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Hiking in the Cool Air of Mount Lemmon

6/27/2018

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I drove beyond the village of Summerhaven, past Ski Valley and up to the fence of the Observatory.  I shoved off with 3 liters of fluids and a snack at around 9:30 with a temperature of 61.  I started on the Meadow Trail which has little meadow but perhaps it did when the trail was named?  Following this for .8 of a mile threw me onto.....
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.....Mount Lemmon trail. The views are......
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.....incredible.  I sometimes just stand, jaw agape, watching.  OK, full disclosure, knowing the route dropped into the valley, I was already anxious about what was surely a steep climb out of that.
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A thick grove of ferns where once pine trees grew.  In the distance is Cathedral Rock, another awesome hike.  The trail dropped steadily as I headed for the "Wilderness of Rocks" trail.
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While I had not yet reached the aforementioned trail, I think this signals the beginning of the rock wilderness.
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Yep, I was in it now!
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Thousands of pine trees have become established and are now infringing on the trail in some places.
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Note the trail on the right of the image. I am now on the "Wilderness of Rocks" trail and enjoying the rolling nature of it.
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Water!  This drains into the Lemmon Pools.  I have visited that neat spot once but walked by the place where one must go off trail, without noticing.  Oh well.
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In the valley, the vegetation that borders the drainage is thick and offers a nice alternative to desert hiking. As I neared the "Mount Lemmon Lookout" trail which would give me the return to the trail head, I paused to refuel.  The mountain top loomed above me.  Although I have never been on the trail I was about to hike, I assumed it would be steep and so....
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....it was.  Almost 2 miles having an average grade of 15%.
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I assumed there would be a Strava segment for the climb so I hit it pretty hard and only paused to take a couple of images.  That rock feature is cool and signaled I was closing on the top. Soon, my stomach began cramping.  Never happened previously and I should have stopped but slowed my pace and once reaching the top and reuniting with the "Mount Lemmon" trail.....
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....I sat down, drank a lot of fluids and quickly felt a lot better. Good but difficult hike, in cool temperatures while finishing with 9.5 miles and 2500' of climbing.
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    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

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