Hill and Dale: Picacho Peak from the Hunter and Sunset Vista Trails

Picacho from the I-10, photo stolen from the internet as I forgot to take a Picacho

picture while driving in or back out.

Finally hiked Picacho Peak again after first doing so almost twenty years ago. Nice 70-degree day. I recall that it was much harder then, probably because I was in worse hiking shape and twenty-five pounds heavier. In 2019, this was an easy hike compared what we've been doing thus far. I will say, though, that the steepest sections, which required a system of cables to pull oneself up, and guide oneself down were steeper (but much shorter) than Finger Rock, Pima Canyon, or even Pusch Peak. This trail is also not for the faint of heart.

One of the highlights on this hike was meeting Jasmine Bly, from Florence, Arizona. Jasmine was hiking all the trails on the area. We offered to drive her back to her car if she wanted to join us in taking the Sunset Vista Trail to the north parking area, and she gamely agreed.

Picacho Peak, on the left, from the Hunter Trail trailhead, with the blaring morning sun right behind.

Photo by Jack.

Photo by Jasmine.

The three of us, perhaps before we met Jasmine. Photo by Jasmine.

Photo by Jasmine.

First of the cables.

Jack selfie. Jack has vowed not to shave until he completes his summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in February. Photo by Jack.

Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Looking southwest. Photo by Jack.

Photo by Jack.

Jack on one of his ineluctable side trips to a lookout point.

Our summit is beyond that little outcropping. Photo by Jack.

Jack and Randall hitting the cable climbing section of the trail. Photo by Misty.

Photo by Misty.

Misty and Randall on the less steep cabled portion of the trail. Photo by Jack.

Misty nearing the summit. Photo by Jack.

Jack being arty with his camera. Photo by Jack.

Jack's selfie setup (phone balanced on a rock at the bottom of the climb). Good job. Photo by Jack.

View south from the summit. Photo by Jack.

Misty on the summit. Photo by Jack.

The I-10 and an itty-bitty hill, from the summit. Photo by Jack.

Misty and Randall on mini-twin summit opposite main summit. Photo by Jack.

Jack at the summit. Photo by Misty.

Take it from the top. Photo by Jasmine.

Misty and Jack.

Misty.

Misty and Randall descending summit. Photo by Jack.

Misty and Randall descending. Photo by Jack.

Jack emoting, pretending to struggle as he climbs back down—a true con descending.

Jasmine, Misty, and Jack heading down to the Sunset Vista Trail.

Back on solid ground: Panorama including Picacho from the Sunset Vista Trail, with Jasmine and Misty on the right.

Misty and Jasmine, with Jack in the background exploring something or other. There is a reason the peripatetic Jack always racks up a little more mileage than the rest of us: he just has to explore every nook and cranny of any hike. Gotta love his enthusiasm.

Cylindropuntia bigelovii or Teddy Bear Cholla (foreground). Cuddly and painful if you ever rub up against one. Those little spines represent hours of tweezer plucking if you've ever had such an encounter. And they go right through your clothes.