Blackett's Ridge Redux Redux

Blackett's Ridge Trail is my go-to hike if I have three hours to spare and want a quick test to see if I am still alive—or approaching death by getting effing old—and it's so accessible being basically in town, or at least the trailhead is. This is my third hike up this wonderful ridge, the two previous visits being in January of 2017 and December of 2018. In fact, this picture to the left (and two others) was lifted from the 2017 hike as most of my pics today were shot using my good camera, my trusty old Canon G12. Unfortunately, I left my cable to import photos to my computer back in Iowa.  This is unfortunate as the skies cleared and opened up a lot of great shots. When I get my replacement cable, I'll rectify matters, unless I realize, rightfully, that it matters not as no one actually looks at this blog.

I am actually surprised made it up and back in less time this year than last year. I do now have my National Park senior pass. As they used to say in those old Clairol ads, you're not getting old, you're getting better. Hah!

Ok, my good pal Ira wasn't on this hike—he's in Newcastle, UK visiting his Premier League grandson DeAndre,  and attending Newcastle United matches—but again, back to the camera. I took a picture of the stream this year, and my feet, shoes doffed, but for naught. This picture is from 2017, but in February and with snow melt. I was surprised that the stream was so high, unusual for this time of year. But the rains have been torrential lately.

Photo from 2017. This is actually what it looked like today, after the clouds burned off.

A rocky and steep trail.

False summit numero dos.

The actual summit, with the skies beginning to clear.

Agua Caliente Hill Trail

Today I joined the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group for a nice little nine mile hike up the Agua Caliente Hill Trail and almost 3,000 feet of elevation gain. It turned out to be easier than the training hike I anxiously worked into my schedule two days ago, despite the fact I could still feel that workout. It'll take a couple weeks yet to acclimate myself and get hiking fit.  

This particular group of hikers, a mix of older and younger hikers, was quite a hardy, fit group, and a pleasure to hike with. I knew one person—my hiking pal Misty from last year—but the other ten were new to me. A very pleasant 75 degree day, slightly cooler at the top, with little wind. There was some discussion as to whether this trail was in the Santa Catalinas or the Rincons. We settled on it being at the juncture of the two ranges, a consensus based on supposition more than fact, but none-the-less agreed to by all.

Partly cloudy skies gave way to azure.

Typical Saguaros in their native, narrow altitude range, gave way to scrub oak and other higher altitude vegetation.

A canyon beside the Catalina Highway in the distance.

 

 

 

One of the few flat spots on this rather inclined trail.

 A few more of these 1,800 calorie burning hikes might help to diminish my beer protuberance.

The ammo box containing the hiker log book contained some other odds and ends, presumably a geo cache. Fellow hiker Anya took this shot of my monkey tie.

This is a dog-friendly trail and this couple had a couple of Doodles happy to meet any stranger.

The last half mile was quite steep, with about 750 feet of elevation gain.

Tanque Verde Ridge Trail (Part One)

Tomorrow I have my first hike with the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group, a little 9 mile roundtrip up the Agua Caliente Hill Trail and back, a short hike but listed as difficult with almost 3,000 feet of elevation gain. So yesterday I thought I’d do a little training hike to prepare my Des Moines lungs for the elevation—a hike that turned out to eclipse the hike I was training for, at least in distance (10.1 miles). That I feel okay today is a good sign for tomorrow.

Another stat: the temperature at the trailhead was 71º.

The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is in the Saguaro National Park, so to avoid the ten dollar entrance fee, like any taker boomer I purchased my lifetime senior national park pass; I qualified for it a year ago but still had time on a yearly pass I’d purchased (also $80). $80 for a life time of park entrances. If I live at least two more years, I’ll be ahead of the game—knock wood.

I can remember a few years back when the Park Service raised the price of the lifetime pass from 20 dollars to 80 dollars. There was a hue and cry from the senior boomer community—you know, the folks with the money, who destroyed the planet for their children and grandchildren, and who like their centrist political hacks neoliberal. We should be giving these passes to millennials and subsidize them with higher rates on the old.

The Tanque Verde Ridge Trail in the Rincon Range is actually twenty miles round trip, and I'll be hiking the entirety later this month or after the new year when I can get an earlier start.

The Rincon Range in the foreground and the Santa Catalinas in the background. Next week's hike will be in the Santa Catalinas.

A rare flat, sandy stretch on a trail that is generally rocky and anything but flat.

An eerie reminder of the horrific fire that swept through the area in the 90s.

I intended to hike for two hours then turn around, but at the two-hour mark, my distance registered 4.4 miles so I had no choice but to forge on to the 5-mile+ mark, another 20 minutes. So, 2:20 up; 1:30 return.

A lunch spot out of the cool breeze. I got a little chilly 3,000 feet up.

Tucson sprawl.