Once again warmer than normal temps (a high of 77º today) and lots of plants flowering like it's spring. This winter's weather is a warning shot for anyone not a climate-denier like old Presidementia Been-a-Dick Arnold. The Klutzy Klepto Klansman is trying to open up to oil drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home of over 200 endangered species, just so he can reward his billionaire pals pawning off the previous century's energy to further destabilize our climate. What a dangerous moron. But I digress.
This solo hike (my hiking partner is out for a couple-three weeks maybe) sends me to the Tortolita's, which is about as safe an area to hike as there is around Tucson (it's relatively well-trafficked), if one wants anything other than a bunny hill to climb.
This is the first time I've hiked this particular route. I have certainly hike parts of this loop on my previous hikes, most of which were longer by 5-8 miles, including the Tortolita Superloop—one of my favorites—which I hiked in December (also solo). Misty and I also participated in the M.O.V.E. trail event in 2024, an annual event that benefits the parks and rec. departments of Marana and Oro Valley, two Tucson burbs. That hike included 13 miles in the Tortolitas followed by 7 miles in Catalina State Park. A worthwhile event, but probably a one-off for me; not a big fan of crowds while I hike and bike. I no longer ride RAGBRAI either.
Saw a few other hikers, mostly close to the trailheads, and three mountain bikes coming off the Alamo Spring trail. Pretty calm and mostly clear. This loop starts off with a rocky 1,500 foot climb up the Upper Javalina and Wild Mustang trails, then settles in to a smoother ridge hike before descending back down the Wild Burro Trail to the trailhead. I was actually surprised by my pace considering I am still a little overly cautious on the rocky downhills. I hiked the loop clockwise and would do so again.
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