Pie, beer & a ski lift

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Summer Wildcat The Mt. Lemmon Cafe, only one hour from Tucson, offers world-famous pie and a break from the summer heat. The cafe's owners said they have noticed a steady increase in the number of UA student customers since it opened 15 years ago.

It could be one of Southern Arizona's best kept secrets. About 40 miles from the University of Arizona sits a small cafe, conveniently nestled in the mountains of the Coronado National Forest - 8,000 feet above sea level and 24 degrees cooler than downtown Tucson.

Travelers who have never heard of the Mt. Lemmon Cafe would probably drive right by it on the way through Summerhaven. After all, not many would expect a tiny eatery in a town of 80 people to offer much of anything for a meal.

What many people don't know is that the cafe offers a wide selection of fresh-baked homemade pies. The Pennsylvania Dutch-style pies are often the sole reason UA students and other Tucsonans make the one-hour trip up to the sleepy town of Summerhaven on Mt. Lemmon.

Realizing the high demand for the pie, the cafe's managers keep the recipe a closely-guarded secret.

"They're homemade, and that's all you need to know," said Lea Patterson, the cafe's kitchen manager.

The recipe is so protected that only two of the cafe's 20 employees know the ingredients.

"We get people from France, Finland, Germany, Japan, China, New Zealand," Patterson said. "I get people from all over the world that have heard about our pies."

Among the 13 flavors to choose from are strawberry rhubarb, apple, Belgian chocolate and peach. One slice costs $5.

Tyler Stranik, a UA aerospace engineering senior, actually discovered the pie by accident. He was riding his motorcycle on the windy roads that lead up to Summerhaven when he came upon the Mt. Lemmon Cafe two years ago.

"I just drove up here and saw it," Stranik said.

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Summer Wildcat The entrance to Ski Valley at Mt. Lemmon sits more than 1,000 feet below the summit's 9,129 foot peak. Ski Valley is often sought out by UA students because it's the nearest slope to campus.

Besides the pie, Summerhaven has a lot more to offer those seeking a respite from the triple-digit temperatures in Tucson. Across the street from the cafe is the Alpine Lodge, a nighttime hot spot for both locals and visitors.

The lodge bar is no bigger than an average university classroom, but that doesn't prevent residents from filling it to capacity. The inside walls are lined with dollar bills that people have decorated and left behind, ensuring their place in the bar's history.

Using dollar bills as wall-paper was the owner's idea to stop customers from writing on the tables, one patron said.

Scott Eaton has been tending bar at the lodge for four years. During his tenure, he has seen the number of UA patrons increase.

"That's why people come up here - the beer and the pie," Eaton said.

Rowdy crowds that sometimes form at Tucson-area bars are not much of a concern for Eaton. The bar has a three drink - or four beer - limit for all customers. This ensures that the high altitude does not lead to excessive intoxication for visitors.

For those not interested in the bar scene, Summerhaven also offers a plethora of outdoor activities. Several mountain trails make for excellent afternoons of hiking and picnicking.

In nearby Ski Valley, Mt. Lemmon officials have the ski lift open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The lift offers a breathtaking view north of the mountain for $6.

Although the slopes are devoid of any snow, there is still plenty of hiking and exploring to do in the ponderosa pine forest at an elevation of 9,129 feet.

Summerhaven and the rest of Mt. Lemmon offers people stuck in the Tucson summer a great opportunity to enjoy cooler weather and a beautiful first-hand view of the wilderness.

That, and the cafe serves a legendary piece of pie.