The FUTS pathway provides intermittent views of Humphries Peak. Near mile 2 1/2, we veer off the Forest Road towards my GPS POI (point-of-interest) noted as "Observatory Mesa." This turns out to be an unspectacular POI, only noted for the maximum elevation of Observatory Mesa.ĭecision time again, A1 Mountain is another 2 miles west along the Forest Road, or do we explore the FUTS trail marking the original road constructed by the City of Flagstaff to access Lowell Observatory on Mars Hill? We choose to explore the historical road and retrace our steps about 1 mile back towards the east.Īt the 4-way intersection the FUTS pathway re-enters the Lowell Scientific Preserve and continues to track due east. Elk, we surmise they are the source of the footprints. The road passes a water-filled tank where we note many animal footprints. We soon push on along the vehicle access Forest Road heading in a generally northwestern direction.
We are now about 1 1/2 miles from the parking lot Trail Head and decide the large quarry stone barrier provides a comfortable place to sit and rest. We take the northern fork that soon joins a 4-way intersection between a vehicle access Forest Road and a Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) pathway. The barrier forms a T-intersection with an intersecting Forest Road and another hiking choice. The thinned forest also provides a home to numerous birds and a variety of wildflowers.Īfter traveling about 1 1/4 miles along FR515, we come to a road barrier that demarcates the transition from Lowell Observatory Scientific Preserve into the Coconino National Forest. Towering Ponderosa Pines dominate your view along FR515. We take the northwestern route along FR515 towards a feature denoted on my GPS as "Observatory Mesa" we estimate to be about 2.5 miles away. The numerous crisscrossing trails can form a confusing labyrinth so take careful note of any landmarks.
Now begins the first of many hiking choices on Mars Hill.
PL, the first two initials of the name Pluto, not so coincidentally is also Percival Lowell's initials. In Greek mythology, Pluto is the god of the underworld - a perfect name considering planet Pluto dwells at the outermost reaches of the solar system. The search continued after his death in 1916 and led to Pluto's discovery by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 using a specially designed photographic telescope. Perhaps Lowell's most significant contribution to planetary studies came during the last years of his life when he devoted much of his time and energy to his quest for "Planet X," a hypothetical ninth planet. He published his views in three books: Mars (1895), Mars and Its Canals (1906), and Mars As the Abode of Life (1908). Lowell thought the canals were constructed by intelligent beings who once flourished on Mars. He further believed that water from the melting polar cap flowed down the canals toward the equatorial region to revive the vegetation. Lowell concluded that the bright areas were deserts and the dark were patches of vegetation. By viewing its surface through the 24-inch Clark Telescope, Lowell produced intricate drawings of the Red Planet, delineating hundreds of straight lines (termed "canals") and their intersections (which Lowell called "oases").
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