Haven't hiked this one in a few years, and man is it an ass-kicker. While only a bit over nine miles, it has substantial elevation gain (almost 3,000 feet) and the final two miles are especially challenging. The last half mile is vertical scree similar to the talus on Golden Gate Mountain wherein I met my Waterloo almost a year ago, but we'll have to forget about that, or at least repress it.
Not sure I'll do this hike again (I've vainly said that about other hikes in the past), partly because it's almost an hour to the trailhead, but mostly because of the rockiness throughout, but especially in the last two miles. Plus, the steep slippery scree the last half mile really gave me flashbacks, and not in a good way. Hiking the two miles down from the summit on the return I was especially careful and slow—like a doddering old retiree.
Few people out today, especially early on. Misty and I left the trailhead shortly before 8:00 am, with temps in the low forties. As we climbed, so did the sun, and we managed to doff our jackets after about a half hour, some 1.5 miles in. Mostly sunny skies throughout the day, and 71º by hike's end. Kind of a perfect day. The highlight was all the kids walking up Oracle Road holding signs protesting coward-ICE thugs in our city and schools; apparently, schools were closed to allow it. Good for the schools.
 |
| Just needed to hike up to the sun starting out. |
 |
A PeakFinder app photo from my previous trip up here four years ago, a solo hike in preparation for my epic Grand Canyon solo backpacking Rim to Rim to Rim trip in May of 2022, when I was in my 65th year. |
 |
| An anomalous flat, sandy section of trail. Maybe 1 mile of that in total on this hike. |
 |
| The summit. |
 |
| Our one and only false summit. |
 |
| Cute little Teddy Bear Cholla. Do not hug. |
No comments:
Post a Comment