Moonlight Drive to the top of the world!

Moonlight Drive to the top of the world!

Join us on the evening of the 24th for an accent up Mt. Lemmon to enjoy the full moon. Meet beginning at 7:00 pm at the base of the Catalina Highway near the McDonalds 9075 E Tanque Verde Road (Tanque Verde and Catalina Highway). 

The caravan will depart at 7:30 pm to the destination at the Mt. Lemmon Trailhead Entrance, E Ski Run Rd, Mt Lemmon. This is the last parking area before the Mt Lemmon Sky Center. Follow the signs to the ski area and continue northward on E Ski Run Road. The gates should be open, and the views should be incredible

All are welcome, registration suggested, but not required.

If you have never driven up Mt Lemmon the approximate one hour, 33-mile, trip from the meeting point will use a tremendous amount of energy, but your return will not use any at all. Please consider the energy needed to return to your home from the base of the Catalina Highway. 

For example, A Better Route Planner shows us a 2020 Model 3 LR AWD departing the meet location with 70% SOC will arrive at the observatory with a 46% SOC. The same car departing the top with a 45% SOC will return to the base of the Catalina Highway with a 48% SOC. If you are nervous about making this drive, contact Andy or Mike for one-on-one route planning with A Better Route Planner for the round trip to your home.  

Plan on much cooler temperatures at the destination than the departure. Average low on Mt Lemmon in June is 47 F. Cell signals may be weak or non-existent along sections of the Catalina Highway. Remember too, the views descending back into the Tucson Basin at night are spectacular. The  Babad Do'ag Scenic Overlook has a great view overlooking the Tanque Verde Valley and beyond.