The Monsoon along the Mogollon Rim.

The Mogollon Rim in north central Arizona rises suddenly to an elevation of about 7-8,000 feet above sea level. This sudden elevation change means that the rim gets more snow in the winter and more rain during the summer monsoon than anywhere but the highest mountains in the state. The area was made famous to the rest of the world by General Crook's campaigns against the Apache in the 1870's, and Zane Grey's writing in the 1920's. The rim has been an important summer hunting and gathering ground for thousands of years. The combination of high altitude and the resulting increased moisture means that water and a variety of plant and animal foods are available on the highlands above the rim when the desert below is sweltering in temperatures well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The berries we usually pick are not quite ripe yet, but should be within a week or so, and other interesting plants and animals are active.

A view of the Mogollon Rim from it's crest.

A mountain tree-frog Hyla eximia, one of two tree-frog species in Arizona.

This is the first time I have ever seen one, and I would have missed it among the green leaves if it had not moved when we walked by.

The first edible wild mushrooms of the year.

Oyster mushrooms are fairly easy to identify, and do not really have any toxic lookalikes.

Always be cautious collecting and eating wild mushrooms-consult 2-3 references and someone with experience first.

An unsuccessful attempt to dig a red squirrel out of it's refuge.

Music with a Skeptical theme.

I am a fan of traditional and folk music, and just found a new album that I have been waiting for for several months. The Darwin Song Project was sponsored by the Shrewsbury folk festival for the Bicentennial of Darwin's birth. One of the singer-songwriters who participated was one of my favorites, Karine Polwart, from the Scottish Borders. Her song "We're All Leaving" is on the album. Karine's EP "Daisy" also has songs with scientific and skeptical themes. I was not familiar with some of the other artists from both the UK and the US, but I am impressed with the results of the one week retreat where the songs were written. If you enjoy traditional/folk music, this is an enjoyable album.