To Start: The mountain and animals welcome you,To a quest that is fun to do!There are smiles all aroundBut there is only one smiley face in town!Can you find it? **Did you know?South Mountain is one of the largest city parks in the United States coming in at 17,000 acres! South Mountain is part of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve System, and it is a desert mountain reserve. The park has several activities that are available to the public, including picnics, barbeques, parties, hiking, mountain biking, trail rides, and it provides a beautiful scenic drive. There are ramadas to cool off under, along with public restrooms. There are 58 miles of trails that range from easy, moderate, to difficult. The highest point accessible by trail is Dobbins Look out which is at 2,330 feet. Be careful when going on some of the trails because there may be wildlife including rattlesnakes, but just give them enough room and they should not bother you. Have fun on your adventure! Your Quest Begins:Look to your leftLook to your rightAre there any animals in sight?There are two things that start with the letter "B" here,Can you identify what they are called? **AnswerIn the picture, there is a Barrel Cactus and a Burrow. Barrel Cactus Information: Although the Barrel Cactus appears small here, it is among the largest cacti of North America. They can grow up to 10 feet tall! They are characterized by prominent ribs with heavy spines that almost look like fishhooks. These cacti are also known as the Fishhook Barrel Cactus, because of their curved spines. In the summer, around April and June, you are able to see yellowish-green or red flowers on top of the cactus. The Barrel Cactus usually grows along desert washes, gravely slopes or beneath desert canyon walls. Burrow Information: Burrows are a great home for many desert animals because they offer protection from some predators, extreme temperatures, and from overly dry climates. Most animals that live in burrows hunt for food underground such as tubers, roots, worms, and insects. Some of the animals that live in burrows will spend their entire lives underground, however, some animals will spend time above and below ground. Some animals you may find at South Mountain include chipmunks, pikas, and rabbits. Buckle-Up for Take-off:Buckle-upTake your seatIt's going to be a bumpy rideIf you look to the northThat is where some airplanes reside **Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport:What you are seeing here, is the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It is one of the ten busiest airports in the nation, and is among the top twenty busiest airports in the world with a $90 million daily economic impact. Every day, more than 1,200 aircraft and 100,000 passengers arrive and depart, and more that 600 tons of air cargo is handled. This airport is about 3,000 acres in size. Sky Harbor Airport also has four different terminals. In October 1952, terminal 1 was the first "modern" terminal built at a cost of $853,000, but was later demolished. The next few terminals were just never renumbered. Terminal 2 was completed in 1962 at a cost of $2.7 million, terminal 3 was completed in 1979 at a cost of $35 million, and terminal 4 opened in 1990 at a cost of $248 million. **Did you know? No local tax dollars are used to fund Sky Harbor Airport. Revenue is actually generated from airport shops, restaurants, parking, taxis, and rental cars. Unfortunately, none of this revenue can be used for any additional funding for community organizations, according to federal law. Therefore the extra money is used to improve security and safety. All Washed Up:The desert is very hotYou could roast like a Tater-tot!There used to be washes hereBut now they have disappeared! Where did they go? What happened to them?**Did you know?A desert wash is a desert habitat that is the embodiment of desert tranquility. For a few hours or sometimes a few days a year when the rains come crashing down, the desert wash hosts raging streams that uproot trees and all else in their wakes. When rushing water from periodic rains gushes through the sandy desert,the porous, gravelly soil cannot absorb the moisture as fast as it falls, and somewater filters downward. Unlike most deserts, the wash retains water deep underground, where it can be reached by the long roots of plants that shelter many migratory birds and small mammals. The desert wash also supports more herbs,shrubs, and trees than other desert habitats as a result of this belowgroundwater table. The desert wash makes up less than 10 percent of the desert, but provides a home to about 90 percent of desert birds. Desert washes also concentrate the nutrients carried by occasional streams and provide shade for small, ground-dwelling animals trying to escape the heat. Hope You Aren't Having a "Rotten" Time:We're about halfway through our questNow it is time to take a restHope you aren't this cactusWho is having a rotten time **Fun FactWhat you see here is a Saguaro Cactus going through decomposition. Decomposition is the natural process of dead animal or plant tissue being rotted or broken down. This process provides the building blocks that are required for life that can be recycled. During the process of decomposition, the decomposers provide food for themselves by extracting chemicals from the dead animals or plant tissues, which produces energy. The decomposers will then produce waste of their own. In turn, this will also decompose, eventually returning nutrients to the soil. These nutrients can then be taken up by the roots of living plants enabling them to grow and develop, so that organic material is naturally recycled. Virtually nothing goes to waste in nature. When an animal dies and decomposes, usually only the bones remain, but even these will decompose over a much longer period of time. This limits the competition for resources and provides a fresh source of essential nutrients for new generations of life. Decisions Decisions:Now you have come to a fork in the roadVeer right towards the treesFollow the trail to the sharp curveAnd go up and down the hills*If you look to the right, you can see part of the city! Challenge Question: Have you ever chosen a path in the road where it led you somewhere you did not want to be? Did you get lost along this path? How would you back-track your steps to find the right path to take? What are some characteristics of a reliable path? You Might Jump at This Site:Look out!There is a jumping cholla cactus blocking your viewDon't touch it, or it will get you!Behind this cactus is a view quite shockingYou might not believe your eyes.Some people just don't careMass amounts of pollution fill the air. **The "Brown Cloud"Beginning in the 1990's, residents of Phoenix, Arizona have been looking for some relief from the "Brown Cloud", as it came to be known, that surrounded the city. The "Brown Cloud" is a year-round pollution cloud that has formed due to burning fossil fuels, cars, construction-related dust, power plants, gas powered lawn mowers, and leaf blowers. All of these produce tiny particles of carbon and nitrogen dioxide gas, which has slowly created the pollution in the Phoenix area. Although other areas around the country have similar fossil fuel usage without the same after-effects, the location, weather conditions, and rapid growth that attract residents and visitors to this area also help trap those particles and gases that create pollution. As the desert floor heats up during the day, the particles rise from the ground, creating a visible haze that expands as the day progresses. This is the brownish-haze that you can see over the city. Challenge Question: What are some ways families can help slow pollution and save energy? What does it mean to "Go Green"? What do you think the city would look like in 10 years if everyone in Phoenix took action to help slow pollution? Would it look better or worse? Why? Your Journey has come to an End:A winding path leads you to your final destinationBe cautious while going downThere are many loose rocks And it gets a little steeper here.Once you see the marker Javelina 3You are now free!**Reflect on your hiking experience here at South Mountain Park, on the Javelina Canyon trail. What are some ways you can help preserve all of the the wild animal and plant life here in the park? What are some of the most interesting things you learned today on your hike? Would you do this hike again?