Last year I discovered what a great escape Mt. Lemmon is when the summer heat makes Tucson less than ideal for outdoor exercise. At approximately 9,000 feet, the hiking trails near the top of the mountain wander through evergreen forests, with grassy areas, wildflowers, and even wild raspberry bushes lining the paths. Best of all, it's cool enough to enjoy the sunshine, even in the middle of July.

Although the Meadow Trail at the top is one of my favorites, this past weekend I decided to challenge myself on the Butterfly Trail. As you start the hike, the route opens up to scenic vistas of the valley below before descending into a shady valley. (I should note here, that the descent and subsequent ascent on the way back are what makes this trail physically challenging.)

On the way down the mountain, the hike was easy enough for me to enjoy the sites of cheerful yellow columbines cascading down a gully and patches of tall swirling meadow grass. The pine-scented air was refreshing and energizing, and both my dog and I enjoyed the adventure. As we neared the point where the Butterfly Trail joins the Crystal Springs Trail Trail, I was shocked to find myself in a field of emerald green ferns. It was a scene that I only would have imagined in the Northwestern part of the country.

When we reached the intersection with the Crystal Springs Trail, only about 1.5 miles from the starting point, I decided to turn around. The hike down was steep enough that I was a little worried about how well I would do on the way out. As it turned out, my dog was less excited about the hike out than I. Every few feet, she would stop in front of me, lie down on the trail, or crawl under the shady ferns and grass along the way. After many rest stops, we finally made our way back to the top. Tired and sweaty, but feeling very virtuous and healthy, we headed home.