Today I introduced my friend (and fellow Copper Court Casita’s denizen) Jack Byers to the short but wonderful Blackett's Ridge hike in Sabino Canyon. Jack is considering getting into Arizona hiking, and if today's hike is any indication, he's a natural.This is no ordinary 6-mile hike. The first 1.3 miles is relatively low grade ambling; the final stretch, however, is a stair-stepper and where the majority of the 1,800 feet of elevation gain resides. Jack handled it with the aplomb of a veteran hiker—and in Levis and Vans!
Jack is a tradesman (Jack of all trades, if you will) from Baldwin, Michigan (home town of James Earl Jones) and is down in Arizona with his wife enjoying a little respite. Jack is an avid outdoorsman and was very eager to try hiking here in Tucson—a place I consider hiking paradise. I think he may be hooked.
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Temps starting out at 8:30 were in the high thirties but we quickly warmed up as the rose as we did and the temps rose another 20+ degrees by hike's end. The rather strenuous rapid ascent also warmed us up.
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The hike starts out on the Phoneline Trail. The elevation gain doesn't really pick up until we hit the switchbacks on the Blackett's Ridge Trail in another ¾-mile or so.
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Mount Lemmon peaking up behind Sabino Canyon.
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The fifth and final false summit on this temptress trail.
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| Mr. Jack Byers who, unlike me, is fearless of heights. |
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