Just west of downtown Tucson is ridge of low, spikey peaks that offers lots of possibilities for after-work hikes, late-night star-gazing or a pre-breakfast stroll on a hot summer's day. It was here that I recently came eyeball-to-eyeball with an enormous diamondback -- my first rattler. It wasn't seeing the snake that bothered me; it was not seeing the snake ... until I almost stepped on him!

Right: "Sonoran Garden," by Keith

Below Left: Apricot Mallow

Bottom: Keith and CT on Pass Trail (June)

Bottom: Marion on Starr Pass Trail (March)