Santa Rita Abbey is a monastery of contemplative nuns belonging to the international Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, also known as Trappists. They give themselves completely to God in love and joy, in a life centered on worshiping God and praying for the good of all people and all creation. They typically pray or attend mass six times a day, waking at 4:00 am and retiring at 8:00 pm. By baking altar breads they provide the breads used at Mass in churches across the USA.

Pit and drift is a 60-acre active mining claim in Pima, Arizona. “A mining claim is a parcel of land for which the claimant has asserted a right of possession and the right to develop and extract a discovered, valuable mineral deposit. This right does not include exclusive surface rights. Mining claims are staked for locatable minerals (gold, silver, lead, etc.) on public lands.” [Bureau of Land Management]

The Arizona Trail (AZT) begins at the U.S.- Mexico border and ends at the Utah border. In between, the Trail winds through some of the most rugged and spectacular scenery in the western United States. It is one of only three national scenic trails for which a connected route exists for the entire trail length.

The National Trails System Act defines a national scenic trail as an “… extended trail so located as to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historical, natural, or cultural qualities of the areas through which such trail may pass.” [US Forest Service]

This route is one of the best exemplars of two unique Sky Islands biomes: Oak-Grasslands and Oak Woodland. Oak-Grassland is typical at 4500-6000′ in the foothills of many of the Sky Islands and throughout the majority of this ride. However, nearing the radio towers, you begin to transition into Oak-Woodlands.

From the radio towers (also known as Melendrez pass), the high point of the day, you get expansive views east and west. To the east are the Mustang and Whetstone Mountain ranges of the Sky Islands. To the west is the Duval-Sierrita Mine. Originally developed as an underground mine in 1907, the Sierrita open pit has been in operation since 1959 and is a copper and molybdenum mining complex. The mine has one of the largest copper reserves in the United States and in the world. [Wikipedia]

“Kentucky Camp was built in 1904 as the headquarters of the Santa Rita Water and Mining Company, whose investors hoped to collect water from the Santa Rita Mountains for hydraulic gold mining. The venture was abandoned following the mysterious death of the chief engineer the following year. The property became a working cattle ranch for the next 50 years, before being sold to a mining conglomerate. The Coronado National Forest acquired the site in 1989; since then, the Forest and volunteers have been working together to preserve the site. Kentucky Camp (and associated features related to the development of the water system and mining in the area) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” [Friends of Kentucky Camp]