Gerry Tietje
When Dean Martin crooned the classic holiday favorite, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow,” I’m sure he wasn’t thinking of Southeastern Arizona. Winters in SaddleBrooke Ranch are mild, but occasionally atmospheric conditions are right for snow to fall, even here in sunny Arizona. It has only happened three times since Claire and I moved here four years ago. On those special days, residents awoke to find the ground, plants, and outdoor grills covered with an inch or more of white snow, dazzling in the bright sunshine. Pet dogs gingerly put their paws in the newly fallen snow as they went about their business, and black ravens high-stepped through it. And those of us who moved here to escape winters in the East, Midwest, and Northwest were given a stark reminder of winters once endured.
The last time it snowed at the Ranch I hurriedly donned my jacket and boots, grabbed my camera, and drove out to Park Link Drive, one of my happy places. On the way out of SaddleBrooke Ranch I spotted a Gila Woodpecker perched on top of a snow-capped Saguaro. Park Link Drive did not disappoint. Hillsides with desert fauna glistened in the sunlight. Saguaros had snow clinging to their sides, arms, and tops. I stopped at a favorite spot where there is a picturesque windmill for a few photos and moved on, hoping to see some Harris’s Hawks atop Saguaros. Instead, I encountered bewildered, open range cattle milling around the side of the road in an unfamiliar wintery environment as I traveled east toward Picacho Peak State Park. About halfway there, the snow was starting to disappear, so I turned around and drove home. When it snows here, it doesn’t last long, not even 24 hours.
Of course, if you want a taste of winter you don’t need to wait until it snows at the Ranch. You can drive up Mt. Lemmon where there is plenty of snow during the winter months; up to 180 inches fall each year. The drive up the Catalina Highway to the top of Mt. Lemmon in winter often features snow on top of the hoodoos near Windy Point and icicles covering the cliffsides near the summit. Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, the southernmost ski area in the continental United States, is found here. At over 9,000 feet, it offers 21 groomed ski runs, from easy runs like “Kitty Cat Walk” to expert runs like “Hot Dawg” and “Jay’s Chicken.” The Iron Door restaurant across E Ski Run Road is open and busy most days of the week in winter. And the quaint village of Summerhaven that sits near the top of this snowy alpine wonderland awaits your visit.
As people in many parts of the country begin to tire of snow, ice, and arctic winds, residents of SaddleBrooke Ranch can still look forward to that occasional snowfall. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.