Tens of thousands of interplanetary objects that have been circling the sun for four billion years will finally slam into the Earth at enormous velocity in August. No corner of  the globe is immune as the planet inexorably rotates to expose every continent, every square mile, every human being to this enormous interplanetary cloud of debris that will fall onto us like a hard crimson rain. Is this the end of humanity? Of all life on earth?

No, it's the annual Perseid meteor showers.

I've always wanted to write a dramatic “It was a dark and stormy night” lead.

Even though the meteors will hit the Earth at 133,200mph, they're guaranteed to burn up in the atmosphere, generating no more terrified reactions than pleased “oohs” and “aahs” and, inevitably, “That was a good one!”

But that isn't always the case. Some meteors survive their furious passage through our atmosphere to smash into the ground, and then scientists call them “meteorites” because everybody wants their own jargon so that their jobs sound complicated and difficult. Here in Arizona we've got a cool impact crater (it's privately owned and you have to pay to go see it) over half a mile across and 180 feet deep, gouged out by a 45-foot wide meteor that hit the ground while poking along at a paltry 25,000mph. That was about 50,000 years ago, though, so no one was around to hear it. Did it make a noise?

As of Monday, July 16, climbing and other activities on the cliff face of Granite Mountain and Thumb Butte once again opened to the public. USFS closes these areas annually to leave nesting peregrine falcons undisturbed.

Peregrines were definitely in residence at both Thumb Butte and Granite Mountain this year. Volunteers reported sightings of peregrines this summer, but officials don't know yet whether the peregrines were successful nesters this year - they are still waiting to hear survey results from some volunteers.

If you have any questions about the peregrines and their management on Bradshaw Ranger District, call Noel Fletcher, (928) 443-8020.

We shouldn’t have waited ’til middle-aged spread took over. Really, we should have started kayaking when we were younger. But we’re adventurers, and sometimes we still think we’re a couple of 16-year-olds.

OK, we like to tell ourselves we’re in good shape when we know we aren’t, but that little lie kicks us off the couch and into the great outdoors. Yes, it’s true, we slothed our way through the winter and now we’re wondering if our heavy heinies are going to sink these things that look like a couple of over-sized plastic water skis. Emboldened, off we go to try our big butts at kayaking, even though Kevin thinks maybe he needs  one for each foot.

If you’ve ever wanted to check out Yavapai College’s new Fitness Center and weight room facilities, this summer is a great time to start. The college is offering a Fitness Center flex pass for $20 that enables participants to use the weight room during open hours between semesters and is a way for people to experience the YC weight room and personnel without having to make the commitment to a 15-week class. There are no grades of special requirements during the flex pass sessions, just the freedom to use the facilities during open hours. 

The air-conditioned YC Fitness Center has an experienced certified trainer available at all times to assist with technique instruction and programming. Cardio equipment includes five treadmills, four elliptical machines, three recumbent bikes, two upright bikes, one rowing machine and one Stairmaster. There are also upper and lower body exercise machine circuits, free weights, stability and medicine balls and a 10x10 foot stretch area.  

Summer open hours begin May 21 and run through June 1. Fall hours run July 30 – Aug. 25. The $20 fee covers both the summer and fall sessions.  

Fitness Center Flex Schedule:       

M/W/F: 6-10 am & 12:00-1:30 pm
M/W: 5-6:30 pm
T/TH: 9-11 am
SAT.: 10 am-12 pm 

Yavapai College offers a wide variety of Physical Education classes during the summer semester from June 4 to July 27 and the fall semester beginning Aug. 27. Classes include, but are not limited to, Aerobic Kickboxing, Stretch & Flex, Hatha Yoga, Pilates, Aqua Fit and Beginning Weight Training. Sign up now by calling 776-2199, online at www.yc.edu or by visiting any YC campus.