An Odd Day

I am a member of 5 hiking groups.  By far the best is "TLC" based in Phoenix.  Their hikes draw in 20-35 for each hike and the hikes are adventures, usually part on trail and part off trail. In the Tucson area, the main groups are "ALT" and "Tucson Hikers".  The quality of the hikes ebbs and flows but usually, not always, but usually are kind of lame.  Anyway, I signed up for a hike that curiously, to which no one else committed.  The hike leader, "Jim" set the start time for 8:30am.  Jim called at 8:25 to tell me he was just leaving his house, estimating it would take 20 minutes.  Geesh.  At 8:45, I gave up, calling Jim to tell him I was shoving off.  His reply, "Oh, you're one of those people." 

The hike, a good one, to a landmark in the Catalinas, the "Window".  I've done the hike a couple of time and it is a good one.  I worked my way up the canyon toward the Maiden Pools at around mile 2.5 and kept going.

Two things were working against me, my legs were fatigued from last weeks two Mount Lemmon rides, the Grand Canyon hike and a couple other rides.  I could have just pushed through it but I also was intrigued by the two NCAA games set for the day so at mile 4, I just quit.  In the distance, the trail climbs out of this canyon toward that rock formation, reaches a saddle and goes behind that formation to the Window.

Coming back down, I saw the above devise, the 3rd of these I've seen in a couple of weeks.  They have been placed by the U of A and probably are a combination of motion detector and camera flash.  Would be interesting to see what animals can be seen.

I passed the Maiden Pools where a few people had gathered.  Pretty cool place.  I finished with 8 miles and continue, after Sunday's outcomes, to lead the Wilson family bracket contest.  I stand to win $20, out of my own pocket of course.