse rate is your friend. Basically, as air rises it expands; and as it expands, it cools--roughly five degrees Fahrenheit per 1,000 feet around here. So, if you're sweating it out in Tucson in 105 degrees, you can scurry up Mt. Wrightson in the Santa Rita Mountains to cool off. By going from 2,600 foot-high Tucson to 9,453 foot-high Mt. Wrightson, you've dropped 34 degrees to a comfortable 71. Tack on wind chill, and you might want to bring a sweater.
Review Mount Wrightson is nice because it's close, it's tall, and--since you have to hike to the top--you won't encounter the mobs you find in the Catalina Mountains.
To get there, take I-19 south to exit 63. Follow Continental Road east until you see the signs for Madera Canyon Road going south. Follow that to the trailhead at the very end.
Of course, you still have to contend with things like sunburn and solar radiation, even on cool mountain tops. If you really want to escape the heat, you can do like all the smart animals and go underground.
Caves are ideal places to take shelter from the heat, or the cold. Our ancestors knew this, and you can rediscover it for yourself. Sadly, many folks who go into caves are first-class idiots. They damage formations, defecate inside, paint graffiti and make general nuisances of themselves.
For this reason, true cavers are a tight-lipped lot; unless you're in the caving community, it's unlikely you'll find many people telling you the whereabouts of caves not already on maps.
However, there is a cave people will tell you about. Peppersauce Cave is the sacrificial lamb of the caving community. It's an example of a cave on the skids. On any given day there will be drunks, kids and even dogs in the cave. It's like Neolithic life all over again.
If you go, do right by the old cave and yourself. Despite the abuse it's received, there are still some beautiful things about Peppersauce Cave, so be gentle with it and pack out everything you bring in. There are fools who go in there thinking it's as safe as a basement. It's not. Always carry three independent light sources and spare batteries for each person. Don't go in alone, and if you go in a group, use the buddy system. Each person should pair with another and never move out of sight from each other. It's a good idea to wear a helmet and always let someone else know where you've gone.
To reach Peppersauce, take Highway 77 north to Oracle. Turn right on Mount Lemmon Road, continuing for about two miles past Peppersauce Campground until you reach Nugget Canyon and a sharp bend in the road. Pull off somewhere near the stone bridge and walk upstream, keeping an eye on the north bank for graffiti and the cave entrance.
Trying to escape the heat is all well and fine, but I think it's better to meet the challenge head on. Summer is the best time of the year as far as I'm concerned. All the faint of heart leave town, and the hot places are left to the desert rats and mad dogs. What better time to drive El Camino del Diablo? The Devil's Highway, which crosses the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, killed hundreds, if not thousands of would-be prospectors on their way to California. There's always room for more.
Last summer, the people recreating deep inside the Cabeza could be counted on one hand. You're practically guaranteed solitude, if not a nasty case of dehydration. With recorded temperatures over 120 degrees, it's like having your own 1,300 square-mile desiccator. Count on about three gallons of water a day, if hiking. If your vehicle breaks down, there may or may not be someone else coming along to lend a hand.
In short, it's a desert paradise and a sure bet for a sizzling summer getaway.
To visit the Cabeza Prieta refuge, pick up your free user permit and general map at the Visitor Center in Ajo; or contact the Fish & Wildlife Service at 1611 N. Second Ave., Ajo, AZ 85321. Call (520) 387-6483 for directions and information.

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