Travel is so educational, and life on the road teaches one so much about one's self. For example, I've looked deep within myself and discovered that I have an innate ability to get lost, even when there are clearly marked trail signs. I've also uncovered a remarkable, almost extraordinary, tendency to misinterpret maps. I never really knew this about myself before. Thank goodness Darell is here to keep me "on trail" so to speak.
Today we hiked up to Wasson Peak, 4687 ft. elevation. We took the King's Canyon Trail to the Sweetwater Trail, then the final .3 of a mile up to the peak. That was a total of 3.5 miles - all uphill, and mostly steep. On the return trip, we took the Hugh Norris Trail, the Sendero Esperanza Trail, and the Gould Mine Trail to make a (gentler and somewhat level, with switchbacks and CCC stair steps) loop back to the trailhead/parking lot. The return trail was a bit longer, so the entire hike was just under 8 miles. This, after about 8 days of more sedentary pursuits. We're pooped. But the hike was fabulous, and the 360 degree views from Wasson Peak made it all worthwhile - you can see all of Tucson (and I mean all of it!) and for miles and miles around.
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| This is looking back towards the trailhead, on the trail up to the peak |
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| Another view looking back from whence we came |
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| Behind us, as we continued to ascend towards Wasson Peak |
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| Teeny Darell included for scale (standing on the trail, facing right with backpack on, in the center, top third of the photo) |
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| A fellow traveler - he looks happy! |
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| Cactus flower with green stamens |
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| Close up of green stamens |
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| The trail out to Wasson Peak |
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| Wasson Peak on the left, Tucson in the valley below to the right |
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| This is taken from Wasson Peak, toward the trail we came up |
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| A vista on the way back down |
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| The same pink-blooming cactus plant as above, but towards the descending trail |
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| Coming back down, on the awesome CCC-built trail |
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