Arizona Illustrated

Picacho Peak is one of the most recognizable landmarks in southern Arizona with its unmistakable shape and height along a valley between Tucson and Phoenix. In this story we learn about the geology and ecology of the place and also address a bit of its history. It includes a Civil War battle and a stop by the Mormon Battalion in 1846 on its way from Iowa to California, in what has been described as the longest military march in U.S. history. Wendy Garcia grew up in Alamos, Sonora. She learned from her father and grandmother how to cook traditional Mexican food, with lots of meat. After moving to Tucson at the age of 17, Garcia started working in restaurants around Tucson, ranging from Taco Bell to Feast. After a decade of working late nights and multiple jobs, she decided to start her own business selling vegan tamales at farmers’ markets. That grew into Tumerico, an extremely popular and nationally recognized restaurant in the heart of Tucson. Dr. Justin Schmidt is considered a connoisseur of pain to many. He has been stung by thousands of insects for science. He compiled the widely known “Schmidt Pain Scale for Stinging Insects,” based on his own sting experiences. Dr. Schmidt takes viewers into the field and shares his research and (painful!) methods from his laboratory.