Another Steep One

Right of center, in the distance, today's destination, Picacho Peak. Looks kind of steep and it is.  Not exactly what I needed after doing Rincon two days ago but the day was cool, high in low 60's so rather than a ride, a hike it is.

I depart from the Sunset trailhead rather than the more popular and much more direct Hunter Trail.  Using Sunset as the launch point gave me 2 miles of rolling hiking to loosen any stiffness.  Via Hunter, it is steep from the get-go.  The desert this far west of the mountains is more barren then what I usually see. 

At about mile 2, the climbing begins and soon I face the first of several fun cabled sections.  I enjoy pulling myself up this wall, looking for foot holds.  Eventually I reach.....

….the intersection with the Hunter Trail, hang a right and head to the peak where I soon....

….more cabled sections because.....

….it is way too steep to ascend without the assistance of the cables.

Yet another.  Each section is broken up by the standard steep walking.  Just want to make sure when you begin going up the above, you are not too fatigued.  A careless slip could be fatal.

A final section that even has fencing so you are caught should you lose your grasp of the mountain.  Also a bridge to get one across a part where there is no other way to proceed.

At last, the final slope and soon.....

….on top enjoying the views while some of their noses buried in their phones.  Actually, all enjoyed the views and were sending images to friends. The couple on the right are visiting from NH, the guy in the white hat from WA.  The sky to the west was obscured which we guessed was smoke from the fire around Malibu.

Across I-10 sits Neumann Peak.  Brutal that one.  The final .9 miles of today's hike is an average grade of 27% which I thought low considering how many 80-90% walls I had to climb.  The total hike to the peak was exactly 3 miles and 1650' of climbing.  I always hesitate to post my hike time or Strava accomplishments because I don't want readers to think I am bragging.  But, the intent of keeping this blog going is to give me something to read when I am in assisted living and have forgotten this stuff.  So, 1:08 total time to the top and along the way I set some new course records. Note to self in the future. There is something called Strava and you may still have an account.  Have nurse find it for you.  Ha, ha.