Tucson VA ER via Golden Gate Mountain and the David Yetman Trail

 

Yes, you probably read that wrong; Tucson VA ER is not a trail, but rather the emergency room at the Tucson VA Medical Center, which I graced today after yesterday’s incident. I went to a local urgent care last night, but they suggested I get in for an x-ray and maybe even an MRI. Nothing life-threatening, to be sure, but a very painful experience. The elevation spike in the hike profile you see is partially involved. 

This was the second hike in a row where I added a mountain summit to an otherwise moderate David Yetman hike with little elevation gain spread over its 12 miles. 10 days ago I added Golden Gate's shorter brother Bren Peak to the hike; today Misty and I added a climb up the very steep Golden Gate Mountain, 1,300 feet of gain in a little over a half mile. That steepness and a hillside of craggy rocks and slippery scree were the perfect ingredients for a fall. And fall I did on the descent, prompted by loose rocks and gravel, I went down hard and managed to whack my already ailing right shoulder. The pain was intense and I re-injured it a few more times on the six remaining miles, whenever I tripped even slightly. I'm sure I looked like Napoleon (without the complex of course) with my hand shoved inside my shirt as a makeshift sling.

There were signs that maybe the Tucson Mountain Park folks didn't support this as an official trail, even though it clearly has been used as one. For starters, there is a pile of rocks where it diverges perpendicularly from the David Yetman trail to discourage its use; the park people haven't done any trail upkeep; and there is alternate and official Golden Gate Mountain trail which goes around and slightly up, but no where near the summit. 

Today's hike was closer to a bushwhack than a normal, sanctioned hike, and I don't believe in bushwhacking. We humans have way too much access to park areas that should be left alone to other animals. So no, I won't be returning to hike this scoff-law trail, but will instead support the one mapped out by the good park folks.

Nice weather overall, with a little overcast keeping it from feeling all of the 60-70 degrees. And despite the steep climb, the accident, and the 6-mile Napoleonic exit out, we still managed a somewhat decent pace of 2.5 mph for the 14 miles.

A small herd of young white-tailed deer came out to greet us today. They seemed quite unfazed by us.

David Yetman's western trailhead at the Gate's Pass parking lot, six miles east from the Camino de Oeste trailhead where we began the hike.

The official Golden Gate Trail, about 0.4 miles in from the 

Yetman Trailhead. Our trail is about a tenth of a mile further 

on down.

The official trail (in teal) doesn't really climb so much as circumnavigate the lower reaches of the mountain and comes no where near the summit as one can see. The unofficial trail is about 0.5 miles in from the David Yetman Trailhead.

Golden Gate offers stunning mountain views, really, with lots of contrast with the teddy bear cholla (white-tinged green) and the saguaros agains the red and brown backdrop.

The view from the Golden Gate summit, looking across the way at Bren Peak below the view of the Santa Catalina Range.

A closer view of Bren from further down the mountain on our descent.

Bren Peak Via The David Yetman Trail

 

I love the David Yetman Trail, a decidedly easy & relaxing 12.5 mile out-and-back in the wonderful Tucson Mountain Park. I most recently hiked it last January. The only aspect of the hike I've found lacking is the minimal elevation gain. Today I remedied that by adding a little 2.5 mile loop around Bren Mountain, with a side trip to the summit. I also lopped off the final mile to and from the Gate's Pass parking lot for a cool 14 miles, and a more respectable 2,000 feet of gain—700 of which was the 0.6 mile vertical scramble to the tippy-top.

And at the tippy-top, who did I meet but a fellow Iowan and her hiking pal, now both living in Arizona: Debbie from Iowa and Ken from Connecticut. They are both obviously strong hikers and from what Debbie said Ken, like me, has a penchant for long hikes.

Beautiful weather today. I waited later than normal to start (~10:30 am) as it was a bit too chilly at 8:00. Clear skies all day, with temps topping out at 65º by hike's end shortly after 3:30.

The trail starts out a little rocky, but soon gives way to undulating gravel and packed dirt. 

The historic Bowen House. This is only a mile in from the eastern trailhead, and is usually clogged with bipeds snapping pics, especially on weekends. Today I just slid past.

A mini Teddy Bear Cholla forest. Don't let these cuties fool you; get too close and they might end up attacking.

Lots of Saguaros as Tucson Mountain Park also resides in Saguaro National Park West.

The Bren summit, and Ken signing the book. The actual peak is right next door across a slight saddle, so of course we had to add that to the hike before descending, Deb and Ken clockwise and me counter-clockwise so as to get in my loop.

Debbie from Des Moines (Urbandale).

(Photo by Debbie)

Ken loves stepping out on precipices; me not so much. 

Debbie at the first summit.

Gate's Pass Road.

