Art Hike with Stephanie Daniels

Let's Hike and Paint!

Sunset Trailhead, Santa Catalina Mountains on Mt. Lemmon

We'll meet at 8:45am at the Sunset Trailhead, together we'll hike the Sunset Trail for 0.5 mile before stopping to paint for an hour. Stephanie will provide some instruction on how to capture the scenery with your medium of choice and then let you explore your creativity on your own. We'll hike back the way we came.The well marked trail takes you under ponderosa pines, gambel oaks and aspens. The trail has some loose rocks in places. If you've never visited Mount Lemmon before this is a great intro hike to see what the Arizona Sky Islands have to offer.

What to Bring on This Adventure:

• backpack w/ water and snacks
• hat/sunglasses/sunscreen
• hiking boots/sturdy shoes
• extra layer/jacket (in case of wind)
• drawing/painting/journal materials of your choice
• optional lightweight seat or cushion (there will be flat rocks and a wide open area to sit)
• don't forget your Kula cloth!

Description of the Hike: Sunset Trail #90

Miles: 1+ mile out and back

Elevation gain: +/- 100 ft

Highest Point: 7,730 ft

Difficulty: easy

Pace: 1 mile/hour

Trailhead Parking or Permits needed: No permit required at the Sunset Trailhead off Sykes Knob Rd, if parking is full you can park at the Butterfly Trailhead directly across the highway (however this parking lot does require a day use fee).

Driving Directions: take Catalina Highway off Tanque Verde Road in Tucson, continue 25 miles, turn left on Sykes Knob Rd (just past the Butterfly Trailhead that will be on your right) and park at the Sunset Trailhead. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the Sunset Trailhead from the base of the mountain. For GPS directions put in "Butterfly Trailhead" since Sunset Trailhead does not come up.

About Our Instructor:

Stephanie Daniels is an artist and adventure seeker based in Tucson, AZ where she shares her hiking adventures and botanical watercolor artwork under the moniker Brushes and Boots. She draws inspiration from time spent in nature, whether hiking in the Sonoran Desert or backpacking the higher elevations of the Sky Islands of Arizona. Her original watercolor paintings showcase the range of beauty the Southwest has to offer, from cactus to pines.

Like many people who have not spent a lot of time in the Southwest, she initially thought the landscape around Tucson was dry, brown and boring. Through exploring the Sonoran Desert, she discovered an abundance of life and color in the seemingly lifeless landscape and she now uses her art to share the beauty found in this special place.

Since moving from Chicago to Arizona in 2017 she has grown her outdoor skills and knowledge, from not even owning properly fitting hiking boots or knowing anything about a water filter to teaching women's backpacking clinics and becoming a Wilderness First Responder. Her proudest outdoor achievement to date is hiking 230 miles in 24 days on the John Muir Trail in 2019.

She shares her art and adventures on www.brushesandboots.com and @brushesandboots