Bren Mountain

Here I am yet again, in the parking area on the west side of Gates Pass.  Goldengate Mountain is on my right but the yet unsummited Bren Peak on the left.  I've poked around it a couple of times, found the ascent route so....

......hike in the shade via the Yetman Trail to a saddle and then take a.....

....wide social trail to the left.  The trail quickly narrows but is never difficult to follow as it traverses the mountain clockwise.  Below me I see a.....

....recently fallen saguaro.  That is at least 150 years old and too bad it collapsed.

The trail takes me far above Gates Pass and the steep climb of the road is not obvious.  I continue the hike until I reach the 6 o'clock position having started at 12 o'clock where I find....

....some cairns that lead me up a.....

....ridge.  Several times I think I am about to reach the peak but they are false until....

....I see the peak.  The trail dips down and climbs until I reach.....

....the summit of Bren Mountain.  Finally. Across the way I see Goldengate Mountain.  That's a good climb too.

Looking back, I see Big Cat Mountain and several smaller peaks that make up a portion of the Tucson Mountains.  I begin the return and soon spot....

....a very small turtle.  Maybe a baby desert tortoise, not sure.  I finish with 4.5 miles and 900' of climbing so not all that difficult but the off trail hiking to the peak takes quite a bit of time.  The heat wave continues with several daily, record highs but the end of summer is at hand.  More to come.