The David Yetman trail is named after David Yetman, Ph.D., a research scientist and host of The Desert Speaks, a PBS series which ran for 19 years and continues to be shown today. This 13-mile out-and-back hike gets you quickly out of the city and into the southern part the Tucson Mountain Range. The trail wends itself along and across a sandy creek wash that takes you to the Bowen Family Homestead ruins. From there, and once you hike about 4 miles south, you begin a climb west to a valley at the base of Golden Gate Mountain, on the left near Gate’s Pass. After you climb up and over over the saddle with Golden Gate Mountain, you descend to the southern trailhead. Many if not most hikers choose to hike one way, starting either at the Yetman Trailhead on the southern end, or at the North Camino de Oeste trailhead at the end of the road with the same name, and leave a car at the other trailhead.
I must say, compared with my previous hike on the Pontatoc Canyon Trail, this hike was a breeze. Although over twice as long, it was half as challenging, largely because of the steep inclines and rocky footing on the Pontatoc. I struggled to maintain a 2 mph pace on that trail while my pace today was well over 3 mph. The only substantial elevation gain was climbing over the saddle at the mid-way point, 6.5 miles in.
Beautiful 75-degree temps and slightly overcast. And man is the desert green this winter, thanks to all the autumn rain. I wish I were going to be here this year for the spring desert blooms in March and April.
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| The Bowen family homestead built in 1930s By Sherry and Ruby Bowen. |
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| The saddle is the destination. |
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