Group Hike to 7 Falls

A go to hike for visitors, because of the destination and modest climbing, is 7 Falls.  I arrived at Sabino Canyon intending to buy a shuttle pass so I could avoid the 4 mile round trip walk to the trail head but alas, I missed a ticket by a minute as a couple in front of me grabbed the last.  So, rather than the planned 5 miles, I now had 9 miles.  Our group of 12 crossed a flowing wash several times before....

….the trail reaches a "Y" where you take the left arm and see the above, spectacular scene.  This being Presidents Day, the trail was swarming with hikers.  I was wearing a Buckeye hat and received many "OH" shouts to which the expected return greeting is "IO".  

The falls reaches a broad expanse of undulating granite where all gather for a break before plunging into a final pool.  The option exists to climb a few stages above where the crowd gathers so....

….I climbed the left wall to the second floor and then on to the third floor but I've always been stumped from going higher.  The walls are too steep for me to climb.

I had gotten ahead of my group but saw then enter the area and scrambled down to refuel before heading out.  Always a fun hike but better if you can avoid the kind of boring open/closing walk to the trail head in Bear Canyon.