Mount Wrightson Super Trail

Not sure a normal flatlander would choose a 15-mile hike up a 10,000-foot mountain for his second outing of the season, and the Mount Wrightson summit south of Tucson is usually snow-packed and icy this late in December; thanks to climate change, it wasn’t this year. On my previous trip up Wrightson, nearly five years ago, the final two miles to the summit were treacherous and I had to don my heavy micro spikes. Today there were only vestiges from the last snow a couple of weeks ago, and my spikes remained in my pack. The temp at the top was an amazing sixty degrees. 

Saw a few other bipeds on the way up, including some young 30-somethings who were in over their heads. These new GPS hiking apps allow the inexperienced hiker into areas they are otherwise ill-equipped to handle. One young man had all the symptoms of altitude sickness I used to see in students who hiked with me up the 12,000-foot Mount E’Mei in southwest China. And an Australian tourist was struggling with mild hyponatremia, (dilution of the blood caused by drinking too much water). The guy needed electrolytes. Hyponatremia is one of the leading causes of emergency evacuations from the Grand Canyon, and I saw many hikers suffering from it during my trip there last year.

Overall a beautiful day of hiking Last trip up, in January of 2019, we ascended the Old Baldy Trail and then joined the Supertrail at the Josephine Saddle; this year we hiked the Super Trail the whole way, for an additional 2 miles.

Today I broke in my retro, 70s-style, all-leather Danner hiking boots handmade in Portland, Oregon. This is my first move away from disposable hiking boots which, like running shoes, are unsustainable. These boots are 100% reconstructable, and I am hoping I can stop buying plastic hiking footwear every year or two. The Vasques I hiked in during the 2021 fall season, and backpacked the Grand Canyon in 2022 completely fell apart after 6 months. 

Wasson Peak Yearly Bookends

I decided to begin this hiking season with the final hike of 2022-2023. Apparently, I also began last season with the same hike, so I think I might be on to some ritual or other. One benefit to bookending a season with the same hike across multiple seasons is that it functions as a rough gauge of one's fitness from year to year. If comparison to last year is any indication, I just might be in better shape this December than I was last December. One expects a drop-off in performance after a nine month layoff from hiking, but my time today was very close to what it was in February when I ended the season with this same hike and was quite fit. And that is good because I have a 14-mile hike up Mt. Wrightson on Sunday.

Not many other hikers out today. Met three or four soloists, and maybe five couples. The weather was gorgeous, clear skies all day, temp at the trailhead at 8:30 was a comfortable 50º, which would rise to 70º by hike's end. This is a good first hike, with the substantial elevation gain (over 2,000 feet) spread out over ~4.5 miles. Easier than one of my other favorite first hikes, Blackett's Ridge, which gains about the 1,600 feet over about 2 miles.

About 3.5 miles in, the Sweetwater meets the King's Canyon Trail, which comes up from the south near the Desert Museum and connects with the Hugh Norris Trails for a slightly shorter (7.9 miles) loop hike. Most hikers choose this option.

 

Wasson Peak, with the trail obliquely climbing up the side.

Only .3 miles yet to go. I did pass a fellow who ascended from the Sender Esperanza Trail. When I came up behind him and said hello, he asked me if I was in a hurry, like I was just going to follow him up. I simply replied that I was not in any particular hurry, just hiking my normal pace. I'm sure he wasn't happy with that response.

Slower going up than the descent, as can be expected, but 2.7 mph ain't too shabby for an elderly man.

Here is a little panoramic video from the summit. 

Riding my Birthday

One annual check on my health is to see if I can still ride my birthday. This year that is 67 miles. Not a problem that I can tell as I feel great after this quick jaunt to Perry for lunch with my pals Gerry and Carl. Carl was also riding his birthday (75) and I hope in 8 years I am still as strong a rider as Carl.  I actually rode a little over 68 miles, so I’m set for next year’s route.

Lunch at La Ventura, an excellent pupusaria in Perry. My lunch was 5 bucks.

Carl and me posing at the trailhead in Waukee, photo by Gerry who rode from Waukee.