Desertscape Dream-Daddy

View High-Resolution Image
Desertscape Dream-Daddy

Desertscape Dream-Daddy

Seen here in 1991, this Saguaro cacti had survived in southern Arizona for about 300 years, TWICE as long as the average Saguaro. Affectionately known as "Old Grandaddy," this Saguaro slowly began to rot away (in 1992) from a disease known as bacterial necrosis, which is the cacti-equivalent of extreme old age. In its heyday, Old Grandaddy was the oldest, biggest and most thickly limbed saguaro cacti in the United States. Just before its death, when the tallest of its 52 arms toppled over and got stuck between two other arms, Old Grandaddy was 40 feet tall, and weighed approximately 3 tons. Seen in the background rising above the two people, 8,482' Rincon Peak has a clean prominence of 2,282 feet, and stands as a monument to the passing of time. Photo credited to David Elms of Arizona Highways (1991)
lcarreau
on Nov 25, 2008 9:37 pm
Lat/Lon: 32.14822°N / 110.59855°W
Image Type(s): Hiking,  Flora,  Informational,  Scenery
Image ID: 466291

Comments

Post a Comment
Viewing: 1-9 of 9
lcarreau

lcarreau - Dec 7, 2008 9:38 am - Hasn't voted

Re: That's

You're right! It's a truly awesome place to
go for a hike. In fact, a trail goes right
past this huge Saguaro, on the outskirts of
Saguaro National Park (East).

This is the view looking east towards the Rincon Peak Wilderness.

Andinistaloco

Andinistaloco - May 18, 2009 9:11 am - Voted 10/10

10/10

Great shot, Larry! Thanks for attaching it to this page.

lcarreau

lcarreau - May 18, 2009 11:03 am - Hasn't voted

Re: 10/10

No problemo!

I worked on the trails at Saguaro (east) for
one season. It was pretty 'rad' down there!

Andinistaloco

Andinistaloco - May 24, 2009 5:36 am - Voted 10/10

Re: 10/10

Absolutely. Rincon peak's a killer hike, as are Mica and Tanque verde (long as you don't do them in the summer!).

lcarreau

lcarreau - May 24, 2009 10:38 am - Hasn't voted

Re: 10/10

The summer would kill me down there!

I always liked Romero Canyon, just outside
of Santa Catalina State Park. What an awesome place to roast hotdogs !!!

Andinistaloco

Andinistaloco - May 25, 2009 3:04 am - Voted 10/10

Re: 10/10

Indeed, a great spot. Ever hike up the canyon to Romero Pass, just under Cathedral Rock? Great run with some cool waterfalls along the way....

lcarreau

lcarreau - May 25, 2009 11:19 am - Hasn't voted

Re: 10/10

Geez, I did make it up there in 1994.

I always got Cathedral Rock mixed up with
Finger Rock, until somebody actually (gave)
me the finger, then I managed to straighten
myself out on my topography lesson.

Mount Lemmon looks awesome from the Pass !!!

(Of course, that was before the fire.)

Liba Kopeckova

Liba Kopeckova - Aug 30, 2009 12:13 am - Voted 10/10

tallest one?

is this one the tallest saguaro?

lcarreau

lcarreau - Aug 30, 2009 9:23 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: tallest one?

Liba ... the short answer is 'no.'

In it's prime, this one was only 50-feet tall.

If you want to see the tallest, head out to
Baja California, Mexico.

The tallest is called the cardon, measured
at 63 feet, which is as tall as four giraffes.

I've seen a few that were 50+ feet tall when I worked at Saguaro National Park near Tucson.

Larry

Viewing: 1-9 of 9