First Visit to Summerhaven, Mount Lemmon

I finally bought a memory card for my fabulous new camera, which is identical to the twisted mess that died a slow death on Gates Pass earlier this week.  Unfortunately, I bought the card after this ride so again limited to 3-4 images.  On previous trips to AZ, I wait until later in my visit to do this climb, after I've gained some fitness, but decided to take advantage of the 85 degrees, sun and light SW winds. My pace was so slow, even I realized it especially whenever someone in a team kit flew by.  I paused at Windy Point Vista, mile 12 of the 21 mile climb to the Pallisades.  Great view.

I stopped a few more times including at San Pedro Vista, about 3 miles from the Pallisades, the point at which the pavement bends down for about 2 miles before a 1 mile climb and a rolling finish into the town of Summerhaven.  A man asks me if there is a bike rally going on and I tell him it's like this every day, usually even more cyclists.  I counted only 60-70 on my ride up. A fire has been burning for a few days, looks like on Mount Graham.

Euphoric, I coast into town.  I hit snow at about 7000' but very patchy and even here at 8200' it is visible only on the north facing slopes. At Ski Valley, about 1.5 miles higher up and 9000', they were still skiing but I did not have the energy to check it out on this ride.  I sat at the Sawmill Restaurant bar (place was busy and too long to wait for a table)and ate a salad with a side order of fires.  I know, odd combination.  Finished with 58 miles and 6400' of climbing.