Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Ascent of Green and Guthrie Mountains

6/8/2020

3 Comments

 
Picture
The "Oro Valley Outdoor Fun" group came up with a good hike, led by organizers John and Marianne.  It's odd, I have been all over the top of Mount Lemmon but for some reason, never hiked the mid mountain hiking trails....that's a mistake.  We arrive at the Middle Bear parking area, carpool a few miles up to the Green Mountain parking area and off we hike.
Picture
After a brief ascent, we reach a saddle.  Here, half our group of 14 hang a right and ascend toward Green Mountain while the other group continues on to Bear Saddle where we will reunite later.  Meantime, the fire rages along Pusch Ridge but we are largely oblivious other then an occasional sound of a helicopter.
Picture
The route up Green Mountain is usually obvious but not always.  Pretty steep with the added bonus of pine needles and gravel, sure to make the descent an adventure.  About midpoint of the ascent we reach this beautiful spot.  This is another of those, "Good to Be Alive Moments."
Picture
We continue up and arrive at the peak where there is a nice camping spot with plenty of wood around.  Since this is not an established trail, I doubt many people make it up here.
Picture
After a round of picture taking, we descend, again, steeply most of the time.
Picture
Reaching the saddle once again, we descend through several switchbacks, off the mountain.  Above is the peak.  We are now hiking on the eastern side of the Catalinas and so.....
Picture
….have wonderful views of the San Pedro river valley and Galiuro Mountains.  The trail is easy to follow and mostly descending.  I had planned to turn around at some point and hike back up.  Frankly, after 2 weeks in Ohio with little cardio experience, I wasn't feeling all that springy so need the miles and uphill effort.
Picture
As we neared Bear Saddle, we encountered these monoliths.  Yep, that's me, looking kind of paunchy.  We rejoined the group and now most of us would ascend Guthrie Mountain.
Picture
We ascended an easy to follow but not easy to hike, trail.  There was one section of steep granite with pink accents.
Picture
Not much room at the top where we were distracted by the sound and sight of a helicopter, once again dumping water on the distant fire.  After a short break and mindful that some of us were waiting at Bear Saddle, we descended and....
Picture
...passed a tree having an unusual opening.  Long dead from a fire that hit this area in 2002.
Picture
Usually, images don't capture the steepness of an ascent/descent but this one does.  Lot of fun picking a route down while utilizing ridges and concave places for traction.
Picture
We rejoined the group at the saddle and they descended to the Middle Bear parking area where they would shuttle to the start of the hike at Green Mountain.  Meantime, I retraced our route back to my car at Green Mountain, finishing with 7.3 miles and 2200' of elevation gain.  Legs and cardio need a lot of work:(
3 Comments
John Mills
6/9/2020 03:25:10 pm

Nice summation of the hike with some pics to boot. The day was windy & fresh, below average temps. A delight to be up there, but not so good for the fire over on the west side, which keeps spreading. Lots of evidence of the 2002 Bullock fire!

Reply
Lily
6/9/2020 05:16:02 pm

Enjoyed the read and recap of hike

Reply
Barry Walz
6/9/2020 06:00:28 pm

Great write Mark and good seeing you. Memorable times with good friends. Thanks for spreading the word to those that didn't or couldn't make the trip.
Some nice pics !

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.