The Wonder of the Sky

In this second episode of our seven-part road trip through Arizona, we head for the Sky Islands: isolated mountain ranges that rise out of the desert like islands from a sea. This is the most biodiverse region in North America, where jaguars and ocelots still roam and more than half of the continent’s bird species have been recorded. We take a nature tour with one of the country’s foremost naturalists and survival experts, then head for Mount Lemmon, passing through six ecological zones in just 35 minutes. In terms of natural habitats, that’s the equivalent of traveling from Mexico to Canada. At the top, we rope up for a Native American-led rock climb to hear what this remarkable eco-system means to the people who have lived here for thousands of years.

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Episode highlights

Islands in a Sea of Desert

You may never have heard of the Sky Islands, but naturalist Vincent Pinto says there’s nowhere on the continent more alive. From hummingbirds and hawks to jaguars and golden eagles, life is everywhere in these mountain islands and the sea of grass between them. Take a nature tour with Vincent and discover this ecological wonder for yourself.

The Art of Seeing

Walk the trails of Raven’s Nest Nature Sanctuary as Vincent teaches the art of truly seeing nature. Meet a rabbit that eats its own scat, a plant that smells like grandpa’s couch, and the smallest butterfly in North America.

Stone Age Survival

Discover how to turn a rock into a knife sharp enough to use as a scalpel, taught by a wilderness survival expert who has consulted for TV shows including Marooned with Ed Stafford.

Navajo Heights

Travel to the top of Mount Lemmon with Diné (Navajo) climbing guide Aaron Mike, and hear why climbing is how he feels most connected to his heritage, and to the stories his people tell about the land.

Ecologically speaking, you’re in the most biodiverse area of North America, right here in the Sky Islands.

Vincent Pinto, naturalist, Ravens-Way Wild Journeys