(Photo by Ken and his tripod and remote)

Pontatoc Canyon-Finger Rock Loop (Warning: Unofficial)

 

I have read two or three AllTrails hike descriptions mentioning a possible new trail connecting Pontatoc Canyon and the Finger Rock Trail, converging at Linda Vista Saddle, making a 7.4-mile loop, with serious elevation gain. And about three weeks ago on a hike up the Finger Rock Trail to Linda Vista Saddle, I saw what looked like a new trail being constructed just below where the spur trail from Finger Rock wends its way 0.2 miles up to the Saddle. 

Today, I can confirm that there is indeed a new trail being built connecting the two hikes, but it is being built center out and it might be a while before it is officially ready to hike. This new trail is no where near the terminus of the Pontatoc Canyon Trail and so we basically had to bushwhack our way up and over to it. The warning sign above we only saw at the end, where the trail meets the Linda Vista Saddle spur trail. We really had no business on this new trail, but it was just too tempting a hike. I was also excited that there was a new loop trail being built connecting with the underwhelming Pontatoc Canyon Trail, thus giving one more of reason to hike it; it currently ends abruptly facing a unremarkable cliff wall. 

Looks like that hope may not come true as this new trail appears to be headed to a point closer to the Pontatoc Canyon-Pontatoc Ridge trailhead than the Pontatoc Canyon Trail terminus. In any event, if the forest service continues to get money from the inept and cruel dolts in the criminally insane dotard’s administration, and this trail continues to be built, many hikers will rejoice that there is an alternative way other than the treacherous Finger Rock Trail up to and down from Linda Vista Saddle, and a somewhat safer route to Mount Kimball and other ridge-line destinations.

The elevation gain is nothing to sneeze at, and almost 300 feet 

more than the challenging Finger Rock ascent to the Saddle. The 

pace was so slow because of all the bushwhacking on the steep 

canyon slopes.

Both the Pontatoc Canyon and Pontatoc Ridge trails share a trailhead, and also a trail for about a mile.

A little chilly before the sun poked its welcomed face over the ridges.

More uninspiring views from Pontatoc Canyon.

The unceremonious nothing-burger end to the Pontatoc Canyon Trail. 

From here we bushwhacked north and west to find the new trail build. 

The new trail, in various states of completion. This section is headed south, and it's not that far back down to the Pontatoc trails from here; the trail no doubt ends abruptly and possibly dangerously a bit further on.

Looking north.

Linda Vista Saddle in the center distance.

I usually have lunch at a spot just to the right of the cliff.

Romero Pools in Two!

 

This is my second attempt to hike to the Pools in two hours. Last month was the first and I came really close. I swore after that effort, perhaps it wasn’t possible for me and my short legs to hike this gnarly steep and rocky trail in two hours, as it isn’t that much faster on the descent where one would expect to increase the pace and make up time; one has to be super careful not to fall or twist an ankle and hiking down really focuses the mind. Maybe there's a reason AllTrails' estimated time for this hike is 3 hours and 8 minutes.

Well, not to toot my own horn, but today I was successful, making the 6.2 mile roundtrip in 1:58:46. Now of course, I have yet another stupid goal: get the total time down to two hours.

Crystal clear skies and 68 degrees at the start of the hike before wispy clouds moved in and the temps moderated a tad. Quite a few other hikers, but normal for a Friday. Beautiful day.

A little water, and oddly, much more than last month 

despite our not having any rain for over two months.

Cañada del Oro & 50-Year Trails Loop With My Pal Ira

Sublime day for an easy to moderate hike in the Catalinas with my great friend Ira from Cincinnati. I scouted this short 5.7 mile loop a couple weeks ago precisely with Ira in mind. Ira is getting back into hiking after a substantial layoff due to some medical reasons, primarily a hip replacement. Let me just say, I think the hip is nearly back to 100 percent considering Ira’s pace today; I think Ira was especially (and happily) surprised as well. 

Saw a couple of coyotes on the trail, and we apparently just missed a Bobcat according to a couple other hikers. Other mammals included some horsey folks and their horses, and other bipeds on their own legs. Beautiful weather in the low sixties, with cerulean skies and no wind; perfect hiking weather.

Nice pace set by Ira.

Ira remembered his poles today. And while he certainly didn't need them on Bridle Trail, he was glad to have them on the descents and rocky areas.

One interesting Saguaro, perhaps 150 years old.

Looking north toward the Tortolita Mountains where I have done many hikes, including the M.O.V.E. fundraiser hike my hiking partner Misty and I did last February.

Looking northeast from the Cañada del Oro Ridge (CDR) at the northern end of Pusch Ridge. Ira moving on out ahead of me.

Looking east at the Pusch Ridge. I have hiked the first three peaks: Cathedral Rock only last week; Window (Ventana) two years ago for the third time; and Kimball in November for at least the fourth time.

Looking northwest from the CDR Trail.

About the midway point where the 50-Year Trail comes in from the east